Flip... Flop...by
o0oangeo0oComment by KaDi: Hello from the Critique Club!
(I hope I do a fair job, as this is my first critique as a CC member.)
The color in your image "pops"...it's bright, cheerful, almost playful! The flip-flops create pattern by their repetition. You've isolated the subject well. It strikes me as a "well-seen" subject--it doesn't seem to be a "product shot" (something you would see in a magazine), but rather something you would notice walking past a shop window on the street.
The shadow across the top (noted by some of your commenters) draws attention. After looking a little longer, I realized that it is well balanced by the complimentary shadow at the bottom--they create a sort of framing. However, the shadow at the top does draw attention, why? It is not as symmetrical as the one at the bottom--the shelving below creates a clean line, the shadow (from the shelving above?) casts a softer edge which angles down, ever so slightly, to the right breaking balance ever so slightly.
There is also a shadow at the far left which angles down and points to the thong cut off by the frame. Because of that, the image seems incorrectly framed or cropped—it makes the shot seem off-hand and breaks the pattern set so well by the other sandals.
The light cast by the straps is interesting, it has a water-like reflective quality. The image is well exposed and evenly focused. The green color pulls the eye first and leads to the brighter, more reflective circles on the sandals at the left.
If you had full control over the situation, you could have been rigorous in arranging the flip-flops and preparing them for the shot. Things that distract include the gap between the two in the upper left which breaks the overall pattern and the rough edge of the pink one. You might have also broken out of the shadows a bit by pulling the sandals forward on the shelf letting them hang into the “void.” Bringing the contrast down in post-processing could also have eliminated the brown of the shelf achieving a similar effect.
Why did you get a (perfect) five? I can’t answer that. Maybe some voters felt you were outside of the strict “shoe-ness” of the challenge. Maybe one of the things I mentioned caused them to dismiss the image quickly. Or perhaps its simplicity requires spending a little more time looking than most are willing to expend while voting. Your commenters made some good observations and then gave you an average of six—you inspired 15 people to comment, not bad! I look forward to seeing your next challenge entry.
--Kadi
Message edited by author 2005-09-12 19:20:57. 
Photographer found comment helpful.