Donna Stavis

There is awe in this capture:  both the animal and surrounding nature.  The focus on this deer shows narrowed eyes.  Are they sleepy? Do they show emotion like the downturned mouth?   And his body showcases dings of contact with his world.  His expression seems sad.  His antlers, majestic.  If his head were turned away, he would become part of the backdrop beauty.  But I like this.

This is quite lovely. So quiet and soft. The light is interesting. I love the composition. This is a winner.

A wonderful article. When I was a child, my father told me that people can take your possessions, but they cannot steal your education. It's nice to read an article emphasizing a survivor instinct and grit, perseverance and community.

That is quite a harrowing backdrop to this. I've seen tapes of Idi Amin. Wow.

yes, remembering... i do it all the time... flowers set the mind going and the memories flooding.  they're good that way

So, how do we read that look?  Does the dog want to abscond with the bunny and hide it or bring it with the other toys or tear it apart or does this dog simply want to play -- the tail is up and you are the focus.  Sweet pic

Love the doorway with older couple going into the rain. Curious that the woman on the left prevents me, as the viewer, from leaving with the couple or seeing them safely off, as she grabs my attention-- perhaps because she brings in another story

Golden trees -- not just in fairy tales, I see. I love the orange of the trees in the background and the reflections on the blue water and the sky. It is a lovely, warming composition that delivers the serenity of nature.

Stunning. Love the bird up top, which looks almost half the size of the boat. He's about to fly out of my screen. The twists and turns and textures are lovely -- especially the bit of cloud hugging the mountain on the upper right.

I like the way the wheels propel us into the scene, also we are guided by the lines of clouds. On the other hand, how nice if they would just vanish instead of polluting the scene becoming rusty (albeit charming) pollution. The light on the orange hill is nice and the sky blue is deep and exhilarating. I also like that we are not stuck (in view) behind the wheels like we sometimes are on a pier or from the back of a person or animal. We can simply walk around it with our eyes and run into this wet, rocky nature.

That dog's smile sells the shot

Pretty awesome capture.  Hard to comment -- don't know if this was purposeful for fun or blending in.  "Me?  I wasn't playing with the tall grass....  What gave you that idea? ..."

Nicely composed

I'm late and haven't ready the comments -- only skimmed a couple -- one mentioning the bit of magic with the lens flare. I think so too. The sunlight appears liquid, not on the water, but beyond the mountains, and that is so awesome. I love the way the reeds just seem to fade in contrast and there is that gentle cloud in the middle of them. This is striking and powerful -- like a cup of strong Italian coffee! Boom!!! Wake up!

Tony, it always feels nicer to be in a home filled with books, doesn't it. It helps make something in to a home

I see this is 8 years old... It reminds me of something I saw from you before. It's beautiful and light is lovely. The concept evokes such pathos, not only of the dancer now with a wheeler but that green bit on her left heel, representing injury. Quite a story you tell here. I hope you are well. Chag Sama'ach and Shana Tovah v'mitukah and m'leh'a bree'ut.

Hi Alf, I like the framing , where he there is wood the same color as he, scarred and missing the outside, as is he, with a branch on the left looking remarkably like his antlers. I love the sense of peace.

Soothing and lovely colors and a very nice composition

Oh, this is so pretty.  I wouldn't want to sleep there -- afraid of falling in the water -- but what atmosphere, particularly the mist rising and burning off.  Love it!

A very good capture.  I'm sorry he feels that deep pain.  

I bet you had a lot of fun with the two red globes in this composition and color. The forefront of the sandy water looks like soft glass, a pleasant sensation for the eyes. I love the fan sky too -- so unusual and the lazy assortment of boats and quiet land in the background. The boat in the front is so well placed, tempting the viewer to pad in the sand to the boat, pass the "gossiping" circles and said out in the water and drift away.

Heartbreaking written introduction to this pic. I love the composition and the counterpoint as well. It's like the pink softness of a hazy summer is vanishing in the background, and in sharp brilliance, the later summer flower and that busy bee. I hope PN does not reload their new version. I really hate it. But I love this.

I love the lighting. Looks like prayer to me.

Alf, This is all about mood. The clouds and fog block out the rest of the world. Indeed, they do resemble gravestones -- and old ones that are leaning their way to oblivion. The rocky stream prevents one's eyes from quickly surveying the scene, as the only path you provided is tricky to maneuver. I love the trees and the fact that there are two of them, together, weathering the solitude as a couple. Very effectively atmospheric.

The flowers and brilliance of the colors in the the foreground are lovely