Hello, and greetings from the Critique Club. I am your host, the indomitable Artyste, and for the next little while, I'll take you on a tour of your image and what I can say aobut it.
Initial Thoughts
Hmm.. too small. A little flat, and the colors seem too "unreal"
Composition / Content
As some of your comments say, the focal point of this photograph isn't focal *enough*. That is, your subject is hard to discern. On DPC, a key element is having a very strong and noticeable subject. You can have an image that makes people think, but be sure that the initial view of the subject is *BANG*.. right there. In your photograph, you simply have too many things going on.. The water, the footprints, the sandal. While the sandal does stand out as being the most colorful object, it simply doesn't work as a main subject, especially in a challenge that calls for it to *be* the main subject. Another thing is that your entry is simply too small. One *must* utilize the full 640 pixel limit allowed, or you simply suffer too many automatically low votes.
Background
For me, the background here is too stunted, cut off. The waves and tide could really have made a grand background here if worked right. One suggestion would have been to get right down at sand level and got a close-up of the sandal with the roaring waves behind it, and a little out of focus. It's little "unique" touches like that that set photos apart sometimes. Always look for new and interesting ways to shoot a subject, utilizing a background to the fullest extent. In your case, it seems to be simply an afterthought, and doesn't really add to the image in any way.
Camera Work / Technical
Seeing that you've not added any information, it's hard for me to comment here. If you request a critique, *please* add as much information about the shot and the camera settings and post-processing work as possible. We can't really help you to the fullest extent if you don't help us help you :) As for generic technical details, I can tell you that focus on your subject is a little soft, and your exposure seems to be a little on the high side. Your mid-tones are just a little too bright, and the shadows not dark enough. Little tweaks to those areas would help the over-all look of this as well. Also, your colors would have looked a lot stronger and more saturated with a half-stop drop in exposure too.
Digital Processing
Again, no information makes this a difficult thing to comment on. However, I can tell you that were I in charge of the processing here, I'd have done some tweaks in selective coloring to bring out the sunset oranges and yellows that are barely noticeable in the sand, darkened the cyans, worked on darkening the shadows and mid-tones slightly, sharpened up the sandal and generally just tried to make this a stronger, more pleasing and dynamic image. To do well on DPC, it's all about the details, and presenting an image that captures an audience.
Fits the Challenge
You do have a shoe or shoe derivative in your image, however, it's not a strong focus on that item, and as thus leaves your connection to the challenge tenuous.. especially to DPC voters.
My Opinion of the Photo
If this were larger, had more of a focus on the subject, and perhaps a more interesting perspective, I think I could really get into the photo. However, as is, it just leaves me flat and thinking, "next". As a personal photo of a moment captured, it's a fine photo. I've taken thousands like this myself. As a DPC challenge entry, it just has too much wrong with it for myself. Think about some of the things I've said, and practice being creative, and good luck on future challenges.
Is this about a sandal or a footprint? I think perhaps more powerful if the water is just approaching or receeding from the sandal. Hope this is helpful.
Love the simplicity of your composition. Having just one sandal adds interest- makes we wonder what happened to the other one. I also like the foot print leading to the water. This is such a calm picture it is hard to believe how hard Katerina hit the gulf coast.
It's not obvious whether the footprint, the flipflop, or the wave is meant to be the focal point of the shot. Lose the footprint and sharpen focus on the shoe and it would work much better.
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