Four finalists (So shoot me.)

Mini-Challenge #100 All You Need is Love!
http://www.pbase.com/mtf_foto_studies/mc_1xx

I actually picked four finalists instead of the three I announced in the previous post. (So shoot me.) The final four. (Not to be confused with basketball are, and in no particular order:

Hug by Fred

For me there’s a lot to like about picture. It has a wonderful overall color and a contrast between softness and beautiful texture. The relationship between the two birds is tender and intimate. The two eyes are captivating. The grab your attention as a viewer. The eye is a very strong visual device and in this case a compositional force. The composition here is very strong. It is comprised of a solid and forceful triangle. The elements fill the space beautifully and we, the viewer are close enough to be forced into dealing with the subject. Lastly, this mini-com is about “Love” and I fell something special about these two pigeons. Sigh…!

Moms First Look by Ransom

I love this image! How could you not? This has so much going for it. All the elements here work together as a whole. The look and gesture. There is a sweet tenderness to the hand, gently touching the soft blanket. The textures here are terrific. Stripes and patterns and the whole picture held together with a huge crisscross of diagonals. As for being on topic, it doesn’t get any better than this. Love, love, love….sigh! No I do have to say I have a few what of technical wishes here. I wish that there were more detail, contrast and definition in mom’s hair. There is also a bit too much noise overall, but I don’t know how you managed to get this picture taken and as wonderful as it is. I would have been passed out on the floor and no amount of Anti-Shake would have mattered if I were there in your place. Bravo!

Cuddle by Barbara Heide

Barbara I’m so pleased to get to choose this image of yours! You really work at making pictures and it’s so good when it all comes together. This picture, does in so many ways. Way to go! Gosh, that wonderful, moon struck expression on the woman is just beautiful and perfect. An obvious expression of love and affection. The little girls face and body position and cuddle is the perfect compliment to the woman. Just a beautiful moment! The composition is very strong with that red form moving the viewer’s eye right into the heart of the image. A few things to maybe consider. A small crop on the right side of the pic. Make the image more square. I would crop so that the small red square shape shows no light color on its right side. (Hope that makes sense to you.) One other thing that I’d like to see is a bit of dodging to the left side of the woman’s hair to see if you can get it at least a little separated from the large dark shape in the upper left. Yes I’m a nit pick. Sorry, I can’t help myself. All that said, this is a wonderful human sensitive picture of human relationship. Ah love….it’s grand!

Baby of Mine by Marc Baumser

This is stunning and absolutely wonderful! Baby of Mine, wow the fact that you would stand up and claim the baby as yours is commendable. A man who takes responsibility. (Yes, I’m just kidding. How could I pass up that chance? You know it does kind of look a little…never mind. Let’s talk about this gem. And it truly is. This photo had me looking time after time. It is an expression of true love. We see ourselves here and it’s startling. The gentleness and pose you’ve captured is perfect. The light color and that background…wow!!! Especially the light. It gives the point of the image even more power! “The decisive moment.” I have only one slight wish for this image. I would like to see a little dodging in mom’s eyes. I think there’s more info there that a little dodging of highlights would bring out. I really want to see her eyes a little better and what they might reveal. Tender and sweet, powerful and challenging what a wonderful image. Thanks for posting this!

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Mashuga