"High in the Sunlit Silence"
by JiaBob

Comment by quiche:
Very nice, especially the wings.

Burning Sand
by JiaBob

Comment by JunieMoon:
I see what you mean about the score. I guess I was the only one that actually gave you a high score (9) Why did I? Because it was different and artistic. I like artistic. Unfortunately, as I have been told in my own artistic endeavors, it doesn't cut it with DP. Perhaps they didn't like the shallow dof, or maybe they felt the flame was too out of focus, or maybe they just thought it didn't meet the challenge, but I would definitely post it in an individual photo thread and see what the masses have to say. You should take heart in the fact that the bulk of the voters did give you an even 5. A few more higher scores would have put you at least into the 5 category.

Seven Hands, Stud
by JiaBob

Comment by JunieMoon:
The focus is really good on this. The choice of red as a background also works to give the photo some pop. As to why the photo scored so low, can't help you there. I would have probably given this about a 6, mostly because I am not necessarily seeing why 7 pairs of hands can be considered lucky. If it is your family, then you are lucky to have seven members. However, I am not sure most would know that. I think this was mostly a failure because the voters could not see a real connection between the challenge and the photo. But that is only my opinion. Believe me I have a slew of stinkers myself. Look at my earliest entries and you will know how I struggled as well.

Triplets
by JiaBob

Comment by JunieMoon:
This is very cute. However, cute does not always cut it with DP. They are looking for something that isn't so obvious. They would consider this a lazy photo, one that you did not actively engage in, you simply happened to be in the right place at the right time, snapped a good photo, and submitted. Still, the score is 5.5, so it had some aesthetic appeal with voters.

Burning Sand
by JiaBob

Comment by JunieMoon:
Wow, how did you get sand to burn? Very artistic,

Symmetrical Stripes
by JiaBob

Comment by nam:
You said you would like comments on entries, not necessarily this one but on entries, so I came over to see what you have that I voted on. Gave this one a 6. I thought it fit the challenge very well and was nicely focused. Head on is tough but you pulled it off and again it works particularly well for "symmetry". I think this one could have scored quite a bit better with a few post-processing tweaks. I would have liked to see blacker blacks (especially) and whiter whites in the zebra - maybe a little dodge and burn (esp). The image feels crooked. I would rotate clockwise. You might also try this in black and white - zebra images work particularly well that way and the green wouldn't overpower the subject if you did. Just some ideas I would try - I think you have a very nice photo here.

An Independent Tree
by JiaBob

Comment by JuliBoc:
Great composition and subject. With a little more post processing this would be stellar.

Burning Sand
by JiaBob

Comment by P-A-U-L:
Hot stuff!!

An Independent Tree
by JiaBob

Comment by mefnj:
looks a little washed out... needs more contrast

An Independent Tree
by JiaBob

Comment by ecmguy:
I like the composition you chose, but it's a little washed out. I think a levels adjustment or using the black and white adjustment tool in photoshop to selectively desaturate it might have really added some punch. (voted earlier)