I can't quite decide whether I like this image or not. I like the concept, but the overall impact doesn't seem as high as I'd expect.

Perhaps placing the flower further from the edge of the frame, perhaps at the interesection of thirds, would help the composition, or perhaps shooting at an angle, with the flower more in the foreground, with the cracked ground and shadow running out into the background. Of course it's hard to avoid getting one's own shadow into the shot, but I like the idea of the shadow streaming at an angle into the opposite corner of the frame.

Perhaps fiddling with the curves to emphasise the shadow would increase the impact of the original image.

I sort of agree with Dave here that the jury's out on this one and I would expect more impact. I feel there is definitely more to be had and although I like the long shadow and the single burst of colour from the flower I would have liked to maybe have seen the shot taken (portrait)leading in at a low angle from the shadow and finishing with the flower as almost the background.
Another slight issue I have is that from this angl it almost looks as if some of the petals have been removed!

I like the use of the shadows, it reminds us that a small flower is very much part of a bigger world.

Initially I find it a bit disorienting, and it lacks in needed detail in the flower, The concept is good but the execution nah.

I like the idea of this image with the little flower struggling to survive in very dry ground, especially as at the moment we are in the grip of a very crippling drought. I also like the patterns of the shadows and the cracks in the ground, but..... I have to admit that it didn't have a great impact. Maybe it was the composition. If the flower had been in a different corner and the shadow was more diagonal....? Nice try though.:)

I think a different angle would have helped, or some fill light to eliminate the harsh shadow overwhelming the flower.

This picture is a good representation of the current state of our world.
The flower represents the developed and flourishing 'western' world - and its shadows represent its reaches into the more desolate and undeveloped 'third world' - the shadows show Americas reaches for power in the east.

A really thought provoking image, and it reminds us to not base an images quality on its 'composition' or 'angle', but what its underlying meaning can be, and how we interpret it.

I really like the deliberate use of the shadow. It actually tells us more about the shape and delicacy of the flower, than the flower itself. A great lesson to me that shadows can be as important in describing the a scene, as the main object of the scene itself. Thank you!

I like the shot a lot. Your composition is very good. Interesting that the ground is so dry yet the flower still manages to thrive(life will find a way)If i was to change anything i would make the shadow a little darker to make it more prominent in the shot.

I do like this, but I feel it should be portrait not landscape so that the shadow draws the eye down to the flower( which would make it sit at the bottom left hand corner), rather than as it currently is, it could be just a touch sharper too, but its such a pleaseing concept that I personally can over look that, lovely textural feeling with the flower adding just a touch of bright colour, its the kind of shot I'd go for. kindest regards, liz.

The idea behind the shot is really great, but I think the composition could be improved.

1) IMO the flower is too close to the corner - I think it needs to be further inside the frame, perhaps on the intersection of thirds

2) I think the shadow would look much more powerful if it was diagonal, reaching towards the opposite corner, perhaps stopping on the intersection of thirds, so that the flower and shadow end are at equal distances from the edge of the frame.

However, it's a fine shot as it is, and a well-spotted opportunity that many people would have wandered past without noticing any potential.

last chance bump