Fall in Motionby
TurbotechComment by karmat: CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat
Composition -- Your choice of subject matter is excellent as the bright reds/orange/yellow sets up a nice contrast with the blue background. Also, the three leaves make a triangle, which I always feel makes a picture seem balanced and strong. For some reason, my eyes are feeling like the bottom right leaf stem needs to be pointed further to the right; it is so very close to the bottom of the frame. And I don't know if it would have been possible or not, but showing the whole leaf at the top would have also been nice, but those are just my opinions.
Technique -- I don't know that you really wanted a longer shutter exposure. As it is, the leaf on the right is almost blown out, losing some detail, and making it look slightly out of focus. Also, your background is reflecting in a couple of spots (primarily the middle right) and I think a longer exposure would have really made that noticeable, unless you really cut back you light source. You have captured the motion well, and I like the blur of the colors.
Overall Effecti -- You have chosen a subject that most people can relate to, and/or identify with. I had two thought when I first viewed this. 1)Why did you do it with a blue background? Though I know many shots are "set up," I think the ideal is to set a shot up without it looking contrived. The leaves are so beautiful, yet they look so out of place. 2) I have never seen a leaf fall stem down like that, and to me that made it look even more unnatural. Granted, this may have been the effect you were going for, it is just my opinion that taking the leaves out of their context really detracted from an otherwise awesome shot. Maybe if they had been falling in front of a tree or onto grass or something. I think it made a potentially 8 or 9 image into a 5 or 6 one.
I hope this helps, at least a little bit.
karmat
