Candles and fire place

two shots available lights with bounced sto fen diffused flash

Both images could use a bit of straightening. I would like #2 if it didn't look like daylight.

Otherwise, #1 is great.

thanks...again I missed the alignment. Do you prefer this night shot, no flash.

Yes I do.

Not sure I like the focal point on the first shot and the fire is blown out, no detail. For a second there, I thought the shot was out of focus. Then I realized you nailed the focus on the first candle and front of the placemat. Was that your intention? If you were trying to show a shallow dof, I would move to the side and shoot it at a lower angle.

I like the night shot no flash better. Seems more realistic

DOF, composition, choice of background/placemat are all working against you in #1. The fireplace shot does nothing for me in either form. I fail to see what is supposed to grab the viewers interest in the shot.

At the first one I would have changed perspective a bit. trying to lower the camera and playing with DOF... even focusing on first or middle... depends really. The uneven material of the candle holder could be a bit of promising material... I would play with it without flash for sure... with long exposure, and with a tripod.

okay on all thanks for looking and making these critiques.

The flames look pretty blown out. Can you take a couple photos and merge them together to get that back?

Re-shoot new photos: Candles and fire place

I re shot the same items based on your critiques, I am still over exposed on the front candle, must learn how to pp.

Re-hot- new photos:Candles and fire place

bumped up with reshot photos

1st I like more now. Great you changed the cloth under the candles. I could still work on the perspective, but that is just maybe me.

from the reposted shots I like the first one the most.

thanks to all again, I am learning from all these comments.

Grimage wrote in post #9346829
...from the reposted shots I like the first one the most.

+1 Good improvement.