First Orchid of Spring
by Dr.Confuser

Comment by JuliBoc:
Very, very pretty. Beautiful focus and DOF. There seems to be a lit too much difference in color between the subject and the green background for this challenge.

First Orchid of Spring
by Dr.Confuser

Comment by Rachel53:
Dont really get the color on color?

First Orchid of Spring
by Dr.Confuser

Comment by ehale92:
the purpel dosnt go with the green bacground

First Orchid of Spring
by Dr.Confuser

Comment by Lydia:
The center of the flower could be sharper and teh stick is distracting. (Perhaps burn the top of the stick?)

First Orchid of Spring
by Dr.Confuser

Comment by jellybelly:
purple flower, green background?
purple flower, brown background?
green flower, green background?
good picture if a little dark.

Orderly Transitions
by Dr.Confuser

Comment by purpleflutterby13:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

I gave this image a 5 during voting. And to explain why...

I think this is an interesting, funky image, which meets the challenge. I had no idea what the tools were until I read the description, but they certainly looked intriguing.

However, what I personally don't like about the image is the almost-but-not symmetry. Even though it's perfectly straight, I get this feeling of tilting to the right when looking at the image because of the arrangement of the tools.
I think with relatively simple images (objects on dark background), probably the most crucial thing to focus on is the composition, and for me it doesn't quite work here. It almost does... I think rearrange them very slightly and it would.

Another thing you could play with is the lighting. I actually really like the light you used here, I think it works really well, but it's another possibility to play with - try different types of directional light, and a variety of reflections, and see what works best.

The focus seems a bit soft in places, no idea if that's intentional (wow, at f18 it really shouldn't be). I like the post-processing, I think you brought out the image nicely.

Anyway, hope that helps. Cool image, well done :)

Any questions, just PM me.

Jelena

Sapphire Dreams
by Dr.Confuser

Comment by MaryO:
Lots of fun distortion and nice colors. Not sure it makes me want to buy or drink it, but it's interesting.

Sapphire Dreams
by Dr.Confuser

Comment by mgsmith53:
Outstanding.

Sapphire Dreams
by Dr.Confuser

Comment by Anders:
Very nice. I love the tension you can see in the gin (or water?). Would have loved to have seen a slightly wider crop, just enough to get the bottle neck in. Well executed though, I like that you can see the rest of the brand name through the liquid.

Sapphire Dreams
by Dr.Confuser

Comment by Jedusi:
Really nice shot. Great angle, colours, DoF, all of it really : )

And a nice drink as well - especially in a glass that size :- )