Dlevon Loc: New Jersey

Cut down on the amount of objects and recompose. You are giving the eye too many focus points.

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

That candle keeps getting shorter. The last one is the best. I guess I don't see the plant really adding to the scene. It seems out of place.

goofybruce

shorter candlestick so the flame reflects off either the wine bottle or the glass. also as mentioned above, shoot from a higher angle, rather than straight into the still-life... It's getting there so keep playing with it....

twowindsbear

Adjust the color / white balance of your light source so the lighting on your objects 'matches' the color of the candle.

Use a 'proper' table of some sort - and just a bit bigger, maybe even a tray, rather than that 'ratty old packing crate,' or drape a nice cloth of some sort over the wooden box.

The cork looks HUGE - is it really from that bottle?

Maybe use a carafe or other 'serving bottle' rather than the actual bottle?

Should there be a fork or spoon? Or is this 'finger food?'

Keep posting your changes, too - and your final 'finished' version.

larryzplace Loc: Elk Grove Village Illinois

4 definitely is the pick of the litter..... The others just weren't up to the high standards I always see in your work
:-D

Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

Nice pic......my comments are not intended to diminish your pic at all.

First, I see too many objects. As a still life, you are telling a story, so let me tell one:

>there was a romantic dinner/interlude involving wine and food.
>Get rid of the fruit bowl,
>tip the glass, and have a few (1 or 2) strawberries (?) spilling out of it. You have the wine, so lose the cork.
> Get a much smaller/lower candlestick, and have the candle burned way down----- it's been a long night, the wine is gone, the candles low........you get it.
>The lavender is a nice touch versus the usual flowers. I would keep it, but many of the suggestions you rec'd are good. If you keep it to the right, I would get rid of those couple far-right stems that draw the eye too far away
>conversely, I would take the exact same lavender and put it to the left side of the table and let those two stems draw my eye onto the table
>I would have the bottle to the right with some of the lavender splayed behind the bottle
>have the glass to the left, front, on its side facing left with the fruit spilling away. The splash of red will make the viewer "nervous".
>you can keep the cork, but lose the fruit dishes.

Anyway, JOMO and I enjoyed your photo!

mardic Loc: Fla.

I am glad that I downloaded. Just beautiful. No changes for me.
Outstanding as far as I am concerned.

RickM1950 Loc: Davenport, IA

Number 4 for me. My version....the glass half full tells the story? Hope you don't mind.

Rick

B&W

(Download)

Travesty Loc: Chicago Burbs, USA

WOW!!!!
I had no idea I would get this much response to this!

I 1st of all want to thank everyone of you for taking time to give this thought and some of you put a lot of thought and effort into this.. I planned on having a go at it tonight again, but will have to wait a day or two..

One thing I do realize in glancing at some of the comments is we all have different taste and preferences which is a good thing I guess, otherwise all of our images would look the same.. I do plan on going back and reading all of the responses and suggestions..

With that being said I posted image #4 for the heck of it on FaceBook in a couple different places to see what kind of response it received, and I have already had a few people private message me there in regard to obtaining a print. This makes it even harder and more confusing for me. I am no stranger to composing still life, but feel I have a creative block going on. Thanks again and I will post whatever I do or redo in the next couple of days.

Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

Nice job of creating and implying various heights.

carlysue Loc: Columbus

Randy, I am looking forward to seeing your next go at this still-life (I'd say "final" but we're really never finalizing,are we?). My only contribution would be to find the story. And then sit at the table. A reconciliation that never happened? A romantic interlude? disappointment? loss? anticipation? The story is in there.

WAL

One two many parts. Try removing one thing.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

You don't need help with this. It's beautiful the way it is.

Travesty Loc: Chicago Burbs, USA

Well I want to again thank everyone for their input on this...
Here is my final go at this one.. A bit different from the original... :)

William Loc: Mississippi

musta got got bored again (I know)