Vortex
by Budya

Comment:
Nice abstract. Puzzling in a way. Might have cropped it tighter, as the composition feels unbalanced due to the dominant lines riding up the left side of the frame and the left tilt of the major horizontal lines at the top of the liquid. Toning of the water is pleasing, sickly cyan of the background not so much.

Out of Darkness
by Balko

Comment:
Neither a puzzle nor puzzling as the subject matter is obvious. Composition is rather poor here with no apparent concern as to the placement of the subject within the frame. Large areas of black space in the lower half of the photo tend to reinforce the harsh light hitting the tops of the leaves.

So, why wasn't I in Pet Portrait? Hmm?
by snaffles

Comment:
Next time maybe let the cat work the camera. Enjoy the brown!

Woven
by tanguera

Comment:
Not really a puzzle, not really puzzling. If 'woven' is the harbinger of a puzzle, I have a stack of puzzles in my closet which keep me warm in the winter. Goofy challenge theme aside, not a bad shot. Composition is nice and good detail throughout most of the surface of the hands. One hot spot in the lower left, and a number of areas where all shadow detail has been lost. Overall not bad.

Pinned
by phylsy7

Comment:
Other than puzzle piece shapes on the pin cushion, there's really nothing to this photo. The placement of the pins appears to be haphazard, and some have even been partially cropped by the edge of the frame or are partially disappearing into the large black void in the background. There was probably a better, more creative approach to this subject. Maybe even arranging the pins in the form of a question mark and composing so that the pin cushion fills the frame. Something like that would give the photo something to say, a life of its own, rather than being a documentary shot of a pincushion.

The puzzle of the smoker
by Rino63

Comment:
An unbalanced composition. The photo is divided into quadrants, with the only substantial object occupying the upper left. The box is less a puzzle than an arrangement of product labels, and the photo itself entirely reliant upon the title for any sort of substance or meaning. Shallow dof to bring the ashtray into the composition is a nice consideration, but doesn't really add anything to the shot. The lower right corner is dying for something to occupy the space and anchor the shot.

Now, where's that corner piece?
by TrollMan

Comment:
Not so subtle play on the theme of puzzle, with cracked ice as the pieces. Exposure is good, composition is fine though the red iron ring pulls the eye given its placement in the frame, and really has nothing to offer in return. While technically competent, the photo itself is rather lifeless, offering nothing of interest beyond an allusion to the challenge theme. That's not said as an insult, but rather a call to step up the creativity to a level that matches the technical prowess.

shoe-strings
by ladibug

Comment:
Concept is good. Little kid puzzled by the great mystery of tying shoe strings. However the laces are obscured so any impact they might have provided (think a big tangle) is missing. Primary focal point of the shot is a toss up between face and point of puzzlement (fingers and shoelaces). The face is well displayed, but the expression comes across as boredom or concentration rather than a puzzled child. Hands/shoe are pushed up against the frame and come across as incidental to the shot entirely (reinforced by part of the left hand being cropped). Processing is nice, has a nostalgic feel.

Hello Kitty.....
by albc28

Comment:
Helllllloooooooooo, kitty.

ranger_portrait_2679.jpg
by Rob O

Comment:
Lol, look at the size of those paws!! Ranger is going to be a big guy!