Time for Sunflowers by mibriet

I chose this image for several reasons:

Impact – Wow, bang, kapow, this is an extremely striking image and it’s a pleasure to look at it.

Sharpness – Love the sharpness here. This is partially achieved through focus stacking (where multiple images with different focus points are blended together)

Degree of difficulty – This is no easy shot to get. mibreit waited for the right time of day to get this. During the shoot both exposure AND focus were shot differently on multiple frames. Then in PP these were all blended. A whole lot of love and dedication went into getting this gorgeous image.

Colour – These colours sing. There’s also some great juxtaposition in the colours of the sky versus the colours in the foreground.

Blending – The blending of the various exposures (and focal points) is tastefully done here to my eye. Sometimes HDRs or DRIs are too overdone and call attention to themselves. This is not the case here for me. The greens here are the only colour that I may have toned down slightly (but they still work for me and we are in the realm of personal taste at this point). If I have one niggle, I can still see a touch of haloing around some of the leaves, but I can totally live with it.

Composition – Very interesting elements throughout the foreground, midground and background. Although there are multiple things to focus on, the large foreground left flower is extra-sharp and just slightly brighter than the other flowers, thus making it one of the main focal points.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month. Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS post is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again mibreit for creating this gorgeous image!

I’d also like to include these 3 images as honourable mentions.

Crummock Water by Richard

Tasmania - 'The Chrurch - Port Arthur' by Mad Aussie

Summer Shower by Barefoot

Swirls by Edg

I chose this image for several reasons:

I love the sharpness here and overall depth of field choice here. Lovely sharp foreground flower (the focal point) at left.

The tonal quality of the flowers is very unique and well done. It’s a bit darker than I’m used to seeing, but it adds to the unique tonal quality and mood of the photograph. Gorgeous palette of pinks and reds. Great highlights in the flower at left and nice subtle highlights on the right flower as well. I like that the left flower is slightly brighter than the right.

My eye is skillfully guided around the image and rests on the focal point. This is due to some fine focal point selection and lens selection during exposure and some lovely post processing. The post processing (especially the darkening of the background) refines the overall composition here and it totally works.

If I have one small niggle, I’d clone out/burn the brightish white edge of the petal on the main left flower at lower left, but that’s it.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month. Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again edG for creating this gorgeous image!

I’d also like to include these 3 images as honourable mentions as they also came close to being picked.

Yummmmm - I Love Pollen by Matt K.

Wading Pool by Jas Photo

Descending by Barefoot

A Black & White Foray by Mad Aussie

I chose this image for several reasons:

First off, it’s a WOW image. A lot of the ‘wow’ comes from the incredible sky and the way it’s processed. It’s darkish, somewhat ominous and sets an incredible mood. Had the sky been boring, this shot would not be the same, so good on Mad Aussie for noticing the amazing sky.

The tones in this image are very nicely rendered and the higher contrast used here works extremely well to my eye. It’s very dramatic and makes me think of the Greek Myth involving Atlas. If I have one teeny niggle I’d have toned down the brighter rock just under the main boulder.

Leading lines – The rocks at lower left lead upward toward the big rock at center right which is the focal point of this image. This is NO accident and is the result of careful in-camera composition. In terms of overall composition – just friggen fab. Interesting foreground (jagged rocks) midground (boulder which is the focal point) and background (awesome sky) elements. The split between rocks and sky is also interesting and well thought out with 2/3rds sky and about 1/3rd rocks. Although we often have the discussion about the rule of thirds being a mere guideline…that rule is rocking this image

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month. Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again Mad Aussie for creating this striking image!

I’d also like to include these 2 images as honourable mentions as they also came close to being picked.

Mountain Stream by Bambi

Driftwood and clouds by Michaelaw

I chose this image for several reasons:

The eye is tack tack sharp and that’s hard to do on a subject this small, because focusing (and dof) is a challenging task at this size and distance to subject. Sharpness is lovely in many places; leg hairs, thorax, abdomen. Blurred background shows no distractions.

The subject has a definite impact on the viewer. It’s likely very creepy for many viewers, probably because of sharpness. My eye is focused on one thing, that fly.

Good composition all around which can be challenging at this size as well.

Nice highlight control on whatever the fly is resting on and the overall exposure is well handled with supplementary lighting.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month. Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again OWLP for creating this striking image!

I’d also like to include these 2 images as honourable mentions as they also came so so close to being picked.

Colorless Beauty by Kat

Dinner time by Richard

Power At Sunrise by Mad Aussie

Message delivered by Michaelaw - Click for a larger version

This month’s choice Message delivered is by Michaelaw.

I chose this image for several reasons.

First off look at the great mood Michaelaw has created here. This is no accident; it’s a product of Michael’s attention to the the lighting. This mood helps create the story that ‘makes’ this shot. What IS the story? That’s up to the viewer, it’s helped by the title, but there is a story here. The bottle is without a classic paper message in it, it’s empty save for some water. Who sent it, why? Maybe the beer bottle itself IS the message – “hey I’m on a bender; that’s my message”. Maybe the shot is really about the environment and Man’s lack of concern over it. But there IS a story here, you just have to choose it for yourself.

Compositionally I like this very much. The curved patterned formations in the sand add interest to the shot. The diagonal slant of the bottle with specular edge highlights really give my eye something to cling to. The focus also works very well for me here and I’m digging the background blur. My eye is skillfully guided along the bottle toward the slanted water level collected at the bottom. At bottom of the bottle we see the sun’s reflection and it grabs you.

Exposure is handled very well here with a good range of tones and excellent highlight control.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month.

Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again Michaelaw for creating this beautiful image!

I’d also like to include these 2 images as honourable mentions as they also came so so close to being picked.

Behind the mask by Chantelle

Day 3 – Banff  by casil403

This month’s choice The Conversation is by casil403.

I chose this image for several reasons.
First and foremost, I was drawn in by the unusual angle and point of view of this shot. This angle works very well for me! I love how just above the left statue’s head the office windows are nicely lit. This gives me the feeling of a well-told story, better than the similar story told by the straight on shot seen many, many times. The story is office politics/or work talk etc.

I very much like the lines of the building’s roof and the lines created by the windows. I’m loving this interesting composition. The way that ‘roof-line’ cuts out of the scene to create an isosceles-like triangle at top left (hey I dug geometry) is fan-friggen-tastic. It adds interest to this scene and makes it dynamic.

The sky is beautifully controlled here. It adds flavour to the shot without overwhelming it in any way.

The black and white is very well controlled here and works for me with this subject matter. If I had one teeny nit, I might bring up the highlights in the statues’ faces and hand.

Thousands of people pass these statues every day and scores of tourists are likely snapping away daily… and none of them are likely to lie down on the ground or get on their knees to get this superb angle.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month.

Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again casil403 for creating this beautiful image!