Poppies at Sunset
by jblaylockrayner

Comment:
Why aren't you first?

Good Times Bad Times
by mehrandj7

Comment:
Led Zeppelin, not Rolling Stones.

Placebo
by meyers

Comment:

Originally posted by OmanOtter: Sandstrider: You sound like a 60's hippie with the "judge like a child" stuff. Think about the implications of what you're saying: As long as it's done in a photographically-excellent way, the message doesn't matter. So, a photo that intentionally attacks or mocks a culture or group of people is just fine as long as it's well-executed or esthetically-pleasing?! Christians are certainly not "a known majority" in the country where I live, or any country anywhere near where I live. Do you ever get out of the United States?

Well, thanks for calling me a hippie, I like the 60's, but I missed them by being born 20 years late of '69. It's sad. This is a photography site, we are judging photography not religious beliefs. Yes I have been out of the U.S., sadly mostly to Europe though. I am planning on going to China though. I've always wanted to go to the middle east, or to India, but my parents won't let me. I love deserts. My reference to Christianity was not meant to be regionally-offending though, and for that I apologize. I meant on earth in general, and I didn't mean the majority, i meant a majority, as in one of the major faiths on earth. I can safely assume most of the people viewing this are Earth-borne, I cannot assume the are all residents of Oman.
On a lighter note, what's Rub' al-Khali like? It's near you and I've considered living there for a while.

Placebo
by meyers

Comment:

Originally posted by OmanOtter: Had this photo included symbols of other religions alongside the Bible (e.g. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddist and Hindu symbols together) it would have communicated the inoffensive opinion that religion is a placebo without singling-out a particular group.

It also would have been horribly cluttered and lacked the emphasis it had, I think it is trying to show prayer and the most generally seen view of prayer is Christianity, which is a known majority. This picture should be judged purely on composition, lighting, and such. It should not be judged by your personal political standpoint, and even if it does offend you, doesn't that make it all the more powerful. We should not hide what we disagree with, but see it with open eyes, judge it fairly as a child would, and then reflect on it.

Despite what other people say I think lighting is good, the subject is clear, and the book is more of a background to set the mood and augment the overall meaning of the image. This one was my favorite in the challenge. The shadow on the Bible adds a beautiful finishing effect.

Fly Away
by Joey Lawrence

Comment:
10, I'm can't vote in this challenge because I'm not a paying member, but 10 anyways.

Flower remedy
by aditi

Comment:
Good Picture, Bad Quality

Thou art my Chair, and I will praise thee
by LanceW

Comment:
Brilliant!!!

Thank you veterans
by emtmdh

Comment:
Crop a little off the top to right below those buildings in the back, so the image is balanced equally upper-left to lower-right and it is perfect. If it wasn't tilted it would not be a good shot at all, too bad you couldn't crop for entry.

$3 Apathy
by Citadel

Comment:
Don't center your center of focus like that unless they have a distinctness (color, shape, contrast, closeness, etc.) that makes them stand out from their surroundings, and even then it is not always the best thing to do, but besides that good subject and portrayal of apathy. It is also not good to (if you do) have multiple subjects, unless they are all together.

Always rushing
by Simpa

Comment:
Really Good Angle