Total judging points: 25
Judge's Comments:
1. This is a strong image with excellent potential. Even in the bland light on the day of the shoot, a polarizing filter might have reduced the highlights on the fallen leaves and deepened the color of this image. As captured, the highlights can be reduced and the color deepend in post-processing. The composition is rather static, the straight trail leading to a brilliant tree splitting the center of the image. This judge suggests that the photographer consider cropping from the left (perhaps almost to the edge of the big tree) and up from the bottom to make the composition less static. Also, consider cloning out the detracting trail sign that is within the photographic center of the image.
2. In this image I love how the photographer has rendered the tonality of the leaves so beautifully. We see lots of color, but also lots of detail, unimpeded by excessive saturation or luminosity. The scene looks very natural and credible.
I think this image could be even stronger if the photographer cropped out the trail littered with brown leaves. The uniformity and the dull color of the trail seem to negate the more vibrant yellow leaves elsewhere. The most interesting part of the image for me is the upper left quadrant, and that area alone would make a very fine image.