Just add smoke + vases

[Manfred M]

Still working with the white vases and grasses, but this time I replaced the white seamless with black and used a smoke machine to add some character to the background.

[Chataignier]

I like the background effect, the smoke adds some character.
What I'm less sure of is the subject, two vases ? I generally prefer compositions with odd numbers.

[Round Tuit]

I like this background better than the pure white one. It is less "clinical". I think that the shape of the vases complement each other well and the crossing grasses tie them together.

[Manfred M]

I like the background effect, the smoke adds some character.
What I'm less sure of is the subject, two vases ? I generally prefer compositions with odd numbers.

It's one of the "rules of composition" referred to as the "Rule of Odds". The premise is that an odd number of items in an image (1, 3, 5, etc) are more pleasing than an even number (2, 4, 6, etc.).

Unfortunately, this is one of those rules that someone made up without evidence and people tend to assume it is correct and become it becomes part of their practice and opinion.

In photography, the subject is not the single item, but rather how the items are arranged. When two items touch or are in close proximity, they become a single subject, as in this image. Increase the separation and they become two subjects and that can lead to negative tension in the composition.

In my view, the weakness in this image is that there isn't enough shadow connecting the two vases to the table they are sitting on and that is not quite working for me.

[DanK]

I like this. I'd be interested in seeing what it looks like with more shadow if you shoot it that way.

Frankly, I don't think the rule that "When two items touch or are in close proximity, they become a single subject" is any more persuasive than the "rule' that there should be an odd number of items, or the "rule" of thirds, or any other rule. It's at best a guideline, a generalization, a viewpoint. I don't see this image as one rather than two vases, and I don't think I would see it any more or less as one subject if there were three.

But I like this image either way. I find your control over lighting remarkable and inspiring.