18. Anonymous - (4/28/2009 8:22:09 AM)
Nice use of color and contrast... Love it or Hate it, it's a creative shot.

17. Anonymous - (4/12/2009 3:22:46 PM)
A valiant effort, but it misses the mark. The photographer has a lot of support, so that's great for her, but this image has technical problems and those who have commented about them have mostly been constructive with their comments. I don't believe anyone here is talking "smack" and rather, posters are taking the time to offer suggestions to help photographers improve their work. We're all adults here, right? Able to accept constructive comments to help us grow professionally, correct? RE: this comment - "halo? looks more like a veil with ample sunlight behind it to me..." It is clearly a bad job of dodging. The problem with your argument is that the sun is in FRONT of the subject. There is no back lighting. This is key problem I believe that the critics of this image have of the unnatural over-processed look.

16. Anonymous - (4/10/2009 3:40:43 PM)
So sick of these over saturated, uber-photoshopped images. A good photo is good without all these 'enhancements', like putting lipstick on a pig.

15. Anonymous - (4/4/2009 2:24:25 AM)
Nice job Nicole, S. Carolina loves your midwest artistry!!! I think your bride is lovely. Did anyone ever think the tree might represent the tree of life? The bride does not look grouchy, she looks as though she is contemplating her impending marriage or her "next branch" on the tree of life. The photo stands out because the artist thinks outside the box and did not shoot a run of the mill wedding photo.

14. Anonymous - (4/2/2009 10:19:37 PM)
Obviously this picture made it into the contest becasue it is amazing. Whoever is talking smack about it must not know anything about taking unique pictures. Who cares if the bride is in the tree; it's a different and fresh idea. The bride does not look angry either, it's more of a serious and confident look. Again I think this picture is wonderful and it does not deserve nasty, rude comments. You got 10's from me.

13. Anonymous - (4/1/2009 11:37:31 PM)
halo? looks more like a veil with ample sunlight behind it to me... maybe enhanced a bit in PS, but certinaly not a halo. nice shot.

12. Anonymous - (4/1/2009 11:31:37 PM)
Wow, this photo has caused a lot of debate - personally, it was the first that caught my eye because of the vibrant colors and obvious contrast - whether they be 'real' or photoshopped. I disagree about the comments about the bride, (some being awful harsh to the poor girl) her pose reminds me of high fashion - that edgy, hard look is in right now and I think that that's what makes this photo stand out from the rest. So what if it's not your traditional overdone wedding portrait, you just need to have an open mind.

11. Anonymous - (4/1/2009 9:25:57 AM)
Way too much photoshop, the colors and the halo look amaturish. Would be so much better without all these 'enhancements' and if the bride wasn't so stiff and scared looking.

10. Anonymous - (3/31/2009 12:16:55 PM)
Very nice work, The back ground has great colors and is cutting edeg. How did you get her up in the tree. Good work. m-studios.org

9. Anonymous - (3/30/2009 8:31:28 AM)
love the vibrant colors and the edgy pose. it's unique to see a wedding portrait that isn't your soft, smiling, traditional shot. the almost 'hard' feeling in the brides expression could symbolize the strength of love and marriage. i really like this shot.

8. Anonymous - (3/29/2009 6:45:45 PM)
Her work is beautiful, i don't know why u needed to bash on it. So what the bride is in a tree, atleast it is different and not your average wedding shot. Would you rather see her down on the ground hugging the tree? or would you then say she should have a rake in her hand raking the leaves up as well. This is a beautiful picture keep doing what you are doing. You recieved all 10's from me. Let the haters be haters.. she's probably just mad because her picture didnt make it, because she took a picture of the girl hugging the tree.

7. Anonymous - (3/29/2009 1:24:23 PM)
Beautiful Photo. Colors and concept are cool. Love the up in the tree , something different and fresh.

6. Anonymous - (3/29/2009 1:15:45 PM)
hey its Zo the Prince! I love the creativity and the blue sky in the background! keep up with the great work! I truly believe your going to win it ALL.

5. Anonymous - (3/29/2009 12:55:06 PM)
"Critiques must be constructive." This is a "Trash the Dress" fine art piece, not a traditional Wedding Portrait. Times have changed, and so has Wedding Photography.

4. Juli - (3/28/2009 7:25:55 PM)
I am SHOCKED that this among others are in the finalist group. ARE YOU KIDDING?? A grouchy looking BRIDE climbing a tree (obviously photographers idea not hers)?? Reaching a bit are we? Why not a photo of her doing the dishes too? Beautiful light and color but unless there is a tiger beneath that tree she has no business in it. She is not a model and it is far from fine art posing.

3. Anonymous - (3/28/2009 3:25:39 AM)
I agree that fill flash was certainly needed in this situation or at least a reflector. The PS work is very unnatural with the halo around the head and veil. This is the perfect example of trying to fix things in PS.

2. Anonymous - (3/27/2009 6:18:40 PM)
Where in Illinois is this??? Awesome background

1. Anonymous - (3/27/2009 4:30:55 PM)
The "leading lines" make this image very nice and appealing to look at. The subject does look somewhat stiff. I would like to have seen her right arm further out on the branch in order to bring her body in a more relaxed and natural position. I also would like to see what would have happened if the photographer would have moved "slightly" down and to the right in order to hide the dirt road in the background. Fill flash to fill the dark shadows in the subjects face would have also been advantageous for this. Nice shot overall . . .