The World As I See It II
by levyj413

Comment:
I like this one much more than the other version, I think because of the colors and because of how well the elements hang together. The dark background makes an excellent contrast and sets off the gold tones well, the effect of colored balls (like party lights) contrasts with an obvious street setting, focused shapes through the glasses contrast with blurry shapes outside of the frames. This could be put into a teaching file as example of how a photographer can translate an rather mechanistic intellectual concept for an image into an artistic rendition.

Cool, Calm and Collected
by gtjewell

Comment:
Very nice reflections. Wish the horizon could be level.

A "Wii" ACE
by Quigley

Comment:
The expressions capture it all, fitting the challenge so well that I went up a level in scoring despite the technical limitations. Besides, you have to grab the picture in the moment, so you probably didn't have had time to set up more elaborate lighting or even diffuse the flash.

Spider's Spinnaker
by annig

Comment:
Peaceful and flowing, with just enough of the web in focus to make it more interesting. Nicely done.

The Limits of Perception
by levyj413

Comment:
Maybe it is near the top of an escalator, perhaps with a round window facing a brick wall or pink flowers. Hmmm, I don't think thousands of people look inside their partly transparent vacuum cleaner hose every day.

Whatever it is, the image is effective. For some of the blurred images in this side challenge, the only thing making the picture different from any other out of focus shot is the title or story. For many others, the image works with no explanation. In this case, the sharpness of the circle at the end of the leading lines attracts the eye as the starting and ending point for exploring the rest. I think the pink in the upper part addes interest and gives the impression of diffusion of light coming through the pink circle.

Happy Dance
by magenmarie

Comment:
Very nice combination of color and blur.

Although the diagonal line is a strong visual element, I think this also works well with the dancer upright (depending on what you removed to get the diagonal version). With the horizon horizontal, the ceiling looks even more like a cloudy sky at sunset, with her dancing on a broad expanse of golden sand near a safety rail that keeps anyone from falling into a lake.

(spelling corrected)

Message edited by author 2007-08-07 10:27:28.

Lighthouse In the Wind
by MelonMusketeer

Comment:
In the original, the tilted horizon comes across to me not as a flaw but rather as a choice that imparts a sense of a boat pitching about in windy conditions. It is probably one of the few circumstances in which a tilted horizon might be just fine. The nearly black and white tones in the original give a stronger sense of wildness.

In this version, the sepia and level horizon seem to tone down the emotional impact, which makes it easier to pay more attention to the interesting lighthouse beam (reminds me of a blast of burning propane from a refinery). I appreciate being able to see the earlier version. I like both of them.

Excellent example of a good use for "sharpless".

Escalaphobia
by jdannels

Comment:
I like the incorporation of the reflected steps on the shiny chrome sidewalls and the use of a shutter speed just long enough to produce motion blurr but short enough to maintain easy identification of the subject.

The yellow tone combined with the somewhat disorienting motion distortion are just right to evoke some tingles of fear. (Or is it just that I have had to ride BART at night too many times in the past?)

the-ball.jpg
by electrolost

Comment:
In horror movies, the teenagers who want survive to the end of the story have to avoid going into basements like that.

Very nice use of colors for emotional impact.

Reach for the Stars
by jasonlprice

Comment:
Beautiful color, immediate emotional impact, draws me in and makes me want to hear the story that goes with it.