Beautiful Ugly
by shetland

Comment by Paul:
OK, I'm going through the Free Study submissions, purposefully finding those images I think are shot with a less conventional eye - this is one of those images! Thanks for offering something that isn't just DPC friendly eye-candy (though of course there's nothing wrong with eye-candy). I'll be picking one of these images for my Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: Pretty visionary - very painting like; I can't remember seeing an image like this on DPC before - I'm betting you'll have one of the highest comment counts of the challenge. The post processing is outstanding; just the right amount of everything - wonderful high key image.

Critical stuff: All my positive comments are based on the assumption that this is a real pig, on a novel set with great post-processing. The look you've given it may lead people to believe this is inauthentic - there is of course risk with the voters down that route.

Overall: The image is effective; I'll put doubts about authenticity aside and assume the best of you. I think this is great work.

Beautiful Ugly
by shetland

Comment by EstimatedEyes:
Love this. Looks like a painting, reminds me of a restaurant sign. Nice job. 10

Beautiful Ugly
by shetland

Comment by nixter:
Bizarre, wonderfully strange. I like it! : )

Beautiful Ugly
by shetland

Comment by mpeters:
Surely you'll get some kind of award! :) The pink hue is perfect.

Beautiful Ugly
by shetland

Comment by Covert_Oddity:
Very pink! This is kinda cute, but kinda weird at the same time. The processing (I'm assuming it's the processing) has left some blue areas, and has also created a cartoonish look to this.

Beautiful Ugly
by shetland

Comment by NikonJeb:
Strange & intriguing......10

Centered Composition, Rule of Thirds, Tilted Angle
by shetland

Comment by TrollMan:
Very cool. Gives a bit of a stock photo feeling but could easily at the same time have been a fashion shot. This is just a guess but it looks as though you might have had an all burned out background that you slightly altered to take away from the stock photo look.
Lighting is no doubt done to perfection (great job accentuating her cheek bones!) and the pose is awesome (how?!?). The wide angle choice from above is unusual and fun.
The image has a lot of depth - almost 3D like. And when details are this small it is the more important to have this depth. For example separating the chin from the neck which is perfect here.
Maybe not an image articulating the deepest message but for what you were trying to accomplish there is IMO nothing to deduct - 10 points.

This is Britain
by shetland

Comment by salmiakki:
I thought this was one of the most interesting images in this month's free study. I scored it pretty highly. Kudos to you for having the guts to show what life really can be like for many people. Paul's comments below hit the nail on the head really. Well done. I'm not surprised it didn't score higher here on DPC, but it is surely a wonderful piece of documentary photography.

This is Britain
by shetland

Comment by robinssong:
...and he looks kinda annoyed. Interesting photo. Lots to look at.

This is Britain
by shetland

Comment by LevT:
great shot!