I think it is lovely! I would make 2 comments - I think the handle would have been better to be included or rubber stamped out completely rather than cut off, and it seems to be a little crooked which makes me want to straighten it. however, the selective focus is lovely
The focus on the flowers is excellent - and it is a lovely image. I agree with the comments above - you have just cropped the corner of the basket off at the bottom too. I am wondering whether this is more of a close up than it needs to be to have a still life feel about it. I think it would benefit from the addition of another element - since often the success of a still life is all about the juxtaposition of a group of objects. Perhaps, giving the flowers and basket a little more space, and maybe having one flower lying next to the basket would be worth a try. Just my opinion of course, and what you already have is lovely.
i do this myself, so i can see here that you have used a wide angle focal length, this causes the objects to feel a little distorted and too close, i would try again stepping back with a longer lens, and include the handle as suggested and see the difference. .
This is a lovely subject, I do think it is tightly cropped and it you could try and follow the rules of thirds and odds which we apparantly find more pleasing to the eye. Your complimentary colours and vibrance are lovely
@helenhall Such good suggestions, Helen. I realize I need to back away some from my subjects, my backdrop has constrained me, so I've taken the top sheet off our bed! (replaced with the ugly stripped set) You are so right too, about introducing another element. After I had shot all the configurations and dismantled the scene, I realized a pair of shears would have continued the narrative. Introducing another bloom for the "odd" number is also a good composition suggestion. Thanks so much for your time!
@kali66 Thank you so much for your constructive solution. I have realized I need a much wider back drop and I thing I have solved the issue of coming in close to avoid the corners and edges of my display area. I have a 70-300mm zoom, would that work, you think? I'll try it out. Half the fun is experimenting! Thanks much for your suggestions.
@30pics4jackiesdiamond Right, Jackie, I think I did "break a few rules", but not in a good way. I goofed around with this so much one afternoon and took so many frames that my critical eye wasn't functioning very well. So great to get feed back from fresh perspectives! Thank you very much for your feed back!
@wakelys Thanks for your comment Susan. Yes, I don't think I noticed that there weren't an odd number, my vision got somewhat myopic after taking so many frames!
@theredcamera I often use my 70-300 ( laziness as other lens downstairs!) And find backdrop not wide enough. Something I learnt from Emma at aywmc is she often composes a shot with a view to crop out edges, so I've started not worrying if edges scruffy with background, I'll crop it!!
