Always Having To Juggle My Emotions
by
ColeyComment: Greetings from the Critique Club!
First, I have to shake my head at the strange luck I have - the last CC image I got was dead last in its challenge, and this time I get the blue ribbon image! I find myself now wondering what feedback I could give that's more than simply congratulatory; this image has obviously been well received and has communicated its message nearly perfectly.
As my somewhat tongue-in-cheek comment left during the challenge suggests, I'm familiar with your "Stopped Motion II" entry, done with the same technique. This strikes me as a more refined effort--it's compositionally stronger, imparting a much better sense of motion--and the carvings on the pumpkins not only tie the image directly to the challenge but give it a layer of meaning in itself.
To a certain extent, it seems possible that if you'd put the pumpkins in a smoother arc, it might look overly artificial. It might have been a better decision to do it as you did here. Clearly, your approach worked spectacularly, so perhaps no improvement is needed (if it's even possible). But for my own tastes, I think I would have preferred to see the pumpkins in an even arc, as they would be if you were, in fact, juggling them.
As you mentioned in your own comments, it's difficult to see the heart eyes on the "love" pumpkin. A bit of adjusting for better viewing angle on some of the pumpkins might have helped - not, of course, to the point that they're all facing the viewer, but just enough that all the expressions are discernable.
It might be unavoidable in an image that has so many active elements, but the photo seems a little bit crowded - perhaps a slightly looser crop on the top and left would have been appropriate. I feel like there should be a little bit more room, especially on top, which I think would help with the implied motion of the pumpkins, as if you were allowing for the possibility that a toss might send a pumpkin higher than anticipated.
... but all of this, really, is largely speculative; these describe other possible approaches, none of which are necessarily better, just different. You have every reason to be happy with this shot--it's a spectacular piece of work! And highest congratulations on the most coveted blue!
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