Sister of the Brideby
bjuicephotoComment by dr rick: Greetings from the Critique Club
This is a great photo. Very emotive with the low key and red color. The model's position and subtle props tell a story, which the title helps explain, but without really detracting from the mystery.
The single-source lighting matches the lonely mood well, and preserves the low key that is so essential here. The glare on the model's shoulder is mildly distracting; a slight reposition might have avoided it, or perhaps some makeup to make her skin less glossy. The brightness makes this the first thing the viewer notices, although the rest of the photo is so powerful that this isn't a big deal. (If spot editing was allowed, it could have easily been cloned out. But that's part of what makes DPChallenge challenging!)
The composition is good. Simple yet sophisticated. I personally like the subtle line in the background (the arm of a sofa, I assume); it helps with the vertical balance, and leads the eye to the subject. The horizontal balance is slightly off; the photo needs just a bit of space to the left. And the rose doesn't really add anything and is hard to see; I think the photo would be better without it.
Technical aspects are perfect. Focus is right on, yet nicely soft to match the overall mood. Color is great. Exposure is just right.
Again, a great photo. I've really enjoyed studying it.
Photographer found comment helpful.