flowers in a vase

posted this in one of the other forums and got no comments. makes me think there's something wrong -- suggestions wanted. thanks.

ISO 100, f11, 2.5 sec, tamron 28-75 @ 40mm. RAW conversion, resized, and USM (300, 0.3, 0).

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Colors are great! You might want to get rid of all the spots on the grey background (and that scratch? between the fronds), but I think the coloring is fantastic!

I think it is very, very good. The color balance and exposure are right on, in my opinion.

The lighting is unusually well done. Seems to be very diffuse and gives great 3-dimensionality in the green leaves and the blossoms just glow!

I would crop about 1" from the top, as there seems to be more black area up there than is necessary for the composition. Ordinarily, I would complain about the subject being too centered. Relative to that issue, perhaps it should not be cropped.

Horizontally, the red vase is just enough off to the left to help with the composition (probably could tolerate being just a tad more to the left). Fortunately, the blossoms tend to hang a little more to the right to keep it from being too static.

I really like it! Congratulations!

thanks, both, for the kind comments.

John -- The scratch is in the backdrop, and I can clone-stamp that out. You're right, I should stamp out the dust. I need to clean my sensor.

Robert -- good thoughts about space and centering. This one is from a series with different positions.

the vase color is from lead-based glaze, which is used in only a very few potter's kilns in North Carolina. In the old days it was common, but these vases are not safe for food or drink (as the lead leaches out), and pottery like this is hard to find.

I like the lighting. No harsh shadows.