Greetings from the Critique Club!! :)
Composition:
This image obviously carries the potential for a lot of emotion. I believe you intend it to be slightly mysterious, but I find it perhaps a bit TOO mysterious. I am drawn to it because I simply cannot settle in my mind what the message of the photo is. My eye is clearly drawn to the gun, and the message of "waiting" comes to mind. The bloodstain makes me believe that the shooter has been terminated, but I find the idea of a dead shooter looking outward to be confusing. There's a lot of tension in this, and I believe you intended it to be.
Background:
You have intentionally blown out the background, I believe, and that further adds to the mystery. That's a good technique, assuming you intend to be mysterious, again.
Camera Work:
It would appear you did this with a wide angle, and probably a small aperture. I see the f/8, which is usually the "who cares" aperture setting. DOF is pretty deep. My opinion is that a larger aperture would have softened the transition into the background and made the image a little less harsh. Lighting is good, assuming the intentional blowout of the background.
Post-Processing:
This appears to have only been minimally processed. I suspect you cranked up the contrast, possibly with curves. This has made for a pretty stark, in your face image, but a bit of color manipulation could have possibly given more impact to the cartridges beside the gun. They are almost camoflauged by the color of the sill. Or, it may have been better to attempt to light them differently, but that would have been difficult with the (intentional) blowout of the background.
My Opinion:
I do think there is perhaps a bit TOO much mystery. If we had a clue as to the message you mean to send, I think the image would have a great deal more impact. With the title, it definitely meets the challenge, but I have a hard time reconciling my conflicting interpretations. Was this a fight? A fugitive on the run? Is this a war in the middle east? Apocalyptic end of the world? I'm just not sure of how to read it, and that leaves me perhaps asking more questions than you intended.
I do see this as a great shot, and I hope my comments are constructive and informative. Thanks for entering!
If you've got any questions about this critique, please feel free to contact me via the PM system.
Message edited by author 2005-12-09 11:56:19. |
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