Cool Joeby
FocusPointComment: Hello from the Critique Club!
Well, I'm one of only 4 people who commented on this one during the challenge, and I was randomly given this shot for the CC too. But, I guess feedback mostly from one person, is better than none at all!
As I said before, and someone else noted, I like the use of reflections here to help fill in the facial features. But, I think most people probably didn't take the time to look that closely. They probably saw cup of coffee with sunglasses on laptop... weren't really interested, and moved on.
I think you hit on two important points in your Photographer's Comments. Is this personification? I'm not sure. I wasn't when I voted either. There were a bunch of shots where items were placed together to look like a person, but really, a coffee mug has no personable qualitites to it. It's only when it's put all together that it makes a person.
Next, you mentioned the technical qualities of the photo. While I appreciate the setup with the neat reflections, it seems that it was almost a lucky fluke instead of a preplanned part of the shot. The rest of the shot is cluttered and not well planned. Had you put this against a solid black background, with a more dramatic lighting... people probably would have taken notice to the deliberate setup involved and (if it had been well done) voted it higher. The shot is also a little soft or even blurry?
So, all in all, I think you answered your own question about why this scored as low as it did. I've just given a bit more clarification to all of it.
If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.
Photographer found comment helpful.
