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Initial Thoughts
Striking, and cute, but something's missing..
Composition / Content
You have the right idea here, but for me, you've come in too close. Cutting off your subject in the frame is seldom a good idea unless there's a distinctive reason for it, and I personally don't see one here. Having more space below the toe of the left shoe, and showing more of the string/laces holding them up would have given the shot a lot more dynamic. Instead, it feels a touch crowded. The content is wonderful, very nostalgic, but the composition suffers.
Background
For me, your lighting is wrong. The light part would serve the photo much better if it was centered more, allowing light fall-off on either side of the shoes. This would work very well following the compositional suggestions I gave as well, and would have framed them beautifully. It also would have helped with the slight blowouts on the right side of the right shoe. That string/lace/whatever hanging down below the left shoe needs to go too. It's a superfluous element that only serves to distract. Be careful and observant while shooting to notice the little details like that.
Camera Work / Technical
To me, the use of a large aperature here has possibly given you too shallow a DOF for your subject, especially in as close as you are (unless you cropped a lot). Your focus has suffered because of this and isn't as crisp as it could be throughout. Your exposure is pretty good, however, especially for a sepia tone, although you do have some rather strong shadows. A simple secondary light (diffused or just low powered) or a reflector, would have helped that.
Digital Processing
Sepia is a great choice for this image, as it helps with the nostalgic feel you seem to have been going for. I also think this image could have benefitted from a little more sharpening work. I'd suggest using USM at 254%/0.3/0 and tweaking it from there.
Fits the Challenge
No arguement here.
My Opinion of the Photo
This has all the makings of a very wonderful photo, and is a great attempt. I do like it for what it is, but also see the potential of what it could have been. A nice take on the challenge, and good luck in the future.
Fit Challenge Criteria: 2/2
Contrast/Color: 1/2
Composition: 2/2
Photo Quality: 1/2
My Subjective Affinity: 1/2
The string hanging from the right shoe is very distracting. I like the effect of the blown out background, but would like to see a little more detail in the shadows of the shoes.
Nice lighting and shadows, Pretty smooth transition but over whited in my opinion. ....also would of liked to see some more of the front of the left shoe to carry the curves. just stupid but i dont like the white border at all no mark down for it though.........8
Very adorable childhood shoes. This picture is great, from the colors to the details to the lighting. I don't think you need to change anything at all. It looks interesting. Very nice. :D
i like the tone, composition but i can't really find a focus point. maybe just my monitor [calibrated for cmyk color correcting] but it would feel better i think if there was some part of it that was sharper or more in focus than the rest.
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