Hi Susie, excellent image for big
no probs about the frame, I've saw on the internet somewhere that you can have your photos printed and put on glass (or something like it) with no frame and they seem to look very effective.
hopefully I may get a change for another go later in the week.
Hi Susie, I really like the processing on this the flower head is superb love the colour and the drops of water on it, couldn't quite make out the scissors until the edited version
but that could well be my monitor, but it does work as it kept my interest just trying to figure it out, I do like it though
the idea was there and you know what to do to improve it 
As others have mentioned, just a tad too dark & the scissors actually cutting the stems would have added to it
Hi Susie - I'm not going to go on about this one, personally liking the flower head, but i'd like to see the sharp scissors cutting into the stem
Hi Susie
super idea , love the processing on the rose head ,the sparkles really lift it
yes the rose worked, but unfortunately the scissors didn't.
. On number 2 I like the flare which is a nice creative touch and you've caught the dripping honey in a way which is nicely to scale in relation to the composition as a whole.. Feel like the low key lighting has not worked for some reason and there just isnt enough balance of vibrant light and deep dark to create interest. Of course the idea is a good one though needs rethinking in terms of execution. Would like to see you reshoot this one on an appropriate week.
Hi Susie
Sparkle - spot on - well executed for such a difficult exposure
Fall -#2 for me - Fall as in the American meaning is how I read this. Good comp and reallly like the light
Communicate - excellent unique idea. Still a bit dark for me , altho that does not spoil the shot - just makes it hard to see if that horizon is level
Dark - best for me is the ivy shaped leaf with the light passing thro, showing the veins. also a good bit of web.
Big - - focus, pov, dof, colour, crop, border all combine to give a superb image
Cut - rally like the lighting on the rose in the first shot but as with others, the b/g is too dark - i could not see the scissors until someone commented on them. The rose in the edit does not seem to have the same quality as the first and like Andy @posiview I think that more blade at the point of cut should show. Kind of minor points really, but would make it perfect I think
Have fallen behind because of long holiday and catching up like this is hard work but one benefit is that it is nice to see a group of photos from each person and see how they approach the themes.
Hi Susie, bit of a catchup here...sorry I have not visited recently
Pure: I really like them both though probably # 1 best. Like the how the honey is twisting and knotting as it hits the stick. Honey is super sharp and the lighting really accentuates the warm pure glow of this natrual product
Sparkle (boats): A nice nautical theme, representative of you where you live which I like. Sparkly indeed and I like the blue of the ocean (not sure if this is SOOC colour?) As everyone has said the spacing of the boats is pleasing and their square on positions show off the shape of the sails which is a massive plus +
Fall: Two very nice pictures. #1) Nice use of shallow DOF. Love the idea that this has been caught as it falls by the spiderweb. The soft bokeh background give this almost a motion blur feel which adds to the falling them. #2) Really like this one. Has an almost abstract feel to it with the mix of straight lines and round (ish) leaves. Reminds me of a contempary stained glass window of sorts. Of course none of this would be possible without the glorious backlighting.
Communicate: A beautiful picture - Period. Like how the landscape (mts and rocks) are in darkness, but the central elements (water and bottle) have some sparkle, some life to them which draws my attention in. A restrained but powerful piece. We always used to send these out to sea as kids...I miss those days and wonder if kids still do these things - Im guessing they'd get slated for polluting if they did....lol
Dark: Oh la la.....For me, forget number 1, its all about number 2. That flare being natural is almost saintly....in fact it gives meaning to the cliche "a moment in time" Like everything about it so no crit.
Big: I do like both versions you've posted, but its all about the frog, so crops and frames are just a side issue. What I really like is the frogs shimmering sheen in all is mottled golden glory. Your macro setup has delivered solid performance once again
Cut: I would choose edit number 2 but still some way off your usual high standard....sorry
Hi Susie... monster catch up from me - on yours and pretty much everyone else's!
Dark: the rim lighting on the holly is beautiful. DOF choice is spot on for me and the dark background fab. It's just brilliant! Your second dark shot is just as good and the sunglow/flare is lovely, as are the highlights from the web. Two absolutely stonking shots!
Big: another great shot. Being hyper critical, the OOF area at the bottom and twig at the top are a bit distracting, so I'd be tempted to crop landscape and lose both - really just capturing the eyes and perhaps mouth. Focus and lighting absolutely top notch, although I might bump the EV up half a stop if it can take it without blowing? Having just scrolled down and seen your second version - it's great, although I might lose even more of the oof (or darken it slightly?) Super shot
Cut: really like the rose in the first. The second shot is the one for me though, as there is still some of the picture which is left to the imagination, but it's clear what it's a picture of and what the "story" is. I love the lighting, the droplets and basically everything about it! It really works for me, which just goes to show that we find different things in photos which click for each of us
Hi Susie, white BG's can be a real pain, you are right it should have some kind of shadow and you seem to have something there, but looks like a lot of cloning or something going on.
I tend to light the BG separately which is the way we used to do it the theatre, so I have to use two light sources and could probably do with more, its difficult a lot of trial and mostly error
but if you can get it right it's worth it.
The nature shot is great, you are good at spotting these little things, nice colour and super sharp on the water drops
I almost didn't put it on ...well I put it on, took it off, and put it on again I thought well I'll never learn if I don't ask. I've always thought white backgrounds should be pure white but now I'm not so sure. I will perhaps try it again, it would be a good one to do on a reshoot week.
hi Susie
Balance - #1 all been said by you and Allan @alsjazzera I partic agree with Allan re the two light sources and the trail an error method.
#2 is superb - so much to like - oof b/g in good greens, beautiful vibrant yellow/orange, spot on focus and detail. fascinating to look into the little droplets. When you go into your comfort zone you really get it right
...quite fascinating how they capture so much in one tiny drop
#1 fab idea, I love the thought of a bulldog clip tree growing somewhere.
Understand why you tried it, but I'm super glad you put #2 up as well. Fantastic detail, focus, DOF, colour, raindrops evrything wonderful.
FWIW, maybe the bulldog clip tree could have worked in a more "natural" setting, a lawn or somewhere. Really go to town on the "man made tree" aspect....
