The end
by mtreit

Comment:
The dark tones and dramatic lighting work with the subject of a lone chess king on its side to form a vivid image of defeat. Not quite desolation, which to my mind is more permanent than a lost game, but I guess it works in a symbolic way. Great use of negative space.

ENTER THE DISMAL SKY
by basia03

Comment:
That sky certainly is dismal. But it is also interesting, and you've managed to capture a lot of detail in the clouds. The land and water are blurry, but that's acceptable since your subject is the sky. I personally don't see this as a portrayal of desolation; indeed the rain in those clouds will help the forest grow.

Her hands lie idle now
by neenee1999

Comment:
I like your approach to the challenge. I like the choice of subject and the arrangement of the objects. The title is essential to properly interpret the photo which will bother some people, but I like it. The obvious pixelation adds a fuzziness to the image that adds to its character and enhances its message; this is a uniquely digital technique that I think should be used more often. But you need to watch for diagonal lines like the shadow on the left that gives a stair effect with large pixels. This photo would be a lot more effective if the overall tone was darker and the lighting was softer (the glare across the sewing machine, which should be dark, is especially distracting). A more interesting background would be helpful as well.

"Grandpa Is Babysitting"
by autool

Comment:
Cute photo. And very resourceful of grandpa to install a jail for when he needs to babysit! The white foreground and background keep the overall tone of the photo light and helps the viewer realize that humor is the intent here. The red dress contrasts nicely with the girl's skin tones and the copper bars. The texture of the wall helps distinguish foreground from background and so adds depth to the image. Nicely done; very creative and my favorite entry to this challenge.

Inside Herself
by sagestudio

Comment:
I send my daughter to visit her cousins for a few weeks, and she not only gets her picture on the Internet, but she gets addicted to DPChallenge! I'm going to have to start fighting her for camera time now!! This is a nice photo (I'm trying to be unbiased here). The lighting is intentionally harsh to create the mood you wanted, yet you succeeded in getting a wide tonal range, particularly on her face which was probably tricky without being able to use the dodge tool. I don't usually care for borders, but the thick one here works as part of the tightly cropped and nearly square composition to emphasize being "boxed in".

We're off to the Pacific!
by chalcone

Comment:
This photo says it all: swells as high as the boat, giant raindrops, a menacing sky, and two boys off on an adventure. Well captured.

Two-colored sunrise
by chalcone

Comment:
This reminds me of some science fiction stories I've read set on worlds with two suns. That the cloud formations can give our single sun this effect is unusual. That you were able to capture it so beautifully is amazing. Great photo.

Where no one can live
by russi

Comment:
I like the colors and the smoke. This is certainly a desolate place. Seems a bit pixelated.

Home Sweet Home
by giants

Comment:
The subject's expression, the way she is lit, and the decrepit surroundings combine to make an emotional portrayal of desolation here. The title adds further emphasis.

Quoth the raven....
by Faye Pekas

Comment:
The vertical lines in the rotting wood contrast nicely with the horizontal lines in the water. The use of the raven as a symbol of desolation is a nice touch, and the title nicely ties the photo to Poe's literary masterpiece on the subject.