Boringby
tonyvComment by Artyste: Greetings from the Critique Club. My critiques are generally geared towards trying to help you improve your score within DPC, and not on any true "artistic" merit of the photograph itself, unless it relates to DPC voters and scoring. Please keep that in mind as you read this.
Initial Thoughts
Nice arrangement, and B&W works for this shot, although I'm unsure about the wall.
Composition/Content
The assymetrical composition is something I'm not entirely sure of, personally. I'd like to see what happens to this shot with the plates and bowl lined up more centrally. From what I can picture, it'd ground the photo a little more. I also think it might have benefitted from a little more of a portrait orientation instead of square, but that's just me. As it stands, to my mind, it just doesn't feel right.
Background
As you stated, the lighting is harsh on the wall, and tends to take away from your subjects and arrangement. A softer mood would definitely have helped.
Camera Work/Technical
You did a pretty good job exposing for the light you did apparently have, with only the wall in the upper right really being the only bit slightly out of exposure. I'm glad you put in your comments that it was accidentally shot at 1600, or that would have really confused me. hehe. Nice work with the neat image though, I never would have been able to tell.
Digital Processing
As I said, good work on the neat image. Everything else looks really good as well, and the B&W conversion is quite nice, disregarding the over-exposure on the wall.
Fits the Challenge
A good fit for this challenge, as it contains all the elements necessary.
My Opinion of the Photo
As your title says, it really doesn't contain much of what DPC needs to score hugely high, but as you seem to have known this going in, I won't dwell on it. Some tweaking with your set-up though, and it could have had quite a bit more impact. Still, a 6 is never a bad score, so nicely done.
Photographer found comment helpful.
