A little experimental octopus

Not looking for technical critique here, though if you've got ideas of course they are welcome! More looking for what appeals to you in this image or doesn't appeal to you in this image. Does it specifically work, not work? Strike you, not stike you? Be better how? Basically looking for your reactions

I quite like it. It is very moody and i love the shadows and mysteriousness of it. I think what i like best is that you left some room to the right instead of banging it straight in the bullseye. The offsetness of it is what works for me, especially with the "hood" reaching into the bottom right corner.

The only thing i would say against it is it could use a touch more light to bring it out a bit more.

But, overall i think its a fantastic shot with creative use of light and shadows.

I like the composition and lighting, but think the contrast, saturation and sharpening are all a little over done.

Yep, I agree with Herb.

Thanks for the ideas so far, guys. Keep 'em coming.

FWIW the only adjustment from as shot was exposure which was pushed up as the image was very dark to begin with. I didn't expect this result but thought it interesting.

This image has great texture and has a nice dark mood to it, the problem with it is it lacks impact. Only a few people would really know what this is. A nice view of an open eye or a teniticle in front would have given it more impact. For this type of portrait type picture think of shooting for the world or kids. When we have to point stuff out in our pics they are not telling a story and not effectively showing another world.

I really like this but as an abstract not a picture of an octopus.

I feel that the contrast and sharpening have been overdone but with a softer feel this would be a really winner as a result of the lighting and the texture.

A touch lighter as well and blown up onto canvas I think this would make a a great modern abstract.

In my mind the impact comes from the colour and texture and recognisable shapes are not needed.

This sort of shot is where photography and art crossover. I think I am disagreeing completely with Photobeat (sorry) but I don't think a picture needs to tell a story or show another world. It can stand on its own two feet as a piece of art.

I'm possible biased - my lounge is styled in a contemporary fashion and has three original abstract canvases on the wall. One is however loosely based on a picture I took of the skirt of an anenome (not painted by me I hasten to add).

I would say keep on experimenting along these lines.

I'd like to bring up a point here. If all Alcina did was bump up the exposure and did nothing else, and Herb was a judge in a competition, the judge would have made assumptions that didn't actually happen and eliminate that image. That's a point I tried to make several time before that in competitions (and I know this ain't no competition discussion) when judging digital images, judges can make decisions to eliminate images because it's easy to assume that the pic was over cooked. I recall seeing a few of Alex's images that were straight from his camera and I thought they were oversaturated. In reality, he didn't do anything to them. Digital judging is, in my opinion, still in its learning infancy.

Joe