Everfree Streams of Light by Rain-Gear

As a critic, I will try to keep this a neutral sounding as possible. (even though that's pretty much impossible with such a great piece)

Starting with the distant background, the soft more blurred trees, and colours work very well along with the foreground. Although it is a completely different layer and seems a little flat it does allow perception of distance to be displayed. With the lesser detail it also allows vision to be directed elsewhere where it is more important.

Within the immediate scenery or mid-ground, the attention to detail is astounding. Being able to see every blade of grass sway with the breeze and be coloured amazingly by the seeping light, displays the concentration and knowledge this piece contains. The leaves of the trees are shaded and highlighted with care, to the point where (i think) the leaves in the top left contains leaves individually coloured for a more powerful feel to the unbelievable lighting effect.
The trees bark and branches were shaded with a harder darker tone, showing off its rough texture yet not completely grabbing our immediate attention. The moss gave it a nice "wild" feeling too.

Now to Derpy of all ponies. She has a great relaxed pose which is shown off by the amazing lighting that magically seeps through the web of the canopy. (Lighting was gorgeous! Really highlighting the beauty of the moment) The exited yet lazy eyed facial expression of our favorite mare looks wonderful. Her playful personality is capture in this image. I think she could have stood out with more vibrant or saturated colours a little more, but really I'm just nitpicking at her. What I perceived as a ghost of a Breezie is magnificent, the blue glow gave it that slightly eerie feeling along with a magical touch. The representation of the glow on the grass surrounding is fantastic, letting it seem more real and allowing it to almost interact with the physical world is a great idea.

The story of how Derpy ended up here only lets our imaginations soar as infinite possabilities run through our heads. With the elegant scene to help, this picture is able to grasp our attention, not just with the detail, or just the title but with the interaction we see. It almost asks us "what if we were there? How would we react to this phenomenon?"

Last thing, I loved the small little things that most people may overlook or miss, such as the other Breezies near the background behind Derpy and the falling leaves, which gives us a sense of movement rather than a still photo. With leaves in motion, it grants us a chance to almost "see" the breeze and direction of flow. Something that people can get wrong very easily.

I can't really say too many negative things about this art piece. There are a few things here and their that I have said, but this piece is open to interpretation and so refined in detail that there is next to nothing that I would have expected more of or changed. For that reason, you have my greatest respect and hopefully the rating may represent that.

Sincerely,
Soulyman

Awwww...

Cuteness aside, you've once more shown excellent rendering skills at backgrounds. That alone, I think, really makes this piece stand out. The light placement, particularly with consideration of cool and warm light, really sells the tranquility aspect of the scene.

Though a small nit-pick. Derpy's visible ear seems a little small with respect to the body and head. I briefly mistook this as Derpy as a filly, with the proportions the way they are. It does draw my eye, taking me out of the peaceful nature of the setting, but that may just be my own habits. I tend to draw pony ears a tad large, so seeing a chibi-type ear on a otherwise normally proportioned body does distract me.

That aside, the story infused in this is simplistic, but charming. It invites me to stop and relax; smell the roses, at i'twere. And yet, it retains a spontaneity of discovery. Derpy's expression is where that is coming from; I can almost hear a small gasp of delight. Quite an excellent contrasting dynamic.