Korean Dogwood
by JakeKurdsjuk

Comment:

Originally posted by Dennisheckman: Congrats Jake! I think you would win any "100 feet from home" challenge.

Actually, Dennis, this was closer to 7 miles from home. ;)

Wall Flower
by JayneRyan

Comment:
Guess you either got/loved this one or you didn't. I did and had it on my front page. Very underappreciated and not deserving of a bottom half finish. I suppose sometimes you see something like this and think it's a cop out from the category, but this works. If I've got a critique it would be that I might have brightened the the flowers and surrounding area just a touch.

Hibiscus
by Cuttooth

Comment:
Nicely done, Mark. Congrats on the front page. This was tied for my highest. Guess last minute shots aren't always a bad thing.

calla
by Lydia

Comment:
Congrats on the red, Lydia. 9 times out of 10 this would have gotten a "too dark" comment from me but this one was front page in my book.

Korean Dogwood
by JakeKurdsjuk

Comment:
Thanks for the comments.

nam, I went back and forth about the DoF, worried more that not having the center of the flower at bottom in focus was going to be a problem. It was seriously a hit and run photo and not something where I agonized over it while taking it, but I had 3 or 4 similar shots with different things in focus and this worked the best for me. If nothing else I think I may have allowed the out of focus areas to become effected a bit too much by what I did to enhance the in-focus areas.

cutiephinphin, the green in the bottom left was very important for me because it ties in the flowers with the object that produces them. I did my best not to over emphasize it, but I felt the need to make sure the leaves of the tree were visible both there and behind the flowers. To each his or her own. :)

Foxgloves (Digitalis)
by Mond

Comment:
Lovely and interesting flowers. Wish you'd done a bit more with the processing to make them stand out from the background.

Heaven And Earth
by Cuttooth

Comment:
Amazing image, Mark, and my #2. Congratulations on a well deserved ribbon.

Misty Bromo with Milky Way
by andrewt

Comment:
If nothing else, besides being a great image this allows me never to feel bad about getting a 4 again (what is it with some people?!).

Congratulations on a spectacular image and a well deserved Blue.

Female European Red Squirrel
by SaraR

Comment:
Squirrels are natural posers, aren't they?! Well done - congrats on the Red.

Circle of Life
by Phocal

Comment:
Magnificent capture. Congrats on the Blue and your PB.

Echoing a bit of what Lydia might have been going for, the only reason this wasn't my #1 is that the background/OOF area seems to have suffered from the very processing that enhanced the subject. Had you been able to isolate the two and handle them separately this would be magazine cover worthy. Just food for thought in the future. Your alternate shots, while not as captivating, do a much better job of this.

Again, well done.