Floatation Deviceby
sacsComment by pidge: Salut from the critique club!
Hmmm, a couple of things strike me right away.
One is focus. It seems as though the reflection of the flower and the pipe in the water is more in focus than the actual flower itself. I feel that this was not the intent of the picture, so it is a bit distracting. Since you were going for an homage to Claude, having something in focus detracts from the softness of the main subject
I like the idea that it's a tribute to Monet, but for my tastes, it doesn't quite work. One is the colors. I think of Monet and I think of soft spring colors. The white of the flower is a bit harsh compared to the rest of the picture. I also find Monet's use of color is what gives it that fabulous soft sense (along with his painting techniques). The purple I find is a bit unnatural looking.
The composition is quite nice. Using the rule of thirds is always a nice way to give dimension to your photograph.
A couple of people commented on the blown highlights of the flowers. I find that it is so white, it almost makes me want to put some sunglasses on :D Actually, having that much white sometimes work, but I think in this particular situation, it worked against you as opposed to for you.
A word about the title. Everyone has a different view on how important a title is. For me, it's about the photo first, and the title second. However, I often find a well-done title will give me a peek into what the photographer is capturing/conveying/portraying/etc. Some will say the photo shuold stand for itself, but hey, Monet's paintings have titles, right? So, my point is I think thinking about a nicer title would create a better sense for the picture. With your title, it makes me think of flotation devices (lifesavers in boats and such) and then i notice the pipe in the water.
I see this was your first challenge. You took a very daring approach for a first timer, and I applaud you for that. I am glad you are here to learn, and I look forward to your future entries.
You may want to consider becoming a member. The member challanges allow you a bit more post processing freedom which may help you in your graphical design class.
happy shooting!
If you have any question, feel free to pm me
Cheers!
pidge
Photographer found comment helpful.
