Spike a Drink
by
TranquilComment by Brad: Greetings from the Critique Club!
"The sign of a photographer: Take a mundane subject and turn it into art"
This was an unusual challenge in that the object was to take an ordinary household object and create an interesting photograph from it, all within in a time frame of 24 hours.
Composition:
Your image was a unique and very imaginative one that thrilled the viewers and voters. There is dropping a tack into fluid, then there is the tranquil method - with PUNCH! This shot has a lot going for it in the way of punch: The colors are vivid and well chosen. The angular trajectory kept this from being a boring shot, as the eye is drawn not only to where the tack is now, but the mind can easily re-trace where it entered the fluid, and yet does not compete with the main focal point. The depth of field falls off at the right point in the image in my opinion, keeping the focal point in one place.
Interest, wow factor and the tranquil punch all added up to this being THE 24-hour challenge winner, and well-deserved at that.
Lighting:
How much can be said about the lighting here that the image doesn't say for itself? It rocks and was the key element in taking this shot right to the top. Well-balanced with just the right amount of contrast.
Post-Processing:
You have a good handle on your post-processing in this picture. You didn't go off the deep end in the saturation and as easy as this may have been to go over the top with an unusual border, you chose the simple approach, and was effective in being supplemental to the overall look/feel.
Suggestions/Improvements:
I think after studying this for a while, I have found I have nothing to suggest in ways to improve this image within the open challenge editing guidelines.
Congrats on a very fine job and on the Blue Ribbon Lee!
I hope this was useful to you, and please feel free to contact me via PM if you have any questions regarding this critique or anything else relating to the site in general.
Regards,
Brad
Message edited by author 2005-07-31 12:41:20. 
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