I like this photo for the lighting, DOF, the moment & expression of the boy playing, however I would have liked the crop to be more open showing more space above the boys head and not cropping the bottom of the acordian. It would have made the picture pop more.

I agree, the capture is nice enough, just feels too tightly framed/cropped. Showing the context of the street/sidewalk would add more interest.

Lovely subject... well captured. Great exposure. Agreed that cropping is not making justice to the photo.

The framing seems off to me too. Perhaps it would have worked better square or vertical.

p.s. I used to have that exact accordion. It must be a relatively common model.

Getting past cropping issues - great joy is communicated here - well done!

Best,
Jon

I like a crop line that drops vertically right between the gap in the bands of light on the stone, and cuts across between his hand and that major fold corner of his robe. There's also this strange blue that seems stronger around him, and more grey the farther it goes back. Not sure what I think about that, but it's cool. Is the top of his head missing some saturation? just looking with piercing eyes, poking holes, sorry. ;) Lovely photo, I also spent a good time looking at it peacefully.

very nice photograph, a little more contrast would do it for me.

I appreciate all the time everyone has taken to critique the image. thank you.

I really like this picture, but I agree with brandon that the hand and stones (?) in the back ground are a bit distracting. A tighter crop maybe, but the orange and face are great.

I disagree with jsmanseau. I find that the stones add value to the composition and so does the hand.
A bit more room over his head and a bit less of it on the left would have been my preferences, but that's an invalid format I guess. :)

This is done very tastefully. I like it a lot and wish I had the self confidence to spend time creating such a portrait of myself. (well, maybe not "such" a portrait, but you know what I mean)

But Kyla, it's what is hidden that is always the sexiest. This is very well done, and the fact that you took it yourself, of yourself adds to the allure.
Great photography.

Congrats there sissy.

Great shot. I didn't see you at first time on thumbnail. Ow ? A couch which takes pictures amazing..
Good job except the frame a bit too narrow and a pillow a bit too large ;)

La fotografía es muy bonita. Me gusta la iluminación. Para mi gusto hubiera quedado mejor abriendo el plano para que se viera el pie y la cabeza completa.
Felicidades!

What a great expression, very well composed with this nice lighting.

Very cool (and funny) composition. Great portrait. I'm almost saying "nice textures" (Ops!) 8-)

excellent

lovely

Preciosa fotografía. Felicidades!

Lovely colors, great capture. I find nothing wrong with this photo.

Ditto that. I really like this. Colors, textures, lines, shadows.....wonderful. A piece of modern art:)

Jo said it better than I did..modern art, perfect comment.

This is gorgeous! I can't say anything else, other than I really wish that there was an 11x14 copy framed in my living room.

Well thank you Mr.Slomovic. It is the one thing I don't manage to kill with my oh-so black thumb!

Wonderful work, well deserved feature.

Congrats right back at you K!

Kyla..I meant to ask, (as I have 2 black thumbs) what kind of flower is this?

Hi Sher- My nickname is Dr.Death when it comes to plants so I know how you feel. These are orchids and the only flowering plant that seems to love me back. You can buy them from 15$ upward to 100$ and the flowers can last for months at a time. Very zen.
thanks kind for the comments.

Hey, I know this path, very well. Greatest place on earth. Also know this artist very well, greatest...

Off on safari? I like this one.

Yes Bob this was taken in Kenya- experience of a lifetime!

Those baby elephants always
tug at my heartstrings.
They are just so precious!
The way their moms are so loving and protective.

LOL!!!!

Great shot kyla. Is this in India?

Good eye George. It's Rajasthan. We had just come from a walk in the jungle searching for tigers but instead we found according to our guide "jungly" cows and "jungly" chickens. Not as exciting as tigers but certainly more funny!

Brant you're funny! Congrats there sis, I hadn't seen this one.

Nice one - humour DOES belong in photography.

Everything is working here. Light, color, expression. Nice image.

Interesting that you chose this for 'Best of' as opposed to 'Portrait'.
Regardless, you captured a great expression and it's a wonderful image.
I love the repeating linear pattern of yellow and white and the splash of pink adds some nice texture.

good
nothing to say more

I also really like the graphic elements of this image, the vertical lines and saturated colors; my one critique would be that it might have been a stronger image if the boy wasn't looking into the camera.

Very well composed, and I like the linearness of his arm across the top of the gate.