Self-portrait. I donned a black wig and shot through a piece of ice block glass. I don't have any idea how this will do but it's very personal to me. I wanted to create something in remembrance of the recent tragedy in Japan.
Post challenge: I was surprised by all the low votes on the non-participating voters. I agree that because the tsunami happened so recently, this might have struck a raw nerve with some. This photograph was a way for me to express my horror of the event in a healthy way.
Fine Arts II Juried Results:
Honorable Mention
TSUNAMI
(Judge's comments below)
Of course I am influenced by the turn of events, but it just gut-wrenching.
It impacts me greatly, presentation is metaphorical and understated. The only problem is the title, but I refuse to judge the photo by the title.
I certainly understand the issues brought up in regards to the manipulative title, and I felt the same way, but for me the image stands on its own without the title, I think given the turn of events, I would’ve thought of the tsunami regardless of the title. I think the processing is very appropriate, and the photographic way of expression the helplessness of a person against flow of nature is great. I don’t care how it is done, reflection in a car or whatever, I am simply looking at the result.
This caught my eye at first because my last FS had the tsunami in mind. I've never personally lived through a tragedy of this sort, thus the importance of this image for me. It brought empathy to the forefront. As I delved in to the image more faces of despair appeared, another tug at the heart for the human condition. I don't know where the distortion is coming from, but it clearly represents water, a simple choice for the photographer; however, it is extremely effective. The choice of tone works very well. A timely piece.
If I had a class and shouted "you have 5 minutes to do a tsunami tribute... GO!!!" and a kid ran back to me with this photo, I'd be blown away.
Well executed and compelling in its own right but as a contemporary piece it resonates so strongly. I challenged myself to consider whether it was cynically constructed but I could not find that in it; instead the distortion/reflection is itself reflective of the essence of the wave and the tragedy so caused.
I absolutely hear (and share) others concerns about its manipulative nature. We don't know the personal context of the photographer and all could be personal or all could be cynically constructed. Does the image work as a contemporary contribution? Yes it does. I actually think the manipulation can work for it too; we all had our perception of that event mediated via TV and newspapers; advertising space was still sold, tragedy became primetime - it's the world we live in. We could say media is manipulation. I think Tsunami image is reflective, I think it is manipulative.
Statistics
Place: 33 out of 167 Avg (all users): 5.8750 Avg (commenters): 7.8462 Avg (participants): 6.2857 Avg (non-participants): 5.4211 Views since voting: 1641 Views during voting: 396 Votes: 160 Comments: 21 Favorites: 3 (view)
I think the scores were a bit lower than they might have been if the pain wasn't still so fresh. Its a beautiful image, but for me it elicits a galvanic reaction of pulling away.
Interesting to see that participants were much kinder int heir scoring than non.
This feels more like a reportage image than fine art to me. Even though there is a side that tries to speak fine art, it loudly speaks reportage to me. It brings on serious emotion of fear and terror. I am not altogether sure it fits in this challenge. But maybe I am the only one thinking that.
I like this. The look is haunting, not just for the distortion. I like the title, but I think that recent events have added a subtext to the word (which will of course vanish in time) that distracts the viewer from the image, which is brooding and haunting of its own accord, separate from events.
So very powerful. Such a moving tribute to a great tragedy. The expression of fear in the eyes, the distortion of the face as her world ends makes this terrifying to see. But we are compelled to look to tragedy, and be thankful it wasn't happening to us. 10
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