A Soldier Story
by albc28

Comment by JackieK:
Great shot! Nice high contrast effect!

A Soldier Story
by albc28

Comment by broadwaybill:
support our troops

Clean and Sober after Supper
by albc28

Comment by DrAchoo:
Well, you chose the right challenge as I think this would have done even worse in color on color. A few issues. First is subject matter. I think the average person looked at this and just asked "huh?". It doesn't seem to represent something in real life. The title indicates it is "after supper", but we have two full glasses of water, a clean napkin, and a clean plate. I do like your attempt at "creating" something (I like to do that myself), but in this case I think it just was something that didn't resonate with the voter.

Technically the shot could have used a little more contrast (especially the blacks). It is quite centered compositionally which lends even more of a static feel which may not be helpful. The picture also looks somewhat soft. Perhaps that was on purpose, but a bit of USM could have helped there. I'm sure the despeckle and dust and scratches removed some detail as well.

Keep working at things. I see you are making an effort to come up with something original. That's always good.

A Soldier Story
by albc28

Comment by Elaine:
Sorry, but I don't see any action. It also seems like this was taken in bright sunlight, and you might have gotten more detail on a cloudy day or at a different time.

A Soldier Story
by albc28

Comment by MPRPRO:
Too much contrast, I hate voting this down I love the military but on a photographic view it is just too much contrast.

A Soldier Story
by albc28

Comment by Blackbox:
The colors look funny to me...almost like it's been overexposed?

Still bright in the midst of it's on death
by albc28

Comment by OdysseyF22:
What might have worked better for you here would be to not totally desaturate the whole image, but to leave a wash of color. Maybe set the saturation slider at -65ish, and then mask out the single flower, as you did, and boost it back up to full, or even a more than full (+25ish?).

dragonfly edited (resize).jpg
by albc28

Comment by OdysseyF22:
The contrast between colors and darks and light makes him jump right out. If you DoF had been just a little larger, with the other wing more in focus, it'd be perfect. But even as it is, it's very good, and the detail in the wings is amazing - especially like the light glinting off it.

A Soldier Story
by albc28

Comment by Diablito:
very disturbing effect.. the ground is glowing.. and the sky is green.. ? on another planet maybe :) it would have been great with natural colors and a shot when the gun fired. but good consept. :)

A Soldier Story
by albc28

Comment by Longfist:
May be slightly too contrasty to see some detail in the shadows