Rustic Boathouse
by NinjaMom

Comment by Marjo:
Very nice capture. Great find. Your b&w treatment suits this subject.

Daddy's Girl
by NinjaMom

Comment by Marjo:
I like your soft focus on this. A very nice portrait. I hope you framed it!

Birthday Lights
by NinjaMom

Comment by PhotoRyno:
Great shoot

Concentration
by NinjaMom

Comment by nsbca7:
I didn't comment on this? I meant to. I've been back to look at it several times.

OK. The shadow detail is a little muddy.(or it may just appear that way on my monitor) That is the only drawback I can find. This is well composed, relays a feeling and uses light and shadow to an advantage. Nice shot.

Birthday Lights
by NinjaMom

Comment by martinho_triste:
well done!

Birthday Lights
by NinjaMom

Comment by Hawkeye:
Cute shot but it's a pity the subject is not looking at the light.

Concentration
by NinjaMom

Comment by jimmythefish:
When looking at this I liked the image of the girl, but thought the composition could have been improved somewhat. I gave it a 6. I think a landscape orientation would have fit much better. all the major elements of the photo are horizontal - blinds, arm, hair, body, table etc. and there's a lot of dead space above her head. Moving to a landscape orientation would have let these elements flow, but instead there's an awkward tension.

Message edited by author 2005-02-01 13:57:33.

Concentration
by NinjaMom

Comment by wkmen:
Overall, I like this photo. Let me humbly share some things that I think I've learned - but take them as they are offered, just a set of opinions.

The areas in this photo that are in sharpest focus are mostly too dark or too light. You may be able to remedy that in the future by using your flash as fill flash, dialing the compensation down so you still are predominantly lit by that great natural light. Also, I think I would have liked to see the pencil in sharper focus.

I'm pretty sure I'm finding out that keeping it simple is essential to "success." Overall, this photo adheres to that philosophy, but removing the object at the student's right elbow and the one to her left would improve the shot.

While some people might not find this kind of shot inspiring, it's a very nice one to tell part of a story, and if simplified, could probably be a successful stock image (I intend that as a compliment). My advice on the scores you received is to not worry about the numerical values in an absolute sense. Realize that you were very near the 50th percentile for "best of the year" in a very competitive site. Congratulations!

Birthday Lights
by NinjaMom

Comment by nsbca7:
Nice warm glow.

Birthday Lights
by NinjaMom

Comment by LiteSpeedRacer:
nice photo!