Shades of Paintball
by Ruchart

Comment:
this is really well focused and framed, but i feel like the light is maybe just a little flat. i'd like to see some more contrast on the edges of the mask. 6.

The allowed on DPC version :(
by dimitrii

Comment:
this is a very nice image. i'm not sure i understand the title, this being an "open-to-editing" challenge, but it looks like you've done some work on the border, which gives the photo a more grungy feel. i like the lighting, thought it seems a tad flat. i'm thinking now that maybe the "not allowed on dpc" version includes a more liberal crop, but i think this works just fine. 8.

3 Jacks
by Musicman

Comment:
this has very poor focus. i understand the limitations of lower-end cameras, but maybe if you just backed off a bit you'd have been able to get a better focus lock on the jacks. the lighting and highlights seem pretty good, and maybe with a bit more work this would be an interesting shot. 4.

Black Pearls
by jillz

Comment:
i can see where you are going with this shot, especially with the long crop, but ultimately it ends up being a little boring. good light and reflections, though. 5.

Dignity
by Paulk

Comment:
good lighting to highlight nice textures and forms. this is a well done shot, but i'm not a big fan of shots that use some other form of art as their primary subject. 6.

When all has been said and done
by jjbeguin

Comment:
this is a very nice shot. good light, good subject. really speaks a lot. my only minor gripes would be that it's not super sharp, which doesn't bother me all that much but seems to maybe detract from it in this medium (i'm sure it looks better printed), and the fact that it seems a tad grainy. other than that, very well done. 9.

Eternal Angel
by ChrisW123

Comment:
very nice lighting and contrast. i think this really captures the essence of "low-key". the tree on the right keeps this image from being too centered, which i like. i'd love to see some more abstract, close-up, angled shots of this statue, because it has a lot of nice textures and tones to offer. good work. 7.

Loud
by pitsaman

Comment:
it's crooked. attention to detail can make or break a shot like this, and you've broken it. heh. decent lighting, good focus. i wouldn't mind seeing this with a shallower depth of field to maybe blur out some of the top of the speaker and give it a real sense of depth. 5.

lady with a shoulder drum
by kenbo

Comment:
if this was a real human, this would be such a great shot. heh. the lighting and contrast is perfect, thought it does kind of border on being not really low-key. it's more of a straight on black and white. if the background were just a bit blacker, you'd be more into the low-key frame of mind (in my opinion). a good shot, nonetheless. 7.

Soul
by KarenB

Comment:
this has the makings of a really interesting shot. so many great surfaces and curves and highlights, but this image is really dark. i'd really love to see the lighting and contrast kicked up a notch to really bring out the subtleties of the instrument. 6.