Well, it wasn't meant to be an insult, more tough love, I guess. I am NOT a hater! I still voted for the pic, I am just saying you have many better ones, people commonly over shop eyes and it just looks really fake. I am REALLY hoping you win, because you have so much raw talent, you just need experience. This is coming from a place of lots of time in the industry, I can tell you have the gift, with a five dollar, of five thousand dollar camera you would still take very beautiful and original photos. This is just a weaker of your photos, but the voters like it and that is what matters, do you have other submissions? again good luck!

Nana...who is my mother by the way...thanks for the critique but I understand the eyes are a little photoshopped...I added eyelashes OK!! And then flames but I did nothing else. I love this image and it is my favorite so far that I have done...maybe because it shows my personality. You know I am the fire sign...lol. Anyway...sorry to Shoni for being critical myself. Yes I am a beginner, self taught and really don't know squat about this industry except that I love it. I know I may not make it to the top but how nice was it to know I could actually get there..even for a day. Thank you to everyone who has voted...and one day I may know a little about what I am doing...I have actually decided I might go get some books...hehe.

Realize that most votes come from people outside the industry friends, family, etc. Judging pics in a category, on its most basic definition, OBJECTIVELY, would eliminate a lot of the entries in the categories contest. This contest is not defined that way! Remember the 1st contest go and look had a pic in the top 5 that had nothing to do with the definition of the contest. You can easily blame the photographer for mislabeling their pic I have motorcycle pics in this contest, so what!, but we are all still voting, SUBJECTIVELY! Leave a bad critique, leave a good argument, or just shut UP!