Hey Don, here to comment on behalf of Critique Club. Which, is pretty ironic, given that I readily confess that Surrealism is not in my personal sphere of comfort. Nonetheless, herein lies my views/thoughts (as naive as I am, I refrain from the use of "critique") as an honest stream of conscious without the use of rose-colored glasses, since I earnestly believe you would appreciate nothing less.
For the sake of my critique, I will operate under the definition of "Surrealism" as being a mode of automated expression in which the unbridled imagination/subconscious is released.
My first conscious thought upon looking at your image is to strip the processing away and simply evaluate the subject as it "would have occurred" in nature (ie. naturally). Having done that, I confront myself with a bee and a flower. Rather ubiquitous and commonplace, so no sense of enthusiasm or interest, really. Probably an image I would look at, give a 4 or 5, and move on without deeper consideration or evaluation.
The choice of processing though, does raise the intrigue level a bit. The cream-brown/amber colour gives off the feeling of "death" to me. Dying leaves, rotten vegetation etc, which is accentuated by the appearance of wilted and shriveled leaves. By its nature, it makes this a curious image --- why would a bee pollinate or feed off a dying flower? What does it see that I as the viewer does not? It's not natural. And as such, I feel this image has a Surreal element to it, as it challenges my perception of the physical world as I understand and interpret it.
But it doesn't push me further in the realm of "unbridled imagination"....I don't look at this and question what is reality vs imaginary. I don't feel like the boundary of the real world are pushed far enough. Thus, for me, the image falls short.
I hope you found my honest "critique" somewhat useful and worthwhile, even though I readily admit it is for a challenge that is not my strength and required me to do some self-education.
I will happily continue this discussion via PM if you so desire.
Thanks!
Garry
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