9. Caroline Ghetes (WPD Member, WPD Contestant) - (5/20/2009 1:39:34 PM)
I really like the contrast of the black and whites here and I love how the bride and groom look so small in comparison to the tree trunk and roots. Very interesting and creative shot. Well done!

8. PENELOPE - (4/19/2009 4:05:53 PM)
I love it

7. Anonymous - (4/16/2009 3:02:09 PM)
This is my fav in the whole litter. I think the angle is perfect and has strong composition. And the horizon looks level to me. They are on a hill if I'm not mistaken, and the tree trunks are going vertical. Well done! I hope this is the winner. It has my vote.

6. Anonymous - (4/14/2009 10:50:40 PM)
I'm a bit confused about the critiques on this photo... The horizon not straight? List time I checked most trees grow straight up just like this one. It looks like it is growing out of a hill. So the horizon is straight? And I'm also not sure how you could move to the left and then only get roots? If you moved to the left you would have a tree trunk growing out of their heads. I think this photo is natural and beautiful. There is a lot of symbolism in this picture. Very romantic and not over processed. In the style of traditional black and white photography. Contrast is perfect! The bride IS the brightest part of the picture and if there were more contrast in the photo the roots would compete with the bride too much. This photo is really well balanced as well. I imagine that the bride and groom would stand out just fine in a large wall print. I give this photo 10s!

5. Anonymous - (4/7/2009 11:17:01 PM)
I agree with Sam on this one...shoot that tree straight on. After all, this shot is all about the tree [roots] and would have the same impact with or without the bride & groom. They really do get lost here. Also, wish the horizon were straightened.

4. Sam Chinigo (WPD Contestant, Previous Best Commentator) - (4/1/2009 3:44:16 PM)
Cool image Brandon. Some d7b'ing would really help this image. Take care of the highlight problem, then burn in everything besides the b&g. This will bring the viewer's eye to the couple. Also, seriously work the contrast to bring out the detail in that wonderful root system. It will give the image alot more impact. Do me a favor the next time you use this location, position the b&g the same, but move over to the left and compose it straight on,,with the roots at the bottom of the frame..leading right to the b&g. Nothing but roots and b&g. I think you will have a really strong image.

3. Brandon Wright (This Entry's Contestant) - (3/29/2009 2:59:28 AM)
Agreed. It probably could have helped if the groom wasn't dark skinned, though on tighter shots the darker complexion makes for richer tonality in B&W. Perhaps this would have brought more separation between the white bark and skin tones if it were shot in color. Then again the setting sunlight would have overpowered the warm skin tones as well and we'd be left with the same dilemma. In defense of the continuity; the highlight's aren't "blown out" in the sky. If you look closely there is detail and tonality in it. But I do agree that your eye is drawn to the light source at this scale. The only way that I can think of bringing more attention to the subject is to print it larger (at least 10x10 would be ideal). If you view this image at full resolution you will notice that the DOF is quite shallow and the sharpest part of the image is the couple. Of course medium format film doesn't shine it's best on the internet, but it's a good thing that this wasn't created for the web. :~)

2. Anonymous - (3/28/2009 10:06:47 AM)
LOVE the concept, but there's a lot going on here. I think more contrast, especially within the bride and groom, would help the eye sort out what it's seeing. Your eye is drawn from the roots to the blown out highlights in the sky, and you almost miss the couple.

1. Brandon Wright (This Entry's Contestant) - (3/27/2009 7:46:28 PM)
This was shot with a Mamiya C330 6x6 on Fuji Acros 100 120 film