This evokes memories of some 60s era British spy thriller movie. 

Such an interesting composition, love the processing. Very nice work. FS

Drew,   I also Thank Daniel for his nice comment which I warmly share.  Although you took this photograph long time ago, the intrinsic qualities enveloped in it are timeless and come from your acute creativity. Talent is not just about the toaster or else but the idea and sense of fun in achieving something special, original and exciting. I guess this would work well on an appropriate book cover.  Your construction is interesting because of the distinctive duality you've created with these strong bold lines and the way space is divided. On one side graphically a massive cross even if that's part of window (but perhaps subconsciously associated with the church) while on the other side a person (perhaps dismissed) exiting the house. The square format, the monochrome, the graininess give intrigue, sadness and drama. It is very well contained and composed, stylish, arty and does indeed inspire and stimulate interesting interpretations. That's why I do like it very much.  Really excellent work!  Best wishes,   

Very interesting. It gives me a feeling of 1930s Weimar photography for some reason, and I like it.

One of the great benefits of these PoWs is that they lead one to portfolios previously unseen.

I really enjoyed Drew Bayless's collection, much of it interesting concentration on details rather than large vistas, so that (as often seems to be the case) the Elves's choice is not really typical of his corpus. Not a matter for concern, just interesting to me.

I just took another quick browse through Drew's portfolio. It seems to me that, if it were necessary to pick a title for it, a good candidate would be "Theater of the Photographc Absurd." The POTW fits quite well. It gives the impression of a person living in a world in which he doesn't fit. This world is segmented and organized, but not in a linear or logical way. So he continues to proceed while surrounded by stark contrast and fuzz.

What fascinates me about this photo is the way the "graphic" part of "photographic" resonates. It feels like it HAS TO BE a photograph. Nothing else would do. And yet, it is so human. So it is not REDUCED to its graphic nature, but rather supported by it. There's a mystery to exactly what I'm looking at, which so often happens throughout Drew's portfolio, which I find often to be a very internal view of things. It's like I'm seeing a world, but a world on which Drew's consciousness has intervened. Like I'm seeing his mind's eye. There's a forlorn quality here, for me, in this woman walking out of the frame and in those rectangles, curved along the path she has taken, left behind. The graininess is emotion bubbling to the surface. It strikes me as real when so often grain (these days) is used more as a style or even a gimmick. There's a haunting sense of scale here, the wall dominating the figure but the figure still having such impact. The title, Watcher, is ambiguous enough to be provocative without particularly leading me anywhere. It's just part of the overall wonder of the photo. The photo also has a compelling drabness of tonality and so the content really takes hold even as the drabness imbues it with energy. And the contrasts of lights and darks is still strong enough to be visually arresting. The majority of the frame is pressed against the surface and then the left-most part of the frame seems to empty out into the unknown. I'm left with the feeling that I can't wait to come back to this photo again, because I imagine the experience will be different each time. This photo lives.

Great image. I agree, it does have a pre-WW2 feel to it. The apparent low resolution gives it an antique feel. Reminds me of Nosferatu, or Man Ray. Mysterious and enigmatic. Very nice.

Great choice for a photo of the week. Back to photos that remind us, that photography can be art.

Drew has made a vision that invites the viewer into an imaginative world of forms, some physical artifacts, a window, a door, others human, but mixed into a common whole of grains and convex/concave forms. A beautiful world of dreams. It could be music. It is surely a poem.
I'll add Drew's code !!!! = and wish him all well.

What an ideal choice the elves have made. its a classic. a mystery. the man is an inigma...... not just your average Joe... how lucky to have stumbled across this man. the mood is dark and intense and the way he is filmed at the edge of the frame as if he is about to vanish into the night. i enjoy a photo that has the abiliy to tell a thousand different stories as this photo does. congrates Drew

I wonder what is the difference between port folio poker and kimono or in particular the quantum portfolio which contains no images. There is no difference. Neolithic painting carries ideas – in the first place idea of hunting or killing. It is strange but abstract thinking is obvious there. Here we have no ideas. Author will stop and look at the crack in the sidewalk stone and maybe make a photo which will have the title nirvana. There is a direct link to the temporary emotional state of author. Traces of emotions the author leaves behind are clear.

So happy that this made photo of the week. Drew has a very interesting portfolio and many that I would have chosen. Big congrats to you!

Drew,

It is a very mysterious composition, that is asking for some answers. The human figure is going somewhere?what is he watching? the windows are empty with not even having a clue! so the mystery remains.

real good BW,and I like it very much.

Congratulation ! Drew.

There's an interesting Kertesz style visual allusion, the distorted figure at the periphery (occasionally Kertesz himself) who seems to blend into the surroundings. As Fred observed, this photo lives. It is freed from burdens of being associated with a particular era - apart from my notion of a Kertesz allusion. It looks like a memory feels.

So captivating! No wonder it caught so much attention....I'm glad to be back here and get to see your work again.

How in the heck could I have ever missed this photo? I am very glad this was chosen for POW, even if I am getting here rather late. Very very unique and striking.

everything Steve said. What a great beautiful piece. Yes, unique and striking.

hi Drew ,

I like this photo because you use the distortion option;

I like myself to use it , when I want to curve the space in order...you know , to place in a specific time;

!!!

Thank you for this one, Drew.

--Lannie

This is marvellous image, it's even better than a painting of the same shapes, like it more than you could imagine.

My regards.