It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at allby
heidaComment: Greetings from the critique club.
Hi,
This is a very powerful image. Agrees with the challenge and is appropriate to the title.
Your use of a monochrome treatment works really well for this topic.
I find myself agreeing with Zeuszen, quite possibly a first ;}.
The prominence of the chapel does detract from the impact of the figure and marker.
A shallower depth of field or use of judicious blurring may help bring the focus back to the central figure.
I like the composition so would not want to get rid of it all together. It does add to the piece as a whole.
There is a lot of tension and a dark mood/tone. Again something I find very appealing in an image. Especially one done with the purpose of conveying a specific theme.
Darkness for the sake of darkness is all well and good, and you know I do enjoy images that are underexposed or intentionally lacking in bright highlights.
This image, is more than gratuitous darkness, the lack of highlighting is in itself an element. My eye wanders the image seeking more information. I wonder if I look closer will I see more in the grasses? Will I see a name on the cross, etc etc.
I love images that make me do that.
Congratulations on a very fine entry.
peace,
JC