Hmmm.....Should my wish be for a better camera ...or lens?
by fulgent

Comment:
Alone, this image does not inoke any feeling of decision making or a decision that has been made. The title is its only link. Otherwise, I like the extreme dof use to highlight the subject and the sharpness of the bristles. It is not an image that I would hang on my wall, however I am certain that there is an audience for just this type of image. It seems well placed in the whole but I am drawn to wonder if a narrower crop where less of the stem is revealed would make it more interesting a capture. I leave this at a 4 soley on technicals as the challenge link for me is so weak.

The decision is made
by Stagolee

Comment:
I have to bump the capture of this decision up to a 10. It is a perfect 'Sports Illustrated' image with a dof that highlights the main subject exclusively while still putting him in the setting he is supposed to be in. The crop (square) is by far not my favorite ratio, but this image requires it for balance and complteness of the subject's body language which is the definition of capturing the decision. Great Job!

"SAFE" said the Man
by coolhar

Comment:
By all means this image is one of the top contenders. A benchmark for the tens in this challenge. Great use of focus depth to emphasize the umpire, a great catch of the action and epxressions and lighting that is evan all the way around. I am not a fan of the square cropped ratio, however it is not something that would detract from this image and another choice could even hurt the balance and focus of the decision that you have captured. Great job!

It's Up To You
by dartompkins

Comment:
This image with the fence pattern, reflected in the sign and accented in the border choice is my top contender, the benchmark for the tens in this challenge It screams decision; my decision. I surely don't think I could make it to the fence. The only thing that puts into question it's ribbon placing for me is the definition of the puppy against the shadowy backdrop in that area. As such he seems less larger than life, but again, perhaps he is 'the hidden danger'. Great choices in concept execution and finesse!

Where the Boys Are
by Blinks

Comment:
A look of contemplation. Perhaps a decision after all, YES. As I look more closely, I understand, he is wearing a dark blue bathrobe and deciding to wear the denim underwear or the blue plaid boxers! I see now that there is underwear hanging from the drawers as well, he is not after all sitting alone in a closet amongst all his clothing.

There are a number of elements here that almost led me to a 'weak-link-to-challenge' voting. The main subject (the underwear) is lost by being the same color as the more powerful and present bathrobe coloring, one of them has to change to prevent misunderstanding. I found the detail in the dresser to be lost mostly in shadows, though now that I know what I am looking at, can see it all clearly. The side lighting has hurt you by dropping shadows in all the worst places. This image needs a fill flash on the opposite side to bring more definition to the background and potentially give a solid separation to the underwear and robe. The redemption of the image is the look on his face. Had the model not been as expressive I surely would have overlooked the decision and passed by the objects of his decision as unfortunate clutter in the image. Bumping to a 5 on challenge and technicals.

Up or Down?
by thomaspeople

Comment:
A child plays with the video game machine. I am certain that the aspect of play requires decision-making but the image does not seem to outright convey decision making to me. Looking away with a soft focus on the face and harsh glare ont eh controller, bring no life, no interest to the image for me. The presence of the fleece jacket and odd-patterned 'thing' in the upper left corner only harm the rest of the image by pushing it into more of a snapshot feeling.

The gaming concept may have been better helped by the presence of a manual and a portion of the screen where the player must make a decision, or a contemplative look by the main subject as he pondered the right thing to do.

I personally feel a weak link to the challenge, distracting elements in the fore and background and can only offer a 3 as a vote on this image.

Where to go?
by h2orpa

Comment:
At first I see people in an open walkway, none appear lost or wandering, they appear determined on their way. The street pole offers multiple choices, but it is not well-defined against the background of likewise-darker toned buildings. The conversion to b/w is wonderful and there is a sharpness to the image that stands on its own as a technically superior, but compared to other images offered, does not invoke a sense of decision making to me. A tighter crop on the street pole, with a person pondering its arrows woudl have pushed this image far into the top-contender category. I am offering a 4 as the challenge link is too weak for me.

stay in or go play?
by whiteroom

Comment:
This is a beautiful candid or perhaps capture should be the term. He looks, slightly embarassed, laughing about the photographer who is taking his picture and sharing that feeling with the little one. It is exquisite in finishing. The tones cover a wide and well defined range, the lighting works very well with the play of shadow and the borader compliments the image. Without the title, it does not offer me any sense of a decision being made. There is no 'wheels of thought' feeling from the image, it is more of humor and sharing a secret. In another light I could see a better link, however I can only offer a 4 for sheer beauty of the image as other images have such a stronger invocation of the air of decision.

Hold 'em or Fold 'em
by joansuzy

Comment:
At first, the link to the challenge seems to elude me. However the cards are placed down, not held, face up, not down. The player has decided to revela the hand. A stretch for me, a weak link to the challenge as I feel no anticipation of a decision, no emotion charged with the image. Alone the cards are well shot, however the image at this size has suffered from compression artifacts or over sharpening. They are well placed against the negative space, but this is an excercise in cropping and light control. It does not keep my interest. Add some text in the lower left corner however and this image could become powerful as an advertisement or poster. A good capture, but lacking in the challenge links when compared to others in this round. I offer a 4.

Rooikat
by Boertjie

Comment:
A beautiful image. The finesse here is spectacular and the energy behind the cat's expression is very powerful. I like the border finishing and the choice to use chiseled sharpening to bring even more definition to the lines of fur, whiskers and eyes. Personally, were I facing such a creature in such proximity of the crop's perspective, my decision would be do I run or just play dead. That said, however the image itself does not invoke the anticipation of a decision being made except that which I dreamt up if I were so close to the subject. Very high marks for a beatiful image, but my personal evaluation of this image says it really has nothing to do with 'capturing a decision'. I offer a 4 solely on the basis of technical achievement.