Red Pierrot

I definitely recommend going through other images in the same folder - a great variety and all very unusual and appealing, imo. I really find this one grabs my attention every time I see it as a thumbnail. I don't believe it's the strongest in the folder, but it IS an attention-grabber, nonetheless. I like the work of this photographer and am happy to see one featured as POW.

Those are some freaky realistic masks! I'm intrigued, and i'm going to look at the rest of your photos now. Great work!

Years ago, I was in St. Mark's square in Venice at Carnival time. This photo brings back pleasant memories.

 

To me this photo is more of a documentary than it may appear to be at first glance. The costumes, masks, and face painting is very, very elaborate at this Carnival. This photo shows some of the elements used as the mask or if no mask, face paintings. It shows the ruffle of collar of what is probably a fantastic costume. It shows the exaggerated flower, perhaps pinned into the hair or on a hat. All the items color co-ordinated in rich colors.

 

I don't understand the green eyes, but their color seems to relate to the color in the eye of the flower. I am not crazy about the blue and lighter colors in the corners, but that may have been used to 'frame' the rich colors of the costume in an opposite color, suitably dark and rich in appearance.

 

I wish I could see this in square format. Not sure why, I just try to see a square crop of this whenever I look at it. But as it is, a square crop does not work. It would need to be redone to fit a square format.

This picture fails to excite me. It feels busy but the textures and details don't interest me and something about the composition (the mask on the right, looking "out" and the uninteresting expanse of mesh) forces my eyes out of the frame, rather than rewarding them for looking more closely. I would be proud to have made this picture from a technical and creative standpoint, but as art it does nothing for me - much like a creative, well-lit and executed product shot, for example, or an exercise from a Photoshop class.

I can't help but think that this photograph looks like a test print page for a Hewlett-Packard professional inkjet printer. Rich colors, fine details and an eye catching composition. Those are not bad qualities to have in a photograph. It makes me wonder how the HP does at printing fleshtones? In other words (if those words were not quite plain ehough) are we looking at fine art or advertizing? I am perfectly fine with either as long as we call it what it is.

The character of Pierrot, as known in French theatre and earlier as other as other names in Italien Commedia is an important archtype who symbolized the wane dreamer associated with the moon and it's renewing cycles. Pierrot found his counterpart in Harliquino the crafty trickster who symbolized creative energy associated with the sun. Italian Commedia was primarily street theatre which presented lifes problems using stereotypical archtypes much as the TV situation comedies to today. There was much depth in Pierrots character, as he symbolized the number zero and his facial features were arranged as 0+0 (eyes and nose) = (mouth) 0 (head). Let me just say that this character has a very interesting and moving story. Unfortunately over the years, Pierrot has come to represent an inscipide cuteness that borders on the vulgar. 'Carnival' has little to do with the character. There was no red Pierrot. It is obvious that this photographer is excellent and should not be reduced by falling into the cutezy trap. I think that this picture excells as fashion by its superficiality. It gets my vote for this quarters HP pick. I can see it coming out of the printer to exclaims of " what earthy reds and clear colors and perfect contrast and definition". Buy HP.

Boring and over worked...

There is nothing into it beside the color of eyes which still doesn't work here since the eyes don't inspire any kind of real emotion.

Thank you Mg Lizi. I enjoy all your work and this is no exception. Yes it is obviously photoshopped, the effects are not subtle. But your PS has given this portrait an element of fantasy, not inappropriate given the context of Carnevale and masquerade. The rich tones and the way the folds of clothing lead into the face are nice.

Congratulations on POW, its really an outstanding composition.

Like "Sky Blue" this evokes memories of chocolate, to be exact a chocolate spread my kids used to love which had white and milk chocolate "Swirls" in the jar, I Can't remember what it is called. This, to me is photography as art, and as such is bound to be subjective, you either like it or don't. Would make anice advertising shot for the spread tho.............

Looks like an ad for Cirque Du Soleil! Extremely beautiful, well lit and well done! The composition and flow of the colors lend a very theatrical flair to this shot. Couple that, mixed in with the mask itself and of course the face/eyes underneath it lend it a very eerie aura. So many elements come together on this pic, can't say enuf about it! Just great!

Very nice +++

This photo is exquiste!