Architecturally Impossible
by soup

Comment:
The crop is quite tight with part of the subject nearly touching the bottom edge. The stark contrast between white and black via fore- and background is squelching the impact the subject 'could' have. The addition of the three little pigs (plastic ones, oh my!), however, is not entirely trivial, IMO.

It 'does' effectively add interest and, fittingly, humour to an otherwise purely conceptual reality. Without them, the illusion may require a moment or two of study from viewers not accustomed to it, who may not be willing to invest the time to do so.

I think this entry is placed well in an architecture challenge and should, IMO, have fared better than it did.

elevation - Fair security
by undieyatch

Comment:
I agree entirely with the last poster, bear_music. The image has a very enjoyable seriousness, which, IMO, is a rare attribute for a photo in this context.

last chance
by whiteroom

Comment:
The manner of the photo, too, is laissez-faire, sloppy almost: the tilt appears exaggerated, the skin tones have a cyan hue, the juxtaposition of the male's head with the shopping basket merges more than anyone would wish to intend...

all of which introduces a hurried mood, a presence of mind, heart and hand on part of the photographer. This, IMO, helps this shot tremendously. The stance toward the thing -or moment, in this case- is a marvellous poise.

Who's gonna stop the snow ?
by RomaniaBoy

Comment:
I was hungry for something out of the ordinary. Here it is. :-)

Flying
by smr78

Comment:
The sense of flying is perfectly captured here. If Brueghel were alive, I'm sure he would see this scene similarly.

I ask myself, if this shot would have benefitted from a moderate increase in contrast. On the other hand, I appreciate the restraint exercised in terms of saturation. Both manner (the tilt) and composition (accomodating the tilt) strike me highly effective.

Fury
by sparkly

Comment:
To me, this -at first glance- unassuming abstract holds some interest. Luminosity is, I speculate, rarely an attribute of such organic earth-tones tones. Colours and hues commonly suggestive of a dry opacity, of rustic materials or objects are wrought with light here, and this over a respectable range extending from shadows to highlights.

The blurring, although far from obscure, is significant enough as to leave no 'easy' anchor for eyes accustomed to pictures with selective focal points or -plains. Instead, the image, appears to 'flow' from a moderately dark to white, which, effectively, provokes a sense of depth.

The 'white' (within the curtain [?]) has no texture, no details. It, really, conveys no information other than the lone suggestion of a light source (the sun?). The extensive darker area (from just beneath the curtain's edge to the bottom and right margins of the image) is far more telling: all manner of shapes, twirls and vortices dance in this expanse, leaving little doubt as to what is at play here, but enough not to give away anything that could impair a sense of mystery and visual delight.

While the composition may have been arbitrary (the manner of this photo, I believe, allows for it), remains balanced and 'golden' :-) with light and dark in relative proportion and with the dark weighing in to the right.

I have two reservations: a) I cannot see a purpose in the two intersecting lines and suspect a redundancy introduced by ambiguity (?), and b) the title. While I will not contribute any negative criticism of the given title per se, I also feel unconvinced that it accomplishes what it could with an image which appears to demand more than a name.

I find this photograph exhilarating, sensual and a very real joy to explore.

Message edited by author 2005-01-26 00:32:28.

Stroboscopic Portrait
by jonpink

Comment:
Fine work. Good showmanship on part of the subject. Aedequate lighting with delicious tonal details in the range between shadows and midtones. A convinvingly effective play, which does not lean toward trivia. The title, too, is dry and fitting.

Soft Radiance
by Neil

Comment:
How gratifying it is to come across truly marvellous photographs like this one! It turns the tedium of a few hundred shots into a hunt for the Holy Grail. :-)

I have no reservations about any aspects of this impressionistic creation. I am elated and inspired by it. -M'excuse, I got carried away: the title 'describes' an all too obvious attribute -and this, perhaps, too mildly. One would expect the strong visual charge to be conducted by the title. (?)

Miracle in basic editing
by graphicfunk

Comment:
It has wit and a little humour, is sensibly and effectively composed and reveals no flagrant technical flaws. Unfortunately, this image relies almost entirely on the miracle of water-to-wine without conveying anything miraculous aesthetically. Its visual ambience remains cold and, perhaps, as dull as an illustration for a winery, drawn from a stock agency.

I am rating this capture accordingly, while adding two points: one to compensate for the limits imposed with regards to editing by the Basic Challenge rules, another for the title. The title, to me, clearly places this photo into a known context, and it does this without, overtly, soliciting a favourable perspective.

Sylvia6
by joanns

Comment:
One of the best portraits I have seen here. The timing/capture is electrifying. The fine cold light vs. the incredible tonal detail and natural look you managed to retain is a far reach indeed! I cannot conceive of a better portrait of this young Lady. There is no 'pose' I can see; instead, I see a moment in time, a part story.

Message edited by author 2005-01-18 23:15:41.