Thank you for your patience. Without further delay:
fireman32
Haha you are just messing with me, right?
Seriously though, while I said this image was too busy in the Nightlife contest I do like it as an entry for The Surreal. The gears and clocks work well and I like the way they follow the walls. I think the LEDs in the corners don't really add to the composition - the Pixel Stick graphics provide nice leading lines by themselves.
The framing of the steel wool is spot on and works well with the shape of the clock faces. The rabbit head just adds a bit of WTF? that really pushes it over into the surreal.
One thing I might try in post is pushing up the contrast a bit. The colors seem a bit faded and I would like a bit more contrast between the gears and the background of the BMP.
kenoh
I thought this was an interesting image until I looked at the enlarged version. Looking at the larger image I find it to be fascinating. The patterns of the ice crystals are wonderful.
The biggest issue I have with the image is the focus plane. In the original image the focus runs through the center of the image and works well with the highlights behind it. However, when it is warped the center focal point of the image is soft. I love the detail and want to see it nice and crisp.
The colors work really well with subject. If you get the opportunity to shoot something like this again I suggest doing some more. I could see a version of this hanging on somebody's wall. If you redo the polar warp leave a bit of room at the top of the image so that the sphere doesn't touch the sides of the frame.
needfx
I love it. Sometimes technology failures can be wins.
The framing and angle work with the surreal subject. It really makes you want to explore the image and figure out just what you are seeing.
The only critique I would give is that it is slightly flat. I don't see any true blacks. I would try pulling up the black levels a bit and/or adjusting the contrast.
This picture made me happy.
logista
I don't know what to say. I don't have a clue what I am looking at.
At first I was thrown off by the light color ring around the central Sentinel. But as I looked closer It looks like this is a continuation of the water(?) in the lower left. I would really like to see this one larger as I think there is some fun detail to be found.
The large, empty expanse works well. This image look alien and familar at the same time.
Apple fanboy
Great perspective. It really does make you do a double take. The angles and proportions are spot on.
I would like to see some cropping and straitening. There is way too much grass and the zebra gets a bit lost in all that open space.
The limb removal could use some clean up. On first glance it is not noticable but then jumps out at you. Try adding a second layer and mask off the parts you want to keep then use the clone stamp to rebuild the background.
Bump up the colors a touch and I think you will be onto something.
NeGRit0
I am struggling with what is the surreal part of this. It does look a bit like a drawing but outside of the traffic trails I'm scratching my head. I did just notice the exterior lights of the Grand are off and that is a bit surreal but wouldn't be for somebody that doesn't live here.
As far as the image itself it is really well executed. You have a nice balance between the highlights and shadows. There is detail pretty much throuhout the image. The color is good and it really does show a nice portion of the skyline.
I really like this image.
Indydenny
The use of selective color is interesting in this one. I would like to see more attention to detail. There are a few areas on the serpent that are missing color. For extra points it would be amazing if the leaves in front of his face were B&W while the color was still behind them.
The framing makes for a whymsical image. I'm sure most pictures of this guy are taken a bit too the right so that the branches don't obstruct his face. In this case I like the branches. They make the picture a bit more dynamic. I might try changing the framing a bit while keeping the angle. By turning a bit to the right you would lose a bit of the left edge and some of the darker mass of leaves. This would also let the bottom on the second arch fall within the frame.
It is a fun picture.
alexxk
There have been quite a few long exposures shot from the car recently.
This one is really well done. A bit reminiscent of the Millennium Falcon entering ludicrous speed.
You held the highlights really well in the exposure. There isn't any detail in the black on the passenger side but it still works with this image. Might want to try opening them up just a touch to see if it makes a difference.
I'm a bit torn on the warning stickers. Normally I would hate them but given the shot they kind of work.
What is happening on the ground? It looks like a low fog. Whatever it is it works.
Hughmac
You just had to go with glassware. Two entires assignments in the CSN lighting class deal with lighting glassware.
The blue is a very pleasing tone and there is a bit of chiaroscuro going on with the light in the base of the glass.
Overall the image seems a bit soft. With the details of the glass so close you really need to nail the focus. The glass also looks a bit hazy. For a picture like this it has to be spotless.
It is an entertaining image you just happened to pick a demanding subject.
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Even though there were not many entries this week I find it difficult to pick only three.
In the end the three I keep coming back to are:
Third place: alexxk
Second place: logista
First place: kenoh
Well done everybody on a bit of a tricky subject. I hope you continue to explore these images. I believe there is some real gold in this thread.
