Water On Fireby
bruskiComment by photom: Hi Nick and *Greetings from the Critique Club *
Although I already commented on your image during the challenge - it's nice to see what others have said and see if we can come up with a consensus.
First - it's a great image - coming in 29th in a very competitive challenge. The major things that pushed it up there are: a) Superb Colors, b) Superb textures, and c) Perfect exposure.
On the downside, a few commenters, including me, had some difficulty with the composition. I don't know if you've had any "art theory" classes, but they have actually "measured" viewers eyes to see where the eyes "go" inside an image - and the path to get there.
In America, and other countries where they read from left to right, the studies show that images which have a "lead-in line" starting at the bottom left or so - then take the viewer into the image - rate higher more consistently than those that don't. Of course that's not a hard rule saying there should "always" be one. (The study I am familiar with did not comment on countries that read right to left.)
So - since you do have a lead in there - note that it takes you diagonally up and to the left - and out of the frame. That's why I commented earlier that if you included the bottom of the lens shape, it would do better.
I know I've used a lot of words to say very little, but when the image is as close to "PERFECT" as yours, sometimes it's nice to know the theory behind what commenters are saying.
In any event - keep up the good work - and I definitely predict you'll be on the ribbon list(s) very soon. I loved your entries in Still Life and Proportion.
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