Rain
by TDCollins

Comment:
Looks a bit tilted, but you've heard that (and will again). It's actually more the relatively uninteresting subject that lets it down for me. I'm afraid my reaction to it is "Rain? OK, yeah ..we'd better go to the pub then." Sorry to be negative, but it just has no visual impact. 5.

The Stairwell
by riotspyne

Comment:
This is a nice composition, but I think the lurid processing lets it down a bit (at least I hope it's processing & not its natural colours). 6.

Wild
by siggi

Comment:
I think the special effects make-up has detracted from what would otherwise have been a clever portrait of an appealing subject. It was a 7 without the finger painting. 5.

Advancing storm
by nico_blue

Comment:
Nice photo, but alas ruined when you let Liberace loose on your computer. Sorry, I just think the lurid colours are too much. 4.

Beautifull Eyes!
by JeremyFleury

Comment:
Either the girl or the photo appears heavily over-processed. Pretty sure it's the photo. Sorry. 4.

one portrait
by lousy_beatnik

Comment:
I'll regret asking, but what are all the little spheres that appear to be flying out of her mouth? Did she sneeze? The background seems irrelevant and confusing, and detracts from the portrait, which I would have otherwise rated higher. Sorry. 4.

Delaney's First Christmas
by mpalitang

Comment:
Look on the bright side ... no-one can say it "doesn't fit the challenge". However, I'm afraid the fact that it no doubt has great meaning for you isn't enough to make it a great photograph. To my eye, it's flat and, alas, not very interesting. I bet it wasn't REALLY your best shot of 2004. In which case it doesn't fit the challenge after all. Best wishes to Delaney for many more. 3.

Wonders of a Winter World
by docpjv

Comment:
Nothing I've seen or read since the results of this challenge were announced has changed my mind about my earlier comments. This is a thoughtful & sophisticated composition; bokeh for grown-ups! Alas, too many seem to feel that the subject is the star, and the bokeh is just a few fuzzy circles. Whereas you clearly see the mood and the context established by the bokeh as the essence of this challenge. But then, maybe you have an advantage, living in the East?

'the seed'
by suemack

Comment:
Sadly underrated image. I felt that one of its several strengths is the extent to which an otherwise unremarkable subject has been transformed by the impact of the bokeh. I was floundering about trying to work out what this challenge was really about, until I saw this photograph. Many that rated higher were merely good photos of intrinsically interesting subjects, with a bit of blurry stuff included to "meet" the challenge. Moreover, I feel this photo has additional compositional qualities that go beyond this challenge. Finally, what a bonus to discover a Kiwi took it!

red
by grigrigirl

Comment:
Great shot of a strikingly pretty girl, but is the blurry background really bokeh, or is it just blurry? 6.
Oh, maybe it is after all; 7.