Two still-life plates (yea or nay)

[shadowfox]

How would you tweak it?
Thank you in advance for any inputs.

[br1078lum]

The potato shot looks fine to my taste (no pun intended).   The only thing I can think of on the perriwinkle shell is maybe shoot it with a filter to seperate the vegetation from the cloth a bit.

PF

[wlewisiii]

+1 What he said. I like the shape of the shell - perhaps try to emphasize it more with the cloth & greenery?

[radiophoto]

Top one yea, bottom one nay -- but only because of the angle of the objects.  I think shooting the shell at an oblique angle might make it more intriguing.  Straight up-and-down gives it too much of a snapshot look.

[Scott]

Top one yea, bottom one nay -- but only because of the angle of the objects.  I think shooting the shell at an oblique angle might make it more intriguing.  Straight up-and-down gives it too much of a snapshot look.

+1

[Glenn Thoreson]

Since I don't do the digital dance, I kinda take 'em as they come. I love the first one. It looks like my brain, complete with weeds growing out it. All joking aside, it's really good. I think the second one could use more distance to the background, and some side lighting added.

[shadowfox]

Thank you all for chiming in.

I agree that the first one is stronger than the second one.

Which I still like the idea on the shell arrangement, but the execution is weak, weak.  Not enough details captured and shown.

I need to get closer, maybe use a macro-ish lens.

[P C Headland]

The top one works fine.  You could try experimenting with contrast to see if increasing or decreasing it makes any difference.  I suspect a slight increase may give some increased definition to the surfaces of the root and leaves.

For the shell, I agree that there is not enough separation between the elements, plus the seaweed (?) is either not in focus, or not out of focus enough.  You could try some more directional lighting on the shell to try and pick out its texture, which coupled with the appropriate filter may give enough separation between the elements.  You could also try an different coloured background.