Rain Danceby
BAMartinComment by zeuszen: A 'great' photograph radiating energy, joy and an immense presence of the moment, which supercedes several 'imperfections' left in it. While these increase the charm of the image and the gist of the instant captured here, they also open it to citicism.
While the obvious subject is defined by contrast and placement (in the emptiness of the foreground proliferated by the circle of cobble stones surrounding it), eyes accustomed to images with sharply defined points of interest might stray toward the top of the second column from the right to find it.
The crop along the horizontal top of the photo reveals that either the building or the whole piazza is uneven. The fact that the variations are slight does not diminish the distraction, given the extraordinary symmetry of the architecture portraited in the background.
The exposure appears trimmed to the available light on the door and stone work of the palazzi, which has rendered certain details of the dancing girl in the foreground brighter than necessary. Although this effect is subdued significantly by blurring the subject, it, probably, is sufficiently 'real' to reduce the sort of gusto this capture 'could' deliver.
The composition, to my senses, is quite sensitive and classical too. The symmetry of both the vertical and horizontal planes are balanced effectively and conservatively by placing the subject outside of it, moving away from anything central without any danger of getting pulled to the margins. The horizon reflects the same treatment: balance. - I perceive the four columns as dominant ordering elements of the composition. Their strong shift to the right leaves us with uneven intervals and a, questionably, redundant vertical space at the edge of the image: some imbalance.
All in all, a fine and infectously inspiring picture, which does not squelch or intimidate me (as a photographer) with cold technical poise and polish.
Message edited by author 2005-02-01 16:06:23. 
Photographer found comment helpful.
