A Service To Your Country
by maxj

Comment by popdeepop:
Thanks for sharing.

A Service To Your Country
by maxj

Comment by dockode:
I don't feel that the image conveys instantly recognizable decision. Good try, good pic.

A Service To Your Country
by maxj

Comment by mycelium:
I feel like the decision should be clear without having to read the title. In this case, it isn't, so even though it's a nice picture in its own right, I don't think it meets the challenge well...

A Service To Your Country
by maxj

Comment by dpakoh:
This to me, would almost imply that giving service to the country results in death. I'm not sure if this is a clear choice for the topic. 4

A Service To Your Country
by maxj

Comment by Caane:
Ok but thats it.

A Service To Your Country
by maxj

Comment by Pedxer:
Nice, but incorporate the theme into the title.

The Clearing
by maxj

Comment by justin_hewlett:
Wow, what a brilliant landscape. Looks like it was an absoulutely beautiful scene, would love to have been there in person. Great shot!

Sunset Promenade
by maxj

Comment by Skip:
this is killer! but, this time, the horizon is definitely tilted. if you're using ps, use the measure tool (click the dropper tool, rt-click and select measure) to draw a line; then go to image | rotate | arbitrary and click ok...bang! crop it and you're done! clean it up, and you'll get another fave ;-)

Reflections of a Day Bygone
by maxj

Comment by Skip:
awesome shot, max! it might be an optical illusion, but it appears your horizon is slightly tilted down to the left...left me know if i'm wrong.

Stand Up
by maxj

Comment by scrum8:
I remember this photo and rated it high for being unique, among flower macros. I thought you had to use manual focus in order grab the stamens and not the petals. DPC generally isn't a good environment for macros, pets, or your children. Perhaps they are too easy, and voters perceive a lack of effort. Unless of course, that is what the challenge calls for.

You are getting better. You have graduated from the 4's to the 5's, and you'll continue into the 6's depending on your rate of learning and desire. Don't forget to photograph the stuff you like also. The challenges will make you stretch and learn by forcing you out of your comfort zone.

The excruciating part is after having reached a particular level, you'll still make a mistake and enter a photo you shouldn't have. Not a bad photo, just one you shouldn't have submitted. That has happened to me time, and time again, but I'm learning and making fewer of those mistakes.