simplicity
by Winterberg

Comment:
Perfect title; it's a simple image, but the simplicity is deceptive because this is a thoughtfully conceived and beautifully crafted portrait. Great lighting & nice execution all round, but the best thing of all is that you made all this seem quite effortless. Mark of genuine artistic merit, in my view. 9.

blk
by Geocide

Comment:
Terrific portrait. Original and visually arresting pose, great composition/crop, nicely executed in both camera and processing. No suggestions for improvement. 10.

Things Weren't So Rosy in the 30's
by Kylie

Comment:
Congratulations Kylie... no-one has earned it more than you! Cheers.

Stress
by Bibliophile

Comment:
A very competent image; well conceived, lit and executed. Very convincing, too; she looks exactly like she's suffering a monster headache. 8.

Outcast
by L1

Comment:
This is a very good take on Pain; so much more thoughtful than nails in fruit, or Tylenol. It's well composed and well executed; a totally convincing image. 9.

Mother and Daughter
by Jerre

Comment:
Of the tiny handfull of images in this challenge that genuinely examine pain as an emotion, rather than just a sensation, this is clearly the best. Loss, grief, bewilderment and deep, unreachable pain. A very strong, unequivocal photograph, even without the heart-wrenching title. 10.

Pink Sunset
by ccraft

Comment:
This is a beautiful image. I love everything about it, except perhaps the absence of any significant pink. Maybe it's my monitor? Stuck at 5, I'm afraid.

A last warning
by jjbeguin

Comment:
Just a wonderful image. Restrained in every way, yet it still has high impact; that's a real artistic accomplishment. A terrific idea, an elegant composition, and beautifully executed both in camera and afterwards. One of my top three. 9

Clamp
by MikeO

Comment:
Processing treatment is very dramatic & makes it look like a Commandment (11th). Which I guess it is. Only moderately interesting to me, but great technical photograph. 7

Choices
by e301

Comment:
Well this is very, very impressive. A meticulous composition, it quietly extracts every possible artistic contribution from the lines of the buildings, the road, the street lighting, and the sparse but critical "props" (I even like the rubbish bag, if that's what it is). And of course the road signage is central to the motivation of the image and to its title, without being too in-your-face about it. Subtle and intelligent, this photograph can stand (and reward) several minutes' study, which is a clear measure of its strength. My top pick. 10.