Mrs. Grinch's Christmas Card
by JuliBoc

Comment:
Hmm, cute idea, but someone I think I would have liked it better if Mrs. Grinch wasn't smiling. YMMV...

New Hat
by alanfreed

Comment:
A witty subversion of the Shopping Mall portrait!

Blame Hofmann
by Camabs

Comment:
I thought this was intriguing--the shaft of light really works for me, and the title is evocative in a good way. But I'm a sucker for Narrative Tease...

Icy Stare
by quiche

Comment:
VERY Dr. Caligui-esque.

Self: In Mapplesque
by iamkmaniam

Comment:
There really isn't anything here that particularly reads "Mapplethorpian" to me--I mean, the kitschy leather boots can only "read" so far--and they, and the nudity are the Mapplesque signifiers here. In essence, you're piggybacking on someone else's reputation, using it to do most of the work for you.

The lighting doesn't really work here for me at all. My eye keeps being pulled to the strange triangulation of shadow on the chest, rather than to the portrait as a whole. Mapplethorpe's lighting is far more, hmm, I guess the best word would be precise (in fact, I find that the lighting is often the most interesting thing about Mapplethorpe's portraits). And the pose seems strangely demure for a portrait proclaiming to be "In Mappleseque."

Pearls
by MelissaRae

Comment:
The half-shadow works for me--that eye really pops. Nice lighting on this.

Getting Into the Christmas Spirit
by jdmacswain

Comment:
I voted another Christmas ornament portrait higher--who knew this is almost a subgenre of portraiture? Perhaps if the tip of the light weren't there the picture might read as more "pure" to my eye, but this is almost TOO straightforward for my taste. But thank you for trying something to challenge the challenge.

Self Portrait
by zeus0826

Comment:
This isn't one thing or the other--it isn't "finished" enough to be a glossy self-portrait or grungy/off-hand enough to feel like a snapshot. Nor is there anything particularly striking in the expression to be memorable. Sorry.

"I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart. I am. I am. I am."
by Lola_dublin

Comment:
I think you're relying a little too much on the Plath quote to do the work of the portrait for you. Take it away, and there is nothing here that really says "Bell Jar" to me.

Chipped & worn, still clear bright
by mgsmith53

Comment:
This caught my eye because it is quirky in a garishly interesting way. The title does too much explaining for my taste, but I love the smeary bleary colored lights. Thank you for challenging the challenge with something that isn't so straightforward.