The Weak Link Sets Us Freeby
posthumousComment by purpleflutterby13: Greetings from the Critique Club.
Fantastic photo. I gave it a 7 during voting, and having now been made to sit and think about it a lot more, I would have bumped it up a lot. I think it's too subtle to score well.
The photo seems reminiscent of 1930s Great Depression photos, it has that same barren feel to it. Combined with the title, this makes it seem like an outcry against the industrial revolution, with workers being trapped in conditions close to slave labour, and removed from nature and freedom. The OOF actually works fantastically for this - the viewer is drawn towards the far edges of the picture, but is frustrated by the chains and barriers in the way. Very strong symbolic value. On a similar note, I love the lines of shadow on the ground, which appear to make a cage, but then dissolve near the top right, as the viewer moves away from the cage, and further towards light and freedom.
Technically, I think the photo is very well done. The textures of the ground and of the plants in the background are fantastic. The B&W conversion is perfect. Yes, the line on the left is in the way, but that adds to the caged in feeling of the photo, I'm sure removing it would have gotten you higher marks, but imo wouldn't necessarily make the photo better.
Powerful and original. Well done.
Jelena
Photographer found comment helpful.