Backpacker Magazine - Post Holing in Bandelier National Monument
by brett2004

Comment:
Yep, I could picture this on a cover, and plenty o' room for type, too. Nice job on the snowy exposure. I'd like to see that tree on the right cropped off, though.

Smoke Magazine...
by theodor38

Comment:
Good concept and plenty of room for type, although the exaggerated horizontal layout should test voters' perception of a magazine cover. The effects are cool, but end up looking far more like an illustration than a photo.

Country Living Gardener
by Jean

Comment:
It'd be tough to add type around all the contrasting shapes, but the color, focus and exposure are quite good. The composition might be improved by cropping the neighboring petal off the left side. This would have likely scored higher in the Orange challenge!

The Birdcage
by scalvert

Comment:
Thanks to all those who commented. I didn't have time to leave comments before posting this shot, but several people asked how it was done. Pretty simple really- I taped 1/4" strips of fluorescent paper to two round cake racks and hung the birds from the rack with black thread. I positioned two blacklights to illuminate the inside and outside to make sort of a 3D optical illusion with the lighting. The fluorescent glow caused a purple fringing effect with the camera and I was waiting for someone to say the birds were out of focus (even though the foreground and background obviously are)- Jonwam, you win.

Fishing in the Bathtub
by scalvert

Comment:
Thanks for the comments! This came out much better than I expected given the tight quarters and difficult lighting situation. I am simply astounded at the number of people who didn't see this as an Off-Screen Expectation. It's pretty darn obvious! No, the marlin isn't on-screen. We call that thing on the right a shadow... it's the result of light shining on the object not visible on the screen. ;-)

Battle of the Bulge
by scalvert

Comment:
Thanks for the comments everyone! By the votes and comments, I note that several people didn't see this as Conflict! LOL Not my best shot, but I did have four nice consolation prizes... ;-)

Hot Pepper
by scalvert

Comment:
Arghh! I put this together at the last minute, and the supermarket I went to only had a few decent looking peppers- none of them red. I actually managed to light the fork prety well in subsequent shots, but the flames weren't as good and by then the peppers were looking pretty sad. I may have to reshoot this someday to get it right. BTW- rubber cement makes a great flame!

...You Could Hear a Pin Drop
by scalvert

Comment:
Thanks for the comments everybody. I was very amused by the range of opinions- some liked the motion on the pin, while others suggested a faster shutter speed to stop it. In reality, the pin was stationary. To those who thought this wasn't silent because you could hear the pin, I ask you... could you hear the pin if it wasn't silent? ;-)

Joy of Design
by scalvert

Comment:
Thanks to all for the comments! Banmorn hit the nail on the head with his comment- this shot was fairly ordinary until I shifted the hues. That made all the diffference in the world.

portre ressami
by kiwiness

Comment:
My second favorite. The fabric color and eyes are very striking. The only thing I can suggest is a slightly more diffuse light more to the side (the right side of the face is a little hot), and focus looks a bit soft on the fabric above her eyes. Still, this is definitely ribbon-worthy. 9