What an amazing difference between the before and after. I really like the high key treatment. Did you do that with a filter or just by adjusting levels and brightness?
The ninja pose also seems to follow the lines of the background which makes a very pleasing composition.

Yes I like it much better. It's not "oh so ordinary" at all. It's magnificent. It's the kind of inspiring photo that makes me want to achieve results just as good.

Yes I agree,although the effect is different,think I also agree it would have been fine as it was

The little statues are charming. You did a wonderful job of cloning the poles out of the scene.
I personally find the brightly coloured background a bit distracting. Have you tried it in BW?

Simple but effective

Absolutely magnificent.

Gorgeous photo but I'm not sure if I like the artistic pencil effect on this one. It's slightly overdone for my personal taste. I would like to see it without any added artistic filters. I think a photo like that can stand alone and is beautiful without any added extras but I am sure others will love the effect. It's a matter of personal taste after all.

It most likely would but it would take a lot longer than just adding a soft light layer.

like the b/w effect and diminishing perspective,and don,t mind the dirt

Well done for 1 and 2 and 4

Well done olga for 1,2,3 and 4 any chance to can go on holiday again lol

Congrats for all your wins!!! oh yes, you're back

It's a brilliant idea to make a section of the path for wheelchairs or prams or anything else with wheels.

Hahahahaha... I am just being picky but if we are aiming for perfection we need to be picky.

Clean, crisp and sharp looking but there are a few spots on the windows on our right.
Not sure if that is due to dirty windows because the window washer did not do his job properly or due to camera lens dust?
You know how to fix it.

All that electrical wiring at the top makes me think that this path goes someplace dangerous. It probably doesn't but that's the first thing that came to my mind when I saw it.
It's an interesting path with the steps on either side. I have never seen a path like that before in my lifetime.
I don't see any technical flaws in the work so I have no suggestions to offer for improvement.

When you open photoshop, there is a box at the top labelled feather. Just type the amount of pixels into that box and any selection tool will automatically select a feathered edge. Remember to change it back to zero when you want sharp edge selections.
This video will show you what I am talking about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og2frHOjpnA

I will just take your word for it re the saturation boost. I don't have Picassa so I have no clue how it works.

Very nicely done. The pencil sketch is subtle and highlights the veins beautifully. You also brightened the highlights well. The end result has a lot more light than the original.
Not sure what you mean by adding saturation to the pencil sketch?
Adding saturation to a black and white image doesn't make it coloured.

A suggestion for improvement....
Select highlights only and feather the selection by about 30-50 pixels. Copy it and paste on a new layer. Then change the blend mode to soft light. You can then change transparency to suit your taste. That should add another lighting effect to make it look like some sunlight is shining on the cabbage patch. Try it and see what you think.

I prefer warm with cool breezes.

I would take a walk through there any time. Love the autumn leaves.

Of course Oscar Wilde also only lived to be 46 years old.

Nicely taken photo and makes you want to walk there

Not to sure of flavour though,do like the thought process behind this

Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess. Oscar Wilde

"Moderation" Same thing the Greeks said ("Meden Agan" - Nothing in excess). Must be something to it. Good thing there's a loophole for chocolate.

I have been called eagle eyes a few times.

Is tea particularly healthy?

Lovely silhouette and sunset. What are the two white dots on the horizon?
They are only tiny but still tend to draw attention. I would clone them out but that's just my personal preference.
Check your horizon line. It is ever so slightly tilted to the right.

Lovely autumn colors and a beautiful view.

Crisp, clean and flawless.

Good for them,it was ment as a joke

good for her

Cute kids

Title says it all,don,t need anything else.

Nicely caught moment,mind you that's the last time he sees his wallet

Ha lovely moment caught in this,observation in this,and one that does tell a story,like this.

Sort of tells a story

well seen and taken moment

Nice use of contrast between the subject and flower,again good use of dof

Good close-up this and cracking dof

well done olga for this

Well done Olga for 1/2/4 and 5 no stopping you is there

Well done Olga for the first five,some doing this,good use of panning.

Congrats for all this week's wins Olga, the chops included, brillant

Yea congrats on your Chops.

Congratulations on 4th and 5th Olga. Well done.

Lots of wiggly stuff.

He or she looks happy for sure.

Perty colors.