The Chemistry of Light
by brayburn

Comment:
This is an interesting concept for a headshot, but I'm a bit unconvinced that this really fits the chemistry challenge. That aside, the subtle balance of light is really great, the use of colour is excellent as the blue and orange adds a sense of drama to the image. I like the way that the orange light casts a kind of revealing light, as though your subject is peering out from the shadows and only revealing a part of her face and hand. A couple of technical flaws - theres an awful lot of noise in the image even at this small size. In a headshot like this one I find it a bit distractive. Also, I find her expression a bit unconvincing and I'm wondering what kind of message this is trying to portray. Overall, 6.

Oxidized
by FredW

Comment:
I was a bit suprised that this is the only rust image in this challenge, I guess most people overlook it as its generally around us day in day out and is easy to miss. I like the way you have captured this, the colours come out really well and the texture of the rust itself is fairly evident, although I think some subtle off camera flash would have given you more detail in this texture. Depth of field is used well to isolate your subject, but I can't help feeling its a little flat. A contrast boost and some experimentation with off camera lighting would have really made this image pop - as it is, I don't think this one stands out from the crowd enough so I give it a 5.

Experimentation with Test Tubes and Colors
by JeniY

Comment:
I like this photo, it meets the challenge well but doesn't scream chemistry. Just as well because screaming isn't the kind of emotion this picture conveys - it is very serene and peaceful and thats what makes it work so well.

The natural mix of colours compliment each other and add to that overall peaceful feel. The only niggles are the odd spot here and there which seem to distract but even so this is a great shot. 8.

Chemically Altered Experience
by Pipe_Dream

Comment:
This is the image which jumped out at me when I first flicked through the submissions. I think this one will ribbon for sure, and its easy to see why. The lighting is spot on - you really nailed it, especially with the fall off in the background blue which adds extra interest to your lighting alone. The depth of field on the face compliments the picture, and the tack sharpness of the face and water (sweat?) are great, along with the superb lighting which brings out some of the texture of the pills on the tongue. The square crop works well here too and isn't just used for the sake of it as so many other submissions have.

Finally, I like your execution of the idea enough but the idea itself deserves merit for being an outside the box approach which isn't just a dubious ploy to try to make something fit into the challenge. It does fit, and it isn't an obvious idea for the challenge which makes it all the sweeter. 9 from me.

Ink Diffusion Painting
by sooz

Comment:
The natural beauty of the ink patterns is really quite hypnotic. The pink ones at the top of this concoction work really well but soon mesh into a horrible looking mess towards the bottom of the tank. This is where your image loses some of its appeal, particularly at the very bottom of the tank where it even turns to green. It leaves me a bit uncomforatble in terms of your subject matter.

I think a closer crop of the top of the tank would have worked better, it would also mean you cut out the line in the background where your worktop meets your wall which I find somewhat distracting. Certainly an interesting attempt though, a 6 from me.

Xylem Chemistry
by Tannis

Comment:
Intersting macro subject- good use of depth of field isolates your subjects (the leaf, the water droplet) well and the idea is threaded together pretty well with the inclusion of your title to link this into the chemistry challenge.

I'd have preferred the colours a bit more saturated and crank up those blacks some too as this image is a bit flat and lifeless. The addition of the orange bug is a nice touch and with this additional colour it adds another element of interest and breaks the shot up some.

Overall 6.

Petro-Chem
by signal2noise

Comment:
This image looks very stock-like. Its sharp, clean and well lit and exposed, the guy in the background is in just the right depth of field spot - not so much that he distracts from the foreground subject and not so blurred that we cannot tell what it is. Very well executed and really adds to the image.

With the references 'petro' and 'crude' I'm guessing this is some partially distilled samples of oil and this explains the fairly narrow choice of colours from the rainbow - indeed you have made a good selection with what you have. I'd have scored this higher if it was a bit more 'out of the box' but as it is I give this an 8.

"So THAT's how it's spelled..."
by Lydia

Comment:
I like the very subtle highlight to the passage in the dictionary about chemistry but that I think is where this image meeting the challenge ends. I'm not sure of the relevance of the gecko and the pencil - to me they aren't closely related to chemistry and I've been looking at this image for a while now and can't think how they add to your theme and idea.

Technically this is fairly strong, you've obviously got some patience to make the gecko sit still for so long, or a fast shutter :) in any case, its well executed with the exception of cutting off the gecko's tail (but hey they grow back right?!). But because I'm not convinced that your idea is that closely related to chemistry I had to score this down some and give it a 4.

Secret Laboratory
by JulieB

Comment:
An interesting choice of submission for this challenge. It definately does have a dark, urban feel to it which ties in well with your secret labratory title. Although I think this meets the challenge I do think it only does so very tneuously - if the title wasn't there I'd think this was more of a garage, but that can be forgiven.

Theres plenty of interest here, the room, the objects in the background, the cieling, floor and doors all have lots going on in them and guides the viewers eye around your photo like a real estate salesperson. There is also a narrative feeling at play here like this room is telling a story and the possibilities are limitless. So I give this an 8.

Chemical Reaction
by Tammer

Comment:
The trouble with abstract shots is that you either get them or you don't. I can appreciate the merits of this photo - its relatively sharp, the interplay between colour is interesting but without being able to identify whats going on or what exactly I'm looking at, I don't reach that pleasing feeling which is your end goal with a shot like this. I'm left floundering and can't give this a high score because it just doesn't sit right with me. So, for me, this is a 5.