1.  What first captures my attention in this picture is the very bold/thick horizontal lines on the right side.  Mix that with the stark contrast of blazing white on top and I get the overwhelming sense of strength and power.  But then the other half of the picture seems to say, "I'm just going to chill here in gray while I slowly fade into the background..."  A completely different feel than the opposite side.  But with the heavenly light gleaming on top of both objects give the hint as a barrier.  Trapping them in their present state.

2.  The photo consists of two books and a large box of Lipton tea.  The Lipton sits on the left side of the picture and is at an angle so that it recedes into the middle of the picture.  The box is a light gray color with darker shades where picture and text lay.   The small part of the front of the box that is visible is a dark gray, acting as a shadow.  The very top of the box shows no description at all.  It consists solely of a bright white.  Then, on the right side, the books lay stacked on one another.  The shadow is too dark to determine titles or authors.  The top of these books also consist of the stark white.  The top book has a bookmark with a ribbon tied to it.  The ribbon looks almost ribbed and seems transparent like.

3.  With the use of clear and unfocused lines a focal point is created nicely.  The color is black and white to enhance the effects of chiaroscuro.  With the props so dark on one side and the amount of space used by the other lighter shape, the picture balances nicely.  Overall, the composition uses a variety of shades of black and white as well as strong lines that create good eye movement.

4.  It tells the story of thought.

5.  Albrecht Durer's pieces are much busier than my picture.  I have a simplified version of chiaroscuro and it also is not quite as dramatic.  The right side of my piece has the stark contrast but it does not continue throughout the composition as he portrays in his pieces.