Blue
by faidoi

Comment:
I like this -- I have a similar picture with blue rails and gray concrete which provided a "natural" partially desaturated look.

Semaphore
by GeneralE

Comment:
Thanks for the great comments, especially the ones about the sunlight on the shirt -- I really liked the way that came out. I would have cloned out the little spot (a crow, I think) but this was a Basic rules challenge.

I also left a lot of foreground grass to try and give the impression of a high hill, even though it's just about a 10-foot rise. For comparison, here's a square crop of the same photo.

Opposable Thumb
by GeneralE

Comment:

Originally posted by hlswilson: Returning for comments: I struggled with this one. After looking at this photo for quite a while, and finally recognizing that the model was holding a bone, I realized that you were tring to say that a human being's defining feature is the opposable thumb. What would have improved this photo greatly for me would have been to have a more recognizable bone - like one of those big knuckle bones that you can purchase for dogs in pet stores. Also, I know that it might be cliche' but the photo would make more sense to me if a big, burly, hairy, caveman like guy were holding the bone. This small, delicate hand made it difficult for me to understand what you were trying to convey. Lastly, I would have used a little more light to help dispell some of the shadow under the fingers. Your idea was excellent, but refining the execution would make this a much stronger shot.

Thanks for the comments! I looked for a bigger bone but couldn't find one in time ... that's a turkey drumstick. Isaac is kind of hairy for his age (like his dad!), but it doesn't show that well here : )
I thought about getting a gorilla hand (Halloween shops are open) but didn't get around to it in time.

Next time I try a shot like this I'll try to put a white sheet on the ground to reflect some sunlight up onto the underside of the hand.

Post Swing
by aznym

Comment:
Pretty cool -- I don't think that's a traditional recreation in California : )

Chistina and Sara. Wild? You'd better believe it!
by livingfiction

Comment:

Originally posted by vfwlkr: This is a cool photograph. Guess most voters here lack a sense of humor.

You'd better believe it!

I'm not listening
by TLL061

Comment:
I hope you have shots covering the eyes and mouth as well : )

Wild thing
by siggi

Comment:
Inspired by François Truffaut?

Wild Tule Elk
by sfalice

Comment:
Even the antlers blend in with the environment.

The Walk
by L1

Comment:

Originally posted by BradP: Challenge or not, I hope this will find it's way into a print and on your wall or in a scrapbook. Better yet, 2 prints - one for each of the boys. These will be precious moments in years to come. Shots like this move me so much more than a pretty landscape shot.

Now that I look at this again, I think it might look just fine if you just crop that nasty pole out of there and make it a square crop.

A Break in the Clouds
by computerking

Comment:
I think the trees provide a needed context at the bottom so I wouldn't crop them any more. I might take a little off the right (maybe a teensy bit from the left too) to get it to a completely square crop.

Since the trees are already in silhouette, I would use a Curve adjustment to darken/increase the contrast in the clouds to bring out the rays even more.