TECHNIQUE Colors are generally vibrant and bright, but there is a yellowish caste to the whole image that makes it look a little dingy. This may be the result of a mismatch between the white balance your camera was expecting, and the actual light available at the scene. Also, the glare on the front of the jar is distracting. If the scene was lit with natural light, try to find a way to diffuse the light a little (curtains, drape a sheet across the window, etc.). If you're shooting with flash, don't. Find a way to light the scene more indirectly. If there's not enough light to do this, use a tripod and a longer exposure. Avoid the built-in flash of your camera at all costs. Makes for ugly reflections. Those blown glare lines can make an otherwise excellent picture stumble. The focus appears to be a little off also. The marbles are a little fuzzy looking, as is the top edge of the jar. If there's one thing that DPC tends to find unforgivable, it's a failure to focus "sharply." Your picture gave no technical details, but perhaps you used a very small "f number" (e.g., f2.8) which means your pictures will have a very narrow range where the image is in focus, with foreground or background objects being out of focus. This is desirable for some shots but perhaps not this one?
COMPOSITION You tilted perspective adds interest and and element of unbalance to the photo that I like. What feels a little awkward is the way you've chopped off the top of the jar, left another background object partially visible at the upper right, and have the different color backdrops (shelf, counter??). If you're going to leave an object "in place" to shoot it for this, take great care to make the background as much a part of the composition as the subject.
EMOTIONAL IMPACT In general, this picture lacks punch or what many DPCers refer to as the "wow factor." It doesn't make you stop and stare. It doesn't drop the jaw. As you said in your photographer's comment, it's just your marble collection. When shooting a picture of a common or otherwise uninteresting object, find a way to make it pop. Experiment with unusual lighting, such as backlighting, which can be interesting when your subject is made of glass. Or try for an unusual perspective (up real close) or put the marbles in a place were you normally wouldn't expect to see them (a wine glass??). Etc. Find a way to make your picture stand out from the pack. Make sure you nail the technical details, pay attention to composition. And keep shooting!
I like the colors. The picture seems a teeny bit grainy, though, and unless the jar is in a box that's on its side, I wish you hadn't tilted it. But that's just me, I'm kind of anti-unnecessary-tilt.
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
