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This one did make me smile. A bold choice, but not only that. The lighting and composition are lovely. And I really liked the choice of background colour too, much more interesting that just white. One thing I would have liked to see is a more committed choice to depth of field. Either everything should be sharp or have a more dramatic falloff. It's only a small point though as overall it's a great shot.

Just a wonderfully executed image here. All the different elements are perfectly placed to make a pleasing composition and so you can see each piece fully. The lighting is beautiful and again shows the subject at its best. And the subject is quirky and interesting too! I also like that you've used stacking to make everything super sharp and in focus. A great pic!

I just loved the consideration in this image. The subject itself is really interesting. And the way you focus on the details rather than the objects as a whole makes for more interesting viewing. Also the consideration in what you've focused on is amazing. I'll admit I had to look up what Netsuke are (essentially an ornate button or toggle part of traditional Japanese clothing, this is a bit reductive so please do look up to anyone else reading this); but after doing so it opened up a new level here Particularly the middle row where you look at the thread holes. The shallow focus also adds to this sense the viewer is being focused to particular elements. a fantastic image, well done!

I just really enjoy looking at this photo. It's the whole package for me. The subject is interesting and I like that you have to work a little to know what it is. The colours are lovely and work so well together. And finally that you spent the time to make it square and straight may seem trivial but is so important with an image like this. The eye is so sensitive to things like this and particularly in images such as these. Congratulations and thanks for sharing!

Of all the images I've seen of coins this is by far the most technically perfect. Shiny objects are notoriously tricky with them reflecting everything and often creating unpleasant artefacts. And there is none of that here! Plus you've beautifully picked out all the embossing on each coin, something that again is difficult. I think the placement is feels strong and deliberate and reflects the strong intense lighting. A great shot, well done.

One of the most, if not the most interesting images I've seen in this competition. I love this concept of the mandala and then the life cycle of caterpillar/butterfly really compounds the meaning. Each element is so well placed and I like the intrigue created by some being obvious and others less so encouraging you to really explore the picture. The colours are a delight too and feel so considered. It only places where it is as I felt some others fitted the brief a little better. Overall an amazing photo, well done.

My appreciation here comes from the consideration that's gone into the placement of all the pieces. It takes real skill and dedication to create an image like this. The spacing between the elements is so uniform and the distribution of colour too. So simple yet highly effective. My only suggestion might be that when creating very graphic pictures like this is can be beneficial to use a longer lens (around 100mm is best), this keeps the image "flatter" and has little to no distortion. However I can appreciate this is ideal conditions and things like environment, i.e. how much space you have, can be a limiting factor. Overall a brilliant shot, thanks for sharing!

This was a really clever way of looking at the brief. And unique too, I haven't seen anything quite like it in this competition. I think what makes it for me is your decision to mirror your set of images both vertically and horizontally giving this wonderful kaleidoscopic effect. Very innovative, well done.

There are a few things I really enjoyed about this image. One is it's super strong graphic style, it's kind of mesmerising. And the way it actually took me some time to realise it's a composite. I think it's great that although it's the same parasol repeated the rows aren't exactly perfect so at first glance it feels "real". This second guessing really keeps the viewer interested and engaged. Great work, well done.

I thought this image was quite fun and very topical! I also think the lighting is really fantastic and adds a real grandeur to this picture. I like the way the masks have been laid out, they almost feel a little like jellyfish and otherworldly. My one critique would be that the spacing between them isn't exactly the same which I think would have made a more satisfying image. And given that this is just one mask photographed and duplicated 3 times it shouldn't have been too hard to align perfectly. It's still a great shot though, well done.

I loved the bold concept here. A little scary but great! The arrangement feels considered and I like the lighting and white background all giving it this kind of clinical vibe. The reflection in the perspex background is a little distracting - one of the difficulties of a shiny background - a large black sheet is really useful in situations like this. One other tiny thing I wanted to mention is the watermark, I can understand why, but it's distracting when it's over part of the image which is unfortunate. Overall though a great shot, very strong concept, great work.

I did enjoy this image. I think it's a great point of view and it's really fun. And although the use of a shallow depth of field is interesting and could work well I think you've put the focus point too far back. I understand this could be a physical limitation with the lens but you could have pulled back and then cropped in. Compositionally I would have also liked to have seen either the frame filled entirely or making more of this tapering effect at the front. That all being said it's still an interesting picture and my points are just something to think about next time! Great work.

I really loved the simplicity and repetition in this picture. The muted tones of blue that run throughout are beautiful and help to highlight the repetition of the shapes of the plates and pots. It reminds me of a Nigel Shafran image. The lighting, background and particularly the surface with the shallow depth of field help to accent the subject. Lovely work well done.

I like this image because I feel like there's a story being told. The moody lighting and object placement draws the viewer and you can almost feel yourself sitting in a dark attic leafing through these old stamp books from a time long passed. There's a real emotion in there. A lovely photo, thanks for sharing.