Burning Buddhaby
DJSComment by KaDi: *Greetings from the Critique Club*
First impression: Neat effect using long exposure to create a ribbon of light. The motion of the light contrasts with the stillness of the buddha statue. The lighting creates interesting modeling of the face, as well.
The composition, in my opinion, needs some work...it feels unbalanced. The empty area on the left could be cropped away without losing anything, since it doesn't add to the image. Perhaps a portrait orientation would help as well--giving more room for the ascension of the ribbon of light rather than being cut off as it abruptly leaves the frame.
The ribbon of light is such a dramatic feature in this image that it demands attention. The sharp edges on the left and rounded curves on the right compete and seem to add to imbalance. I think for the subject of the contemplative buddha that it would have been nice to see more even rhythm in this ribbon--rounded edges both sides and equal or regularly diminishing spacing between the lines. The light of the candle also creates washed out areas of white that feel a little "hot."
The technical qualities of the image are alright--good focus, controlled depth of field. If you were to re-shoot this you might experiment with ways to control the lighting effect...perhaps moving the subject away from the background a bit to set off the two subjects (buddha and light) with a black background.
Overall, a good image that evoked a mood and an "oh, wow" response from some of the voters--just not strong enough in all its details to grab everyone. Keep shooting and remember to have fun!
--Kadi
