Zen, Consider the Leaf
by rudacb

Comment by awpollard:
Nice simple approach...I like it.

A Flash in the Pan
by rudacb

Comment by photom:
Hi Brad and * Greetings from the Critique Club *

I found the abstract challenge to be a lot of fun with loads of interesting entries. I, for one, did not recognize your subject until I read your photographer's comment - so it meets the challenge for me.

But - looking through other comments - some may have deducted points because it was "not abstract enough" for their taste. That may partly explain why your score is not as high as you'd like.

As the challenge said, abstract is about lines, shapes and colors. Let's discuss your image relative to that description.

First - your selection of colors that work together is SUPERB. The soft blues are perfect companions to the yellows. Just squint your eyes closed a bit and enjoy the colors. The use of glass to pick up and display hints of colors is also very effective. IT also added some interesting shapes.

You have some nice lines as well - the slightly arcing lines of the bulb and the repeated shape on the glass bowls work hand in hand. But, here is where the composition falls apart a bit. Those wonderful shapes are starkly interrrupted by the straight lines of your border.

I think if you re-shot this - but composed it so the tube on the left side were allowed to "complete the circle" by moving the camera to the left, it would be a much better composition. The viewer could then follow the tube around the left side - and be drawn back into the main picture.

Another problem - the viewer's eye will normally gravitate to the area of most contrast - in this case the bright blue-white areas in the left border. But, once there... there's no "logical way" to wander.

Some have commented on your choice of border. I must admit it does violate my own primary rules of borders that says "They should never compete with the image."

Finally - an easy post shoot processing glitch. Look closely at the yellow bright areas at the top and note the "dripping paint effect" of the transition areas. This can easily be corrected by not saving the jpeg so compressed. Your image was only 50k - so try saving it less compressed - closer to the 150 k limit next time.

Remember - these are just "one man's opinion" and just my thoughts how how you can take your really nice image and make it even better.

Good shooting

-Tom-

Rusty Rebel
by rudacb

Comment by Aaron:
Excellent shot, I love the simplicity of it!!

Rusty Rebel
by rudacb

Comment by boomer:
Thisi is a good example of an image with just a tiny bit of rust that none-the-less is ALL about rust, because of the desaturation of the other colors. Good job. Not crazy about the inner frame. 6

Rusty Rebel
by rudacb

Comment by L1:
Great eye for detail!

Rusty Rebel
by rudacb

Comment by Go-KL:
It needs to be sharper on the rusty bolt

Rusty Rebel
by rudacb

Comment by adbaker:
love the contrast

Rusty Rebel
by rudacb

Comment by cghubbell:
I like the way the red is emphasized by the light background.

Rusty Rebel
by rudacb

Comment by autool:
Composition: Subject Placement, Cropping, Background 7
Technical: Focus, Exposure, Lighting, Processing 8
Appeal: Is it Interesting, Motivating, Etc.? 3
How well does it meet the challenge: 9
Total Averaged Rating 6.75 Dick

Rusty Rebel
by rudacb

Comment by W.R.Miller:
I really like the border you have used here. This photo looks like you have used desaturation but I'm not sure if it is naturally desaturated or not. Either way I really like how the rusted bolt stands out against everything else which appears to be silverish in color. Good luck with the challenge!!!