Lines, spirals, shadows

One I always liked for some reason. I've only got one rating on it

and I've decided that maybe I'd like to hear some thoughts. Probably

not my best but for some reason I enjoy it. Any ideas or comments

are appreciated.

I enjoy this one too. It has some sort of intangible quality that makes it pleasing even though it is so "industrial". Nice photo.

Very well done. I also like these type of abstract pics and like the out-of-focus background with a prominent foreground object. I haven't tried Portra for shots like this- I think I will try it.

Not bad at all... A few minor critiques, though... I'd probably like a strong reflector on the extreme right to brighten up to a certain extend the darkest part of the rings - while still keeping it darker than the highlights are in order to preserve the volume.

Now, the left side... I find great your idea to have something blur there - that's really original, because all photographers shooing design would normally go for a sharp angular shape there -, but... not a bright line imo, especially not a line drawing our eye away from the sharp area.

I'd think of another circle towards the top edge, center-left of the image, above the base of the main item... I'd crop this in a square then. OR, the bright blur circle could also come top left of this rectangular frame.

What's interesting maybe is the reason way I'm proposing these 2 options.

1st reason: to re-establish the balance of the composition within the frame - which we have lost here.

2nd reason: to deal with 1 single opposition, rather than 2 at a time. The opposition sharp blur is simple and interesting enough here. By adding another opposition - circle vs. straight line - you have made this image complex. And complexity is the ennemy of design-based photographs. That's in every book about this kind of photography, and very easy to verify, for example, in Japanese Still Life photography. The Japanese are the real masters of this type of photography, and the best pieces in this genre are always the most perfect and the simpler ones.

I think Hide Ishura, on Photo.net, has probably a vast knowledge of what Japanese are doing in this area of work. You might want to get his opinion. Many pieces of this kind of art can also be found in various silver product catalogs and luxury brochures worldwide. I think that a close study of such materials is the best way to fine-tune your work, which is already quite good.

My bet being: be simpler, be more extreme in your decisions, go brighter on the reflective elements.

Best regards.

Reflector on bottom right I think would be good. I like the blur in teh background but something is just not right about it. It may be the shape but I am not sure. If I can put my finger on it I will follow up.

I think this is very tasteful. The way the light hugs the top-left part of the spring looks great. I think the shapes and contrast in the spring really bring life to the image. How did you get the blur to happen on only one side the object in the rear of the frame ? The underside seems very crisp while the top side seems really smooth ?

I also really like the spring. I like how the arc echos the roundness of the coils. To me, the problem is the straight line. IMHO, the background object also needs to echo the foreground. Marc mentioned a circle. I don't know if I'd do a full circle...but not another arc either. Something curving sort of an "S" shape maybe. I guess I just feel that the line detracts and distracts from the coil rather than adding to. But that's me.

I have no real experience of technically photographing abstract art so my comments relate to how this photo feels to me.

 

I like the juxtaposition of the rigid, albeit blurred, solid bar contrasting with the tension of the coiled spring.

 

The layout troubles me a little as they are fighting each other (which reinforces the conflict) and marks comment about a circle or part circle higher to the left would work for me.

 

I would like it a little more if the 'underside' elements of the spring were a little more involved - some kind of edge highlight maybe.

 

Having said that, I like it.

 

When I said a circle, I didn't mean a full circle either. Just didn't think of the word Arc in this context, but I fully suscribe to what Lisa said here. Just a vocabulary defficiency...:-) Regards.

critiquing this type of image is tough for me. there are volumes written on elements of design and graphic photography, none of which i have read.

 

i guess i should comment on what i know. lighting. the blurred straight line seems a bit too bright and the shadow side of the coil a bit too dark to balance well. i would put a large reflector (large being relative to the size of the coil) on the right to bring it up just a bit. perhaps within 1 1/2 stops of the highlight. maybe less. and burn in the line in post or adjust exposure to bring it down just a touch.

 

in keeping with my 'post a comment before reading comments' rule i have not read what marc has said, but i would be willing to bet that he has some good advice on the balance and graphical nature of this photo.

 

for myself i will say that it does not 'feel' resolved but it has promise.