The Elusive Hamadryad
by skewsme

Comment:
Assuming this is a cutout, something about it doesn't yield a believable image to me. Maybe it's how she's not as sharp as her surroundings, or that she's brighter than the rest of the hole she's in. I like the concept a lot, but the execution isn't there. 5.

It's interesting to me it was validated. I wonder what made someone think this wasn't legit?

Enter the Forest
by lifternessjt

Comment:
I'll give you that the forest appears dark and mysterious here. But the composition and silhouettes of the trees don't grab me. I'm sorry I can't be more specific, but that's the case with a lot of images I rate as a 5, which I'm doing here. To me, that means it meets the challenge and it's a decent shot, but it's not really great. 5.

Mary Poppins
by Shermy

Comment:
I like the concept a lot. Something's just missing for me. Maybe the cloudy sky isn't interesting enough, or maybe it's that "Mary" seems rooted to the ground. Even a little air under her would've added a lot. 5.

The Magic Hour
by Jaded_Housewife

Comment:
I understand that with your title you mean magic light for photographers, but that's too narrow for me in this challenge. It's a very pretty sunset or sunrise, but not especially strong in the magic or mystery. 5.

Silhouette
by Breeee123

Comment:
It meets the challenge in that unicorns are magical. But the image itself doesn't really grab me. Maybe if the clouds had been sharp? 5.

Houdini and Me
by Jimmie

Comment:
I like the elements in the photo, but it's not an especially dramatic presentation. Stronger lighting from one side, with some shadows, might help, or maybe a different angle. 5.

Just some of my magic tricks...
by Dirt_Diver

Comment:
It clearly meets the challenge, which for me starts it at 5.

However, this is a pretty dead-on take on some magic tricks. Nothing too dramatic about the layout or the lighting (which is flat). Try playing with lights next time to create some shadows or try a lower angle.

It's reasonably sharp and decently lit, though, so it's still a 5.

The Magic of Fatherhood
by manic35

Comment:
I originally gave this a 5 because the image didn't convey magic or mystery to me, but it's a nice shot nonetheless. And I usually expect the picture to tell the story, with the title as icing on the cake. However, here the title got me to broaden my perspective (esp. since I have two young daughters!).

Now, looking at the photo itself, I like the lighting, how you placed the baby and the dad's face, and of course the baby's expression! B&W works nicely, too.

6.

"She turned me into a newt!"
by bvoi

Comment:
This image meets the challenge, because I can see it's somehow about magic, so I start with a 5. Her expression is funny, but a little blurry, and I don't really understand how the orange ball relates to her expression or the newt. I tend to prefer titles that are icing on the cake and have the image tell the story, and even with the title, it's missing something for me. I do like the composition - her face, the ball, and the newt are in good positions. 5.

Enchanted Waters
by wsteyn

Comment:
Interesting. To me, I get "enchanted forest with maybe a witch's cottage in it." So the title doesn't mesh with the image for me. Not counting against it for that reason, just mentioning it. As for the image, as I said, it does evoke magic, but not strongly, and the colors are so muted as to not really grab me. Just my opinion, of course. 5.