Mini #172 - Still Life - Results

Thanks again to y'all who submitted images - welcome aboard to the new participants - always nice to see new folks and their work.
I'm gonna' go ahead and give HM's to Everybody!.... just for pitching-in to keep things alive around here.
I know, it's too much like the dreaded "Participant Award", but, please indulge me.
I do have specific comments and suggestions on several images, and then
the top 3 - so, onward we go - comments are in the order of submission...

travelways - Onion

Nice - I like this one a lot as an example of how to take a single ordinary object, apply composition, lighting and a little pleasing PP to create an objet d'art.


grandmaR - untitled

I know you didn't intend this as an enty, but I think it's the best of the group you submitted grandmaR.
Food shots succeed when they make you want to eat 'em - where's my spoon!?!


Alan, thanks for sharing, even though you were not entering this time - I know that I am not alone here in feeling always-the-better for having viewing your work.


Cavalier - Courting Candles

I like the image, and I like the "oldness" of the subject and PP here Cavalier - nice lighting too.
My suggestion - in terms of creating a "still life" - would be to simplify the composition - lower the angle,
and keep select objects whole and featured in the frame. Lots of potential here.


billseye - Bodie

A classic "Old West" style still life with great shape, color and lighting.
For those that haven't been, Bodie is a preserved Ghost Town in the
Eastern Sierra/Mono Lake area of California - a must see if you like old wood, rust, and decay.
I'm surprised Bill found these un-dusty bottles - most things in town have been left alone for over a century.


ShootingStar - Water vs. Metal

Probably not a still life per se, but I like it a lot and looks like something that would have caught my eye too!


Silverblade26 - Still as a pouncing lion

Welcome to Dgrin and thanks for joining us on your first post!
I like the subject and lighting here, but to my eye, the composition would be improved with a less centered, and completely visible subject.



THIRD PLACE:
aaronc - Fork

Very nice "modern", objet d'art, still life. Eating utensil compositions are iconic, but for me what stands-out on this one is the altered shape of the shadow - it is unexpected and mysterious.



SECOND PLACE:
DonRicklin - Water Spritzer

My wife helped my decide this round (it's OK, she's got a good eye!), and we both liked this one a lot Don.
The simplicity of the colorful object set in a modest, earth-toned setting, glowing in the sun made this a winner for us.



FIRST PLACE:
jwear - Very STILL

Everything combines here to please the eye; simple, but detailed natural shapes - soft lighting that enhances the wonderful palette of
pastel tones - the diffuse, impressionistic-appearing surface surrounding the leaf brings your eye right to it - and, it breaks the mold a little as it's probably an outdoor shot.
Lovely image jwear - congrats! Now, you're IT!! :thumb