Greetings from the Critique Club
Composition: There are too many things the same colour in this image and that includes the border.
Technical: focus is good.
Meets challenge: Not quite sure why this is cliche.
Overall impression: A Busy picture that doesn't draw the eye to any particular point and allow it to come to rest.
Suggestions
Get rid of the border! Crop the image until the pine cone is in the bottom left corner, increase the contrast.
No clear subject, no snap in colors, cluttered. I have the same problems. I am trying to concentrate on the surrounding "stuff" and remove everything that does not support the subject.
The light brown border being so close to the color of the pine cone makes it a little hard to see the pint cone. It draws your eye out so that you see the whole photo as a unit rather than being able to look at the pine cone. The brown leaves add to this affect. I truly believe the border really hurt you this time. The black one alone would have forced your eyes inward toward the center. Don't get me wrong. It is a well focused photogaph, nicely done. But the border prevents you from seeing this, and acutally makes it look like just almost a messy piece of grass. It actually takes this from a 9 to a 4.
Not very interesting and the focus and color isn't so good. Try using Unsharp mask and play with the exposure settings on your camera. Use auto-levels to see if that helps the colors.
I think that I see what you are trying to achieve here and can appreciate feel of the image. However, the centered subject makes for a rather static photo. That is, there is no visual motion. Nothing to lead the eye around, to or from the subject.
It would have improved the image if you had first removed all of the dead leaves, then framed the pic so that the pine cone is off center. Not very interesting as is.
Composition: Subject may perhaps have been better off-centre
Technical: Good focus. Pic seems a little busy due to the leaves. The actual subject of the pic isn't instantly obvious. Border is bold and suits the pic.
Meets challenge: Not quite sure what cliche you're trying to depict.
Overall impression: Busy pics aren't bad, but the subject(s) need to be identifiable I think. 5
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