After a long birding day

[DennisT]

Do these engender that getaway from it all feeling?????

[n8]

I'll be the first to comment since I'm in the whiskey shooting boat recently too. I think there are too many competing elements, and it makes it look like either a loosely staged shot, or just a random capture. I think this might have been a good opportunity for a self portrait of sorts to further engender the "getting away" feel. Considering the background, I don't think you could have gotten away from the flash, but I'd go for more natural lighting using some exposure layers and masking if you have to.

[NKP68]

I have to agree n8. In addition: I would have moved the bottle into the negative space created by the tree. It would have surrounded it nicely. Why is there a second glass behind the primary?
One bottle one glass and maybe the binoculars on top of the book with the spine facing forward. You could try an opaque reflector to help eliminate some of the reflective light off the bottle and glass. Try to keep the table level. Hope this helps.

Ed

[DennisT]

Thanks for the comments - truly useful. This was a first attempt at something like this and will try again (unfortunately am now some 600km from the venue so will try a new spot) - and post again.

[JadynH]

I'll be the first to comment since I'm in the whiskey shooting boat recently too. I think there are too many competing elements, and it makes it look like either a loosely staged shot, or just a random capture. I think this might have been a good opportunity for a self portrait of sorts to further engender the "getting away" feel. Considering the background, I don't think you could have gotten away from the flash, but I'd go for more natural lighting using some exposure layers and masking if you have to.

I would like to see the lighting toned down some... other than that I feel its a good random shot taken!

[AgingEyes]

I prefer the second one. Would like to see more room on the right though (the glass is too close to the frame).