America's Favorite Pastimeby
Tommy 2 ToneComment by CEJ: Hello from the Critique Club!
Composition/perspective - good ratio between your subjects and the overall size of the image. The slight down angle to the subjects works quite well here. Lower or higher would have made it hard to look at and still be pleasing to the eye. The DoF really works on this one. If all three were in focus it would lose it spacial relationships. Well done!
Lighting - the shadows are not too dark, yet they help define the individual space each ball occupies. No glares or bright spots to distract from the continuity of the white/white concept except for a small spot on the right most ball. You start to lose definition on the very right hand edge where it begins to blend into the background. However, it appears more than one light source was used which helps to keep the balls isolated and not blend into each other.
Color - the red laces as the only color is good. Kind of like 'a splash' of color. The balls and background are almost the same exact white so the laces really do their job here. The two balls in the background appear a little dirty which I find a slight distraction. The 'light' is so well done and separated from the 'white' that the dirt spots really stand out. I realize with basic editing they cannot be removed, however, washing, bleaching, showing a different side may have helped remove these. Even shoe polish could have been used.
Challenge requirements - there is no question that this image meets the challenge. Your choice of subjects was good and your control over placement demonstrates a good grasp of not only what was needed, but how to present it as well. [Suggestion: if you care, try to align the balls so the laces form their own continuity]
Overall/my opinion - I like the image and feel you did a great job for a difficult challenge. White on white is not easy to do. My strongest criticism would be the dirt spots on the balls as well as the word(s) 'China.' Both could have either been placed so they were not visible or covered with white-out or shoe polish.
Photographer found comment helpful.