Asiaby
lionelmComment: Hello from the Critique Club - I'm geting back to some of my hostages.
I was going to look up something about japanese esthetics but I never did. I wish Natasha could critique this one. Either that, or I hope she never reads mine. I could be all wrong but it feels to me that besides creating a lovely picture you have made something Eastern as opposed to Western. I suspect that the "rule of thirds" and other ways we have of looking at composition are Western norms. Just as we fill up our houses with decoratives, they keep their homes visually simple. We lines the walls and edges of a room with furniture, they keep the walls clear and put one table in the center of the room. Your picture is so simple and so essential. Just the empty plate waiting for food - It implies hospitality, a meal to be offered to family or guest. The edges are clear and uncluttered. There isn't anything to confine the image, no table top, no horizon, no frame, no reference points, no background at all.
An image that reads from left to right is said to be dynamic, one that reads from right to left is more peaceful. I like how the chopsticks point left, the shadow of the chopsticks point left and the plate (and it's shadow) points left, peace upon peace upon peace. The relaxed feeling is also picked up in your subtle somewhat muted colors and the complimentary color scheme - yellow purple.
All the line, yes, every single one, contribute to a visual follow-the-dots. the chopsticks point to the upturned edge of the plate which swoops up just enough to throw the viewer back into the image and around the plate to the curvey shadow and back up and down the chopsticks. The eyes of the viewer are lead back into the image continuously. Once the eyes get led out of the frame the mind says "Okay, I'm done, click, next picture." With the pattern you have created I came back for a second and third look and give your photo the attention it deserves (especially important in a quick view contest like this one).
I like some of the words used in the comments: Simple, Zen, delicate, elegant, appealing, balanced. Yes, I agree that that bit of shadow anchors the image which would otherwise float. Good comments.
Now the critisism..I think you have absolutely positively mastered the image on white theme. How much more perfect do you have to make it??? Are you challenging yourself? Or has this become too easy?? Are you expanding your style or are you stuck? Surely it gets you great votes. Your images are equisite!! But do you need to take a risk? Are you afraid to try images of people? Where can you take your artistic eye next? Dare I suggest make it more personal? You are one on "our" top photographer/artist. Don't let it get stale or you will outgrow DPchallenge.
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