Thrust
by markwiley

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Love the motion blur shown in this fencing match (a foil I believe from what little I can see of the handle and blade). That blur adds to the sense of action going on. I think it would improve the composition if both the blade and the helmet were in better focus...and perhaps a tad bit more focus detail on the fencer on the left as well. The detail is there on the blade and the legs of the lunging fencer, but it just needs a little more on the helmet/head. It is a difficult thing to get the right amount of motion blur to show the action balanced with the right amount of focus on the subjects to showcase some detail, but I believe with that perfect balance this would take this from a good shot to an excellent shot.

It's always going to be something with you......
by herfotoman

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

The B&W tones are fabulous. It captures the action of the girl's singing quite well, but it seems too distant and at first glance there seems nothing more to the picture. Those who choose to linger will spot an interesting counterpoint to the joyful singing in the sullen girl in the top left. As I mentioned before that it seemed distant - it is because I think you need to bring us closer to the 'action' - draw us in closer to the element of the story you wish to tell. Here it gets lost in a sea of girls. A closer crop and a square crop will bring the viewer in for a closer more personal look and feel.

Survival
by PenelopeK

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

I think why I find this most appealing is the texture and the mood captured. The blue crackle backdrop both in color and overall feel gives me the sense of a cold, blustery day - the kind where the air is so crisp it crackles. The branches/willowy weed/flowers adds to the scene in that I see and 'feel' that cold wind rushing through - blowing the foliage making it bend and reach.

To Shed A Single Tear
by Basta

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Fabulous lighting, color and detail in this floral shot. Love the glow on the background for it makes the orchid glow; thus taking center stage. The teardrop coming off center petal is that little extra detail that makes this floral shot stand out.

Bear, Boy, Baby
by fngood83

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Great capture! Love the smile on the boy and the baby snuggled with the giant teddy bear is adorable. Great lighting and fabulous composition of subjects - this is a wonderful children's portrait.

remainder
by tanguera

Comment:
Within these walls are the voices of those long past. From time to time their spirits manifest and walk the halls. They are silent - never keening, never shrill. Malicious they are not, they just are a ghost of their former selves.

Great color, clarity and mood in this capture.

Old Chair
by photokop

Comment:
Alone in the corner,
Pale, pink and bare
sat old Miss Mary's chair.
Long had it cradled her
as the many decades passed.
Be it knitting, reading,
or even eating curds & whey,
it was her comfortable
space to just sit.
It is now empty for
Mary Muffet is gone.
The spiders no longer
frightened and swept away,
begin to weave cobwebs
as the dust settles.

The Dreamer
by gsal

Comment:
Danielle wiped away the frost on the glass. They day was cold and wet but still she insisted on sitting next to the window. As the miles stretched on she gazed out at the country and cityscapes, but eventually it all became a blur of 'sameness'. The train was limited to the places it could travel. But Danielle's imagination was not bound to any tracks leading from point A to point B. Her imagination could take her any which where she wished to go.

The Wonder of the City
by fngood83

Comment:
Toby pressed his nose and small hands upon the glass. He stared out of that big wide circle; a window to the outer world of the city scene and streets below. In his travels to see his grandma he liked to look out of windows to see what could be seen. But this- this great, wide window was unlike any other view.

It allowed him to see more. He like to watch the people walk by knowing that they could not see him. Sometimes, like today, he would wish that he was out there. For there among all the blare of the traffic and people rushing about was a lady walking her puppy. For just one second the pup seemed to look up at Toby. In that instant Toby longed to pet him; to have a dog of his own. Windows allow you to see, but not touch. The moment quickly passed as the lady and the pup turned a corner. Toby was left to looking and wishing.

Piggyback
by AV8R

Comment:
June and her son, Rhys, looked up to see the shuttle take to the skies one last time. The shuttle's space will now be forever grounded in a museum. It was sad to say goodbye knowing that it would be quite a long time, if ever, before another fleet of space craft would be built. June patted her son on the shoulder. She knew Rhys was taking this a bit harder as it was his dream to work in the space industry; to work for NASA. In his last year of High School, Rhys would perhaps have to broaden his horizons and look into other avenues of space exploration in the business sectors. They both just sat in silence and watched as the space shuttle flew off into the morning light.