all about me
by jmritz

Comment:
Just look at those two sparkling comments below, and then contrast & reflect on the fact that more people voted this 4 than any other number. Imagine the lumpen intelligence that it takes to see this as a 4. I can forgive the 1, the 2s and even the 3s. At least they are taking a stand. There's some passion in 3-and-under. But 4? 4 is just an abrogation of imagination. Voting 4 on this picture says, "I'm as dull as a plank and I don't care: that's the way I like it."

Gun control may be out of the question, but if they ever introduce camera control I'll happily disarm the people who gave this a 4.

Them and us
by Paul

Comment:
Funny to find you way down here in this unaccustomed place. Your new lights are shining into the nasty corners already. It's dusty and smelly, but there's not so many footprints, fag ends and discarded chip packets. So it all balances out in the end. Cheers.

Chasing Pavements
by Melethia

Comment:

three thumbs = my top pick & hang it on my wall anytime.
OK, so after half a dozen short-then-shorter lists this is my top pick. Last man standing. Why?

First thing is, it's beautiful. Really very beautiful; shapes, tones, light and all the aesthetics are visually pleasing. The muted colours are lovely. And the composition is inspired. This is a view that most of us have seen many times, and yet I've never seen it captured as beautifully as this. Those were my first thoughts.

My second thoughts were that this is three frames from a film (I speak figuratively of course). A man stands watching, almost from the wings, as a strange cinema plays past him. He can enter the movie; he can stay where he is and watch the movie; or he can leave the theatre and the movie will still play to an empty house.

I didn't dare have any third thoughts.

Thank you.

boop
by bvy

Comment:

two thumbs = top four & hang on my wall anytime.
It's not really street photography. Or actually it is, but it's street photography that most street photographers don't understand. Bold and yet subtle. Simple yet layered. And 100% organic and additive-free! Contains no artificial anything.

It doesn't have an obvious hook (like a strange juxtaposition, or an unintended visual pun). But it does have a lovely 'closed' feeling, as if you had captured these people and their props in an enchanted bubble, as in a stage play.

Their expressions are interesting; his a little cock-sure, and hers a little apprehensive. But you do feel that they are connected strangers, somehow. And that when they probably part in a moment, he will look after her, and she will glance back too. Betty Boop figures that it all depends on whether the girl's very tentative 10% smile opens up to 50% or more. The importance of Betty can't be overestimated here.

This is a very strong example of why a good and durable photograph is about substance over style. Thank you.

Buddha nature pervades the whole universe
by Tiberius

Comment:

two thumbs = top four & hang on my wall anytime.
It's lovely, and uncommon too. Zen without negative space cliches. A rare and welcome combination on both counts. Thank you.

Odho
by Alex_Petrini

Comment:

one thumb = top ten & hang on my wall anytime.
I love photographs that are about their margins, and what lies beyond beyond the margins. I love photographs where the meaning is uncertain and the questions are not resolved. I love this. Thank you.

Bubba's
by timfythetoo

Comment:

two thumbs = top four & hang on my wall anytime.
This is a very modern photograph, something like Martin Parr's work I think. The uncompromising presentation, unsoftened by the smallest sentiment, not eased by any kind of photographic convention or artifice, not animated by a defining or engaging view of any of the people, is all so perfect for this improbable subject. Bubba's small castle looks as out of place here, in what seems like a farmer's field, as it would on the surface of the moon. Bubba himself is represented only by a possible part-silhouette in the window and an empty lawn chair in the sun. A wonderful tribute to the tastelessness of popular taste in 100 fabulous flavors. It's deliciously awful and I love it. It's also excellent documentary photography, in a definitely-not-Dorothea-Lange kind of way. Thank you.

9:17:32
by chazoe

Comment:

one thumb = top ten & hang on my wall anytime.
A lovely, improbable thing. From a photography point of view, the tones are quite glorious, absolutely as deep and filled with character as anything done on medium format film; and the depth of field control is superb too. From an art point of view, it's even better, because it invites (demands, really) that the viewer supply a suitable narrative. A picture that inspires a story, rather than a picture that insists on telling a story. So much better for that. Thank you.

slipsliding
by herfotoman

Comment:

one thumb = top ten & hang on my wall anytime.
Beautiful in every way. It's a simple conception but so perfectly executed; in the mind, in the camera and maybe later a bit too (though it feels more like the product of a camera with an attractive stutter than it does any kind of post production). I especially admire the decreasing resolution ... the more we see of the subject the less information about her we really get. It's way more sophisticated than it looks at first glance and my own top ten tribute may be selling it short after all. Thank you.

Sunrise through the kitchen window
by 2mccs

Comment:

one thumb = top ten & hang on my wall anytime.
I love the prosaic made beautiful by thoughtful and sympathetic photography. Thank you.