Needle Eclipse
by Zoomdak

Comment:
It's hard to decide that the reflection of a thing is more photographically interesting than the thing itself. And such a decision is drawn into question the more stuff there is that is to interfere with a perfect specular reflection - waves, sand, detritus, what have you. In this photo the risk brings the reward and then some. It is a drammatic, colorful, and serene shot. Very atmospheric.

Farm House
by Tycho

Comment:
Yo ho, the terrace! I love this photo: the way the tree matches the paint of the house, the way the roof texture matches the stony surroundings, the way the curved shadows of the terraces lead your eye through the photo. I'd have cropped out the white blob on the left, which would have gotten rid of some pesky power lines in the corner. And I suppose I might have trimmed off a bit of the top as well, but then maybe the house would not sit on the 'rule of thirds' location...

In any case, it's a good shot; I hope more people get to enjoy it.

Waldo Was Here
by Gringo

Comment:
Hmm, in order to satisfy the technical requirements of the competition we introduce an element that, once we know it is there, will distract us and ruin the effect of an otherwise strong photograph. Not sure this is a winning long-term strategy.

Hard to imagine taking this photo without getting the knees wet. The warm sunset lighting, the round boulders, and the ultrawide angle lense are a formula for success in this sort of shot. And it worked. Nice shot.

Boathouses
by Warby

Comment:
The subject is highly original. The shapes are very interesting. The lighting is ideal. And the textures of the wood and grass clearly make this rustic setting remarkable. It's a really strong shot.

While having the sea in the background adds a sense of place to the photo, I found the additional horizontal lines it offered both cluttered and confused by their close proximity to the tops of the houses. It's a quibble; and I'm not sure there could have been a way to fix this without ruining the shot.

Heat
by DogAngel

Comment:
The curved tracks filled with water draw us into the fire. This and the strong color make this a good shot. But it seems to me that the problem with the photo is the blob that is impossible to recognize as a child, or as any animate being. It's hard to recognize, even knowing what it is. Finally, I imagine that the photo could be made stronger with the left eighth or tenth cropped off - that uninteresting black column of space. Still, dispite its several flaws, it is a strong photo.

Advancing storm
by nico_blue

Comment:
When does it cross from being a photo to being a photo-derived work of art? It's a subjective question but I think this one has crossed the line. At first glance the colors are interesting, drammatic, striking. But seconds later we stop thinking about the picture and start thinking about the steps taken to make it. Then we start wondering whether the sky really would have been better without that great blob of red. Or with less of that inky blue. And then, finally, the chartreuse of the grass begins to grate. And we begin to wonder what it was we saw in the photo in that first second. That was my experience, anyway. For the first second or so, it was a real kick.

Roman Emperor (with cold) (#0068)
by Gauti

Comment:
Very Funny! If I took this shot and had a lot of time to kill, I'd consider trying to isolate the foreground from the background using photoshop. Not sure what to try, maybe make a layer with a steep 'Curves' and select light pixels ( background ) . Then try blurring and/or lightening the background so the emperor is a little more clearly distinguished from his domain. Clever shot.

Flowing River
by Zap228

Comment:
Wouldn't it be nice to know where this was taken? Or how. Normally, the long exposures required for this kind of shot require long exposure times, difficult to do under normal lighting conditions. One also wonders whether this would be better presented as a black and white photo. In any case, the soft, flow lines of the water look good on the sharply focussed rocks. Nice.

Road around Mývatn Wasteland
by russi

Comment:
The sky is drammatic. The hill is ordinary. And the photo does not bear up under scrutiny; it becomes two photos. Perhaps it would be better if most of the land were cropped a bit below the ridge. I would darken the foreground which is in shadow and brighten/saturate the hill in a kind of mirrored effect to what you did the sky. Then we would see the drama of the sunlit hill more as you and your friend did. Just an idea.

"Dune"
by birdyblue

Comment:
I think you were lucky to have taken the shot in slightly diffuse light, otherwise the shot would be without the rich mid-tones that make it an exceptional sea-side shot. I find the sand more interesting than the sky, so I think the photo could be improved by moving the horizon upward, but there is an essential balance struck between the azure sky and the tawny beach sand that ought not be compromised; reframing risks this. Nice. And congrats!