If only ...

Theme fit is obvious and I like what you have done with the lighting, PT. The photo has a little too much in it for my tastes, but it's well done. Nice work, PT.

I knew how to win this game... You are a winner here. A pleasing image, original, good light and a themefit for both themes - a negative space and glass... cheers Jana

Yes, very nice lighting. Theme fit is obvious. I'm not sure if it's the DoF, or if its just because you are photographing clear objects, but the front pawn looks a bit out of focus. It's probably just my eyes though. I like the reflection, although I would like to see more of it. I think the composition is a little tight, mostly on the left side and bottom. Great background, the glass really *pops*. Megan

Just like this the image works well. The edge of knight on the right really helps the group of pieces break into the black background, which is effective.

The frosted glass is a nice contrast to the clear glass pieces, and even better still fits the theme of glass!

 

I agree with Megan that the reflections are good but more would be even better. How about having the chess pieces in the top left corner, almost as if they are floating?

Nice image PT. It is a little to contrived for my taste, but that is only me. I like the lighting, but I agree that seeing more of the reflection, which seems to be on a "glass" tabletop, would make a stronger image.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

Very nice image PT. I join my voice to the ones that say that you are lacking some space. A little on the left, and more on the right and bottom. I think that this subject would gain by being placed exactly on the top left intersect line of the 'rule of third' grid.

 

While lightning is excellent, I think it can be optimised even more to improve the reflection. This would put the theme fit on a second level I find.

I like the glass on glass approach here PT, Nice theme fit; nice background and lighting. Since it is glass, the first thing that came to my mind was also why cut off the reflection?! but, if you were to include reflection I would've preferred fewer pieces on the board to avoid the cluttered feel. Or it might work with all the pieces since you'd be zooming out to include reflections.

 

For a more minimalistic comp. you could just use king, queen and knight (of both) or you could put a few in strategic positions or even have a checkmate :-) but then you'd have to have a different title. I am guessing what it means now could be, 'if only ...both sides could come together?

 

Chitra

Your comments have helped me to see how the shot can be better. Thanks. The grouping is busy to get the togetherness idea that Chitra has written about: if only we could stop fighting and stand together. I'm not sure why I cropped off some of the reflection, maybe just to get closer to the pieces themselves.

With Stephane and Chitra on this picture, the light and exposure is well controlled; there is a lice range of grays and the pieces give a 3d feeling. However i find the composition a little bit crowded, less pieceses and more space on the bottom would help imho.

 

cheers,

calin

As has been said earlier, the idea is good and the exposure if pretty good as well. For some weird reason I want to try a shot of these falling into a colored liquid. I don't know why ;).

Good idea themewise, PT - the lighting creates a decent mood .... for a game of chess perhaps. I would prefer more empty space in the frame.

A very appealing theme, glass. I know I've dedicated a whole folder to its effects and good friendship with light. I like this image. Compositionally, perhaps it is a bit too crowded; as suggested above, I'd have welcome a more minimalist approach, perhaps something less static. One or two (semi)diagonals wouldn't hurt. Regarding the DOF and sharpening issues that arouse, I can add that sometimes I do some selective sharpening on glass objects, just to create more punch or various dimensional effects. I've tried something similar on this (unfortunately, the differences aren't that visible, at small image sizes).