Chasing Wishes
by njsabs

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Wow, what a fabulous field to be running and playing in! The grain is subtle and not overbearing giving this photo a feel of it being a captured on 35mm film. Love the B&W tones, the details, and the playful mood of this photo. Wonderful job!

Memories of springtime past
by mefnj

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

The vignette and the image grain really helps to project that mood and feel of a memory recall of a pleasant spring. Perhaps it was this person's first year in a home, not a house, where the planted tulips finally began to bloom in the lovely backyard. I was going to offer the critique that there was too much negative space by including all the fence until I saw the complimentary shapes. Love how the tapered & pointed shape of those pink tulips match the tapered & pointed shape of the top of the fence.

mygrain
by daisydavid

Comment:
Voted earlier, bumping it up, and coming back to comment.

This composition has such a surreal vibe to it! The B&W, the image grain, and the double exposure of disconected hands holding the camera in front of the man with the intense stare has a 1940's film noir meets sci-fi atmosphere. It makes my mind wander wondering what is the story going on behind the mind - what images does he capture and is he a traveler of sorts either in time or dimensions?

Dogwood
by Budya

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

There is just something so delicate and airy about these dogwood flowers that it is pleasant to look at. Great bokeh that allows these flowers to pop visually off of their natural environment. :-) And I do like how the branch extrudes out of the bottom right corner and fans out into the frame. My only critique is that I think there is a bit too much grain that it actually gives the flowers a 'heavy weight' negating some of that dainty feel and taking away some of that pristine 'ethereal' white color by darkening it. I feel if you pull back and make it a little more subtle it would improve the visual look and feel of this lovely photo.

A Whole Life Going Home
by jagar

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Another great capture of a slice of life in an old European town. Great B&W tones that really show off the details in the cobblestone streets and architecture of the shoppes that lay so close to each other. The image grain just helps add to that feel of 'age'....of lifetimes this cobblestone street has seen.

Sage Thrasher on the run.
by hahn23

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Wow, what a fabulous catch! Love the stop motion of the bird with it's legs swinging in full run. Light and details are great! The image grain seems very subtle but it *is* there giving a textural feel to the feathers and the grittiness of the clumping & melting snow. Nicely done.

Grain, dust and bottles
by GiorgioBaruffi

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Love the warm light that illuminates these dusty wine bottles. The image grain adds to that feel of age which complements this photo of wine bottles. It certainly makes me think 'vintage wines' when I look at the picture.

where have all the flowers gone.....
by grahamgator

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Love the muted warm tones in this composition. It projects a mood of a fond memory of walking in a spring field. The image grain helps strengthen the mood and feel. The grains 'texture' feels like a time-worn memory as it is played back in the mind's eye.

Solitude
by MAK

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to comment.

Love the dynamic B&W tones in this composition. The way the light hits the wall and travels down makes my eye travel to the single flower in the vase sitting alone on the steps. The mood of the piece feels a little sad. The light of day is retreating and there lies a memento of love sitting forgotten and alone on the steps.

Girl with a Pearl Earring
by Alex_Petrini

Comment:
Voted earlier, bumping up, and coming back to comment.

Very nice nod to Vermeer's classic painting. Lighting, expression, and model dress & pose are fantastic! I love the image grain here for it gives it a textural feel to compliment the nod to a painting. Also, the brown dress/cowl now has a feel and look of wool. Well done - hope to see this in the top 10.