Forgedby
kennytComment by nards656: Greetings from the Critique Club! :)
Composition
Overall, I like this, but it's a bit static, even with the fire, since the focal point that my eye naturally goes to is the flame, which is in the center. The attempt at leading lines is nice, but they tend to lead me away from the focal point, which is the flame. That said, the effect is overall still a pleasing one.
Exposure
Typically I don't critique exposure as a separate issue, but here I know how crucial it was, and I know the difficulties you faced. The flame from the torch here is so hot that the foreground is somewhat underexposed. I would really like to see the torch itself in more clarity. If I were to try to shoot this shot myself, after seeing yours and trying to learn from it, I would have used a diffused flash to eliminate the torch from the left side in an effort to show some detail there. I think that is probably the greatest opportunity for improvement in this shot.
Camera Work
The only additional suggestion I would have would be a smaller aperture in an effort to extend the depth of field to include the entire torch.
Post Processing
There's not a lot of need for excessive PP here, and what you have done is appropriate and realistic, I think. There is a slightly "greenish" cast that I can't decide whether to blame on white balance or just the color of the surrounding area.
My Opinions
This is an appealing shot to me, since I work in metalworking / machining myself (in a fashion), and I've seen this kind of thing very often. The flame is very hot, and I know this is indeed a tough subject to capture in perfect fashion. I congratulate you on a job well done.
I hope these thoughts are helpful and informative. If you have any questions or comments, please PM me at any time. Thanks for submitting!
Photographer found comment helpful.
