Spoonful of Vitamin Bee (Spoon, Honey and a Real Bee)by
davidus428Comment by wavelength: Greetings from the critique club!
This is my first critique for the club and a doosey at that, so bear with me :o)
This photo is wonderfully composed, there can't be many complaints here. The spoon leads you directly to the bee in a thirds cross-section and the negative space leaves you no other perceivable subject to look at so your eyes should stick to the bee and honey.
There is a small problem with a highlight on the spoon handle that is distracting to me. On the flipside of that the bee is too dark. There are some highlights on the bee that bring out some detail, but too much of it seems clipped out. I'm not quite sure what you're lighting was, but it seems like it was a flash direct on. I think having some light at 45 degree angles above left and below right to the subjects. This would highlight the back and wings of the bee, and would (I think) heavily reduce the highlights on the spoon.
My only other complaint would be the overpowering color of the background. Your eyes should stick to the bee and spoon, but I think the background was given too much visual weight with the vibrant purple, and is more distracting than additive to the composition. This seems especially so when in conjunction with the lack of detail on the bee.
I realize that this must have been a decidedly hard setup and shoot. It is very commendable, and possibly amazing, that you got the shot at all. This was an inspired idea and composition and gets a ton of cool points from me. Find a way to light the subject better, and you have a ribbon shot here.
-Steve
Photographer found comment helpful.
