by ErinM

Comment:

Originally posted by tph1: Excellent. This would make a nice mural in a formal living room.

I agree with the 'excellent' part, but if I had this I'd like a quite small framed print, no bigger than it appears here ... to force the viewer to get up real close to look at it. I think it's a very intimate, one-on-one image.

I sea no ships!
by Ecce_Signum

Comment:
It makes me sad. I'm looking for someone and he is not there. Never will be there again.

Street Lensbaby
by Melethia

Comment:
It's good, but the Street Pinhole is sublime. This is an 8; the pinhole is a 10.5 for me.

Street pinhole
by Melethia

Comment:
This is seriously good. It's really quite perfectly composed, including the distribution of the people. There's a terrific horizontal layering effect of light-dark-medium tones. And the acid is not too heavy, which was a good decision.

I am so much more enchanted by these photographs where I have to meet the photographer half way. And enchanted longer, too ... I can look at stuff like this for ages and just slowly absorb all it has to give. Perhaps these uncertain, ambiguous, unfinished photographs are actually the 'poetry' branch of photography.

Scooter
by Germaine

Comment:
Those scooters always look comical to me, like a monkey balancing on a peanut. Maybe a big ol' set of "ape hanger" bars would add a touch of gravitas? Or a small-block V8 and a fat rear tire?

Breakdancing
by Art Roflmao

Comment:
You must seek help. There's no shame in it these days. And the newest drugs are amazing. Or is that the problem to begin with?

Bedroom Window
by trevytrev

Comment:
I always like window shots. Light, obviously, but there's something else. Two worlds meet at every window.

Life is Art
by jasonlprice

Comment:
The non-traditional composition is really effective here. Good thinking + bold execution = good photograph. 8.

Just Another Day At The Beach
by muur88

Comment:

Originally posted by posthumous: A photograph is limited. In most cases, it's just a little flat square trying to convey a world. One of the few tools a photographer has is the illusion of a third dimension, depth. This creates more "room." muur88 makes full use of this room, with his 4 characters each at very different depths, and moving in different directions. Notice they create a triangle in this illusory dimension. The boy runs along the hypotenuse. The joy of the photo comes from the energy of 4 completely disconnected characters being arbitrarily tied together. Most memorable photographs remind us in some shocking or subtle way that they are capturing the briefest moment... or perhaps more aptly, a space between moments, when something is about to end and begin, to dissolve and change. Not only do these character not belong with each other, they do not belong in the setting, which seems like it would be more comfortable in emptiness. But don't get me wrong: chaos does not equal art. The trick here is to balance on the edge of chaos, show these elements not belonging but present them in a precarious momentary balance. For example, the triangle I mentioned, and how it's echoed by a triangle of birds which seem to be pouring out like smoke from the chimney. The point here is to be right and wrong at the same time, a classic Surrealist strategy. If you do not like Surrealism, if you do not want to be disoriented or a little frightened, you will not like this photo.

This transcendent appreciation should have a permanent place on the front page at DPC. If everyone would look at this image and read this comment ΓΆ€“ perhaps once a week or so ΓΆ€“ it would elevate the corporate standard of both photography and thought here. This is a little unusual I know, but I hereby award to posthumous the Order of the Thumb for his comment.

#1
by ralph

Comment:
Best portrait in the challenge, easily the best. I give some credit to the model; her face is a lovely balance of prettiness and gravity. But the sympathetic composition; the simple, subtle lighting; and especially the restrained and natural processing (Oh, THANK YOU for that mercy) make this a really striking portrait, and you can have the credit for that. 10.

I hope all those who think that portraits have to be brutally sharpened and absurdly saturated and photoshopped into a parody of human beauty will take a few moments to reflect on the lessons of this lovely photograph. Maybe if they do they'll never say "Pop" again!