come join us
by Car54

Comment:
to me, there seems to be too much balance between the cyclists and the skyline. i might have tried, as you may have, cropping the top down so the people were the bottom two-thirds, maybe even more, and go for a very panoramic perspective. still a very interesting picture.

A Flying Finish
by AnneShirley

Comment:
5

Kite Racing
by sfalice

Comment:
5

Pi
by ZeppKash

Comment:
I think I would have like this one more had it a greater feeling of depth. It's an interesting idea with a quirky post-processing to it, but it feels stilted.

Beauty and the Beast
by dannylee

Comment:
Conceptually a very good idea, but the lack of focus is too distracting.

Yesterday's Paper
by vontom

Comment:
Thanks everyone, for your comments. In response: yes, I did "plan" this, but, in the 20-MPH winds I was shooting in, catching a shot of this flying piece of newspaper was tough :). Ergo, composition was kind-of far from my mind. I did base this on the idea from American Beauty, though it's been a while since I saw tha tmovie. I guess, from the responses, I was close enough. I am curious as to what you think would have made a better background? (those of you who commented on that). I have to say I am pretty pleased with the result. My first entry with a DLSR, my highest rating (by a lot), and a top 25 finish, Woo! Again, thanks for the comments.

Gliding Along
by rkligman

Comment:
Composition: 7, Technical: 5, Appeal: 5, Challenge: 5, Overall Calculated Average Score: 6

Per your qustions: when I began my review phase, I started with your pic. Seemed fair, you were the first to ask a question. I did, slightly revise my score, but to answer you:

I felt the gliding, as you said, was good, and placed well, but with the birds feet in the water, it feels mired on the right side. In an ideal world, catching him just before he hit would have made this composition just go "POW!" With its feet in the water it lacks some of the motion you wanted.

Probably as a consequence of the shutter speed and fast motion of the subject, the bird is just the tiniest bit blurred. Either more, to really accentuate the motion, or less, to freeze it would have perhaps been more pleasing. Also, the water looks really odd to me. Not quite enough spray to feel captured, and not smooth enough. Again, it's sort of in a middle ground.

On a personal level, I don't care much for pictures of animals, so for appeal, it loses some for me there, but for others, particularly those who love animals, it'll balance out. And for challenge, I could see how this relates, but it is more about the bird than the wind, so middle of the road there too. Hope the comments elucidate my opinion better for you.

Miller
by Azrifel

Comment:
Composition: 7, Technical: 7, Appeal: 5, Challenge: 7, Overall Calculated Average Score: 7

Hair
by rmtm333

Comment:
Composition: 7, Technical: 7, Appeal: 6, Challenge: 7, Overall Calculated Average Score: 7

Carry me!, and show me the world.
by Valdo

Comment:
Composition: 7, Technical: 6, Appeal: 6, Challenge: 7, Overall Calculated Average Score: 7