Ansel's Backyard
by love

Comment:
This is one gorgeous picture, from the textures, to the reflections, to the ducks, this has everything going for it. I think you got the exposure almost dead on, except for the one bright spot at the top of the tree, burn that just a little. Also, the twigs and stuff laying on the ground are a little cluttered and do not add to the picture, maybe a little site cleanup before taking the picture (bottom right corner). Even with saying that, I'm still giving this a 9. Good Shot!

A Grandmother's Look
by skief

Comment:
For anyone interested, here's the original...


It was fun taking this lady's picture. I was going around to some Orthodox churches looking for someone to take a picture of, and saw her walk up, started talking to her, and I had my camera to the side of me on a monopod, and as she was talking to me (she was looking right at me), I was snapping pictures off to the side not knowing how they were being composed. I had to crop a bunch to get it the way I liked.

His Gentle Eyes
by annasense

Comment:
Annasense, just wondering why you marked every comment on this picture helpful except for mine?

I'm hoping you didn't take it that I was ignoring your photo, but rather that was the feeling that he was giving me in looking at the picture.

After looking at the photo more, the eyes looking over my left shoulder make my eyes go look over his left shoulder which gives me the background with the really bright/overblown highlights. This makes me ignore what you really wanted me to look at in his eyes. Just sit and stare straight at his eyes for 30 seconds (try not to let your eyes wander) and see what you want to do...

Two other things on the photo, the sheen on his nose and cheekand the overblown highlights in the background, with just a touch of the burn, that would go away and give a better picture.

Also, like others have said, bump the contrast up just a bit.

His Gentle Eyes
by annasense

Comment:
His eyes are gentle, but the problem I have with them, is that they are looking over my shoulder. They are not looking at me, nor are they far enough away that they are looking at something else. It just gives me a funny feeling having him look past me. The feeling is that he is not interested in me, so why should I be interested in him.

Bismuth Crystal
by postoakinversion

Comment:
Fascinating shape on the crystal. Wish there was something in the picture to give me a sense of scale on it. I would also give it a tighter crop.

Underneath The Eiffel Tower
by Apollo2077

Comment:
The lens flare on this picture helps to add emphasis to it, but unfortunately the location of the flare being right on the edge of the photo, with the flares pointing right to it, makes the eye jump off the picture.

Guiding Lights
by insteps

Comment:
The picture leaves me with a feeling of incompleteness, there is something here that I'm not seeing. I think part of the problem is that I get a feeling that the picture is falling over to the left. Maybe a slight rotation clockwise would help. It may also be that I am wanting to see stuff a little farther down, the focus seems to be on the supposed line between the ceiling and the walls, with not enough of either to be really interesting.

Tracks
by Gracious

Comment:
Good eye on seeing what could be an interesting picture in the ordinary. I think had this been a 'textures' this picture would do better, especially if it cut off the bottom right and top left that weren't part of the 'pattern', as it is, those two parts being different tend to draw my eyes to those corners and away from the pattern you were trying to focus on. Contrast also seems a little harsh.

Lines,Shadows & Needles
by biggood53

Comment:
While the pattern is complex, there is nothing in the picture for me to really focus my eyes on, leaving a somewhat bland combnation of brown colors. Exposure is pretty much right on. It is difficult to get a lot of detail on digital shots that have a lot of intricate patterns (especially when you have to compress the shots), this means that the pinecones don't hold any interest except to make a person wonder if they are droppings or pine cones.

Aloft
by Brad

Comment:
Great lighting on this photo, but I think it leaves me wanting to see the boat itself, if not the whole thing, at least more of the prow.