Home is wherever they are....
by RiderGal

Comment:
I like the background story. I had a cat named "Ticky" when I was little because I was trying to say kitty and they couldn't understand me ;P
I think the main problem here is that wide aperture. Focus is soft. Without dramatic lighting or some color or something... there's just not enough interest. It's sweet, but maybe if you showed a little girl's hand holding the doll upside down or something. It just needs more emotion and interest.
I also think the strict challenge topic voters probably didn't think it fit as well as some others. I can see how it signifies home to YOU, but most ppl who look at this wouldn't get a home feeling.
Overall, its a decent shot that just doesn't stand out enough from the masses. Judging the shot strictly on its own, its a good shot but not a great one due to the focus issue. It could also use some more light.

With Bells On
by frisca

Comment:
lol. those are YOUR feet? I thought it was a little girl... about age 3 or so. It was one of my favorites in the challenge by far. There seems to be a bit of a quality issue... soft focus or maybe it's light reflecting off the embroidery. I can't put my finger on it, but it isn't as clear as it could be somehow. Still, very creative and wonderful.

Illumination
by Tarbini

Comment:
Hmmm. I like looking in home magazines so I actually find some interest in seeing interior shots like this. However, the picture doesn't really stand out.
It fits the challenge, and doesn't have any big technical problems. I understand that you're trying to show the small lights with the low lighting, but I don't really like it. I'm left looking in the dark for the subject and not really finding it. There are 3 major elements that have been cut off and lead the eye out of the frame. Somehow there isn't really a subject or particular point of interest. Maybe the candle holders and star could be isolated and be more interesting without all the distractions. I guess I'm just saying that the composition doesn't really work.
I gave it a 5 which is my middle-of-the road score. It's a decent pic, but doesn't really have any strong elements to make the viewer want to take a second look. The lighting is low but not dramatic. There aren't any strong lines or color. Good effort and decent score though.

In a previous existence
by e301

Comment:
Very nice shot, and a great score to go along with it!
For such a cold subject, you did well to give it life and interest. I do like the lighting and angle you've created. Nice use of dof. Although the color doesn't really add much to the shot, I'm glad you left it. It's sort of a natural b&w shot.
I think it seems a tad flat or grey. The background seems like it should be darker maybe? The crop also seems a little too tight on the bottom and right side. I dunno. It's great as it is so I don't really have a lot of suggestions on improvements... just alternatives. It's a very good technical shot that obviously had enough interest with the viewers to score well. You took a very nice photo of a very ordinary object. Something that not many can do.. and few can do well. Congratulations.

Another Day without the Dryer
by Sonifo

Comment:
I love this composition. Kudos for doing a self portrait. I think a shot of just the two girls would be awesome though. The expression you captured is great. I agree that it'd be better without the sungasses, but my biggest irk was the coloring. It's just a little too pink. Sepia is nice, and I like the noise... maybe just a little more brown than pink

myworkspace
by sanandan

Comment:
simplify. the drawing is really cool. get rid of somet of the other stuff

Like Soldiers Marching Into Battle
by mariomel

Comment:
I love this. I just wish it made me think "office" more... it may be your office, but I doubt many other ppl would get that idea from it. Still... VERY cool.

Is it here yet?
by DavidLevin

Comment:
Technically, this isn't a bad shot. I think the biggest problem is just the subject. Why did you choose this? This topic gives you so much leeway in choosing a great topic. You basically could take the best shot you can think of... and this is it?
As far as improving the shot that you chose... I think the composition needs a little help. The frame is divided in half by the mailbox and road. It'd work better to have that strong line further away from the center.
It's also bothersome to have those cars right along the top. I would have tried to put them behind the box to avoid the distraction. Doing just a shot of the mailbox in itself might be ok. If you could isolate it better or put a more interesting background behind it and do one of those things where you desaturate everything but the red flag. It just needs more interest to stand out.
Technically, you can take a good shot of your subject. You just need to be more imaginative with your subjects. People need to care about your picture and want to spend more than two seconds looking at it.
Look at other shots that you like and what subjects have been chosen. The trick is to come up with a good subject and an interesting way to show it.

Pensive
by Aaron

Comment:
Hmmm... My main issue with this picture was the lighting, but your other comments suggest that atleast those who commented mostly liked it. I don't like blown out areas. They just draw the eye and distract from the rest of the shot. Perhaps you did it on purpose, but did you try diffusing the light with some cloth or bouncing it off something so that it wouldn't be so harsh in those places?
Other than that.. I like this shot. I like the crop and composition. I like how there's more space on one side than the other. I like how the darkness envelopes the subject. A tad more light on that one eye would be nice.
I also don't like the white button, but it isn't a big deal.
Overall it's a strong picture that went up against some very great shots. I personally think that it would've done better without the hot spots. Focus looks pretty good to me. The most important thing with portraits is to have the eyes in focus and they seem to be.

Abstract Liquid Art (Food Coloring On Milk)
by GolferDDS

Comment:
Looks like a Rorschach ink blot test... I see birds :) cool abstract idea. Not sure yellow is the best frame color.