Ladder to Freedom
by westford

Comment:
This struck me on first view and I wondered long and hard about the "art" question, though in this singular case for some reason my score wasn't affected by my answer to that question. Makes me ponder if I am to climb to escape or climb to enter in. Wonderful photograph.

The Long Summer Daze
by Bear_Music

Comment:
So much to see here, from the multiple shorelines to the trees right at the water line (did you extend them?). The toning is wonderful. Makes me wonder where this is and why it isn't closer to me.

apocalypse
by tanguera

Comment:
You don't always have to get something to appreciate it.

Evanescence
by Neat

Comment:
Sublime invitation to take one final stroll thru life's vineyard and into the hereafter. Lovely image.

a place for reflection
by Manic

Comment:
I love the idea, I love the treatment, but there's something about the chair that feels wrong. I don't know if it's the type of chair (though I love the idea of a simple kitchen chair dragged out here), but its orientation in the frame just seems off. Needs to be rotated either square to the camera, looking in, or looking away. Looking out off the frame not so much. Might have made my top 5 otherwise.

(update)
Technically in my top 5 with ties, so I didn't whack you very hard for the chair. :)

Ballet
by hajeka

Comment:
One of the better images here. I immediately recognized the "slippers". I might have cropped up from the bottom a touch, particularly for this site which seems to discriminate on vertical crops.

Solitary Man
by markwiley

Comment:
I like the single figure, but I'm wondering if pulling the Self Park text a little more out of the shadows might not have helped with the "solitary" aspect? Still one of the better images here for me.

bigger the world not me
by jagar

Comment:
Landscape as "art" is a fine line to draw. Without the bird it's just a nice photo. But you have the bird, which is all the difference. Top 5 for me, maybe better than that.

(update)
It was better than that. Top 2

insight
by flaherma

Comment:
Powerful from the moment I saw it. The mismatched earrings complete the dichotomy of serenity (ignorance?) and enlightened consciousness. Top of the heap for me.

Timeworn
by chalice

Comment:
Powerful portrait, but it seems a stop dark even inside the vignette. Also not crazy about the chosen toning.