bittersweet
by tryingtostayinfocus

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Fantastic details on the jacket sleeve of the 'bittersweet' crayon. I like the composition where you have the crayons angled on the diagonal for that adds visual interest with and interesting angle and leading lines that cut across the frame. The photo could do with just a touch more brightness and that could be easily achieved with more lighting on the subject. I wonder if it would be a bit better if there was greater Depth of field so that the crayons in back are in sharper focus as well but I am thinking you want to keep the main focus on the 'bittersweet' crayon. A small suggestion that would increase the visual appeal even more is to include the tip of the bittersweet crayon in the top right corner for it would complete the leading line of the diagonal and put the full spotlight on your main subject by showing more of it.

Softly Stitchy
by colorcarnival

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Some great details in the stitching of the baseball and textures around it. Tis a shame that only a small portion in the forefront of the ball is in such sharp focus because more details of the full stitching and the textures of the ball could be accomplished. Since it is a still life you could set the camera on a tripod, set the aperture to a very high number to increase Depth of Field, and use a slower shutter speed to get the same lighting. That could get more sharper details all around rather than just the narrow spot here in this composition.

Zip
by DistantColours

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Lighting is good, color is good and the details in the fabric and zipper are well done. The composition is what holds the photo back. Either angle or leading lines can help increase visual appeal as that generally straight on shots don't hold the eye's attention for very long. One suggestion I have to increase the visual appeal is to have the two sides of the zipper on top come out from the top left and top right corners....making the letter 'y' which coincidentally would nicely correspond with the first letter of "Y" seen stamped into the metal zipper tab.

Wine of Terror
by giantmike

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

"Only their keys were found":-) I remember the great radio ads for this wine - and not a bad wine at that either:-) Great close-up on the cork showing the variation of color and texture in the wood as well as detail in the stamped label. The diagonal angle of the main subject was a good choice for it adds visual interest to the composition.

the stuff of nightmares
by mefnj

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Title is most appropriate for this capture. The cicada emerging from the darkness and so large in the frame takes on the frightening aspect of a monster from nightmares. Lighting and details are great on this creepy insect.

The Lil` Guy
by Dudski

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Wow! Now that is fantastic! Great details on this tiny ant from the texture on the legs to the mandibles! The green things...aphids?! Now that is impressive detail! I can even see the detail in the textured veins of the leaf! Love the light and the colors. Well done shot!

Feeding
by franktheyank

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Great job in catching the butterfly drinking nector AND with it's wings open! Some great details of the flower as well and lovely hues both on the butterfly and the bokeh background. The only thing that I can suggest to make this composition even better is that if the back of the wings also were in sharp focus as the front - easier said than done I know for sometimes you just have to take the shot and hope when it comes to living creatures.

This little piggy nose everything!
by Enlightened

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Now that is a serious close-up of a pig's snout! A macro that is something different. Lighting and details are well done though it could use just a touch more of DOF to get sharper detail on the right nostril. Can't help but thing of the rhyme, "This little piggy went to the market..."

time warp
by mariuca

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to bump up and to comment.

The hankerchief, the stack of letters and the pocketwatch along with it's warped reflection invokes the idea of passage of time. Perhaps these were old love letters or letters between friends and the inclusion of the clock and the aged look to the papers gives me the story that this was a long term relationship; one that lasted decades perhaps. I love this macro for it tells a story. Great job.

reticent allure
by dswann

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Lovely light and details captured in this lily. The flower really pops off of the black backdrop. The only suggestion that I have that could improve upon the composition is to zoom in a touch more and have the stem/left leaf coming out of the bottom left corner so that the flower then travels on the diagonal of the frame increasing the visual appeal of the photo even more.