'Loneliness'

I would not  put her in the  center, because  she looking to the left, I would place  her  to the right a little bit.  Or! Crop a 1/4 of  the right.  But  the  geometric  repeating lines  ad  to the  single  person image, reflecting  greatly the  feeling of  loneliness.

Cheers;  Bela

My version.

I appreciated very much your comment plus the image attachment (most helpful).

This is one of my most popular images as it is, as well as a similar image, with her to the left side and upwards and a lone man to the right side and downwards from her. 

You might look for it, as that image both uses asymmetry, by placing the subject(s) off-center, but symmetry too, as both of them are equally distant (in general) from the sides of the frame and within the rectangle, each occupies the position of the other if one turned the image over and viewed it from the rear.  (try working that one over in your mind rather than just reading the words, or better yet, find and look at that image).

Your version is interesting, and however much I dislike being quoted or instructed about 'the rule of thirds', a one-third --- two-thirds arrangement for the 'empty' space devoted to the steps, I think, would be more pleasing, somewhat more geometric, and 'solvable' whereas your version, while putting her to the right, does not do so in any mathematical way that I can easily figure out -- it is a little hard for me to look at because it does not have the geometric element I'm looking for and appears asymetrical to me (I like symetry in an image like this.)

That's me of course, and others may prefer your version, but in your mind try putting the empty steps two-thirds to the left (as we view it) and one-third to the right and see if that doesn't improve your version.

This is 'as I shot it; I prefer to compose in the viewfinder - it has a very slight trim at the top for exposed area at the top of the steps, and the image is basically reframed overall to keep about the same 'aspect ratio'.

If I'd shot it your way, (probably using the 1/3--2/3 formula I discussed above), I would also be proud of it, but this is the way I saw and shot it.

It's proved very, very popular (blogs steal it and there are plenty of views and they go up periodically), so I recall one piece of advice.

'Don't mess with the ju-ju!'

;~))

But I always like constructive criticism from an informed member -- the next time I shoot something like this, I'm going to keep your suggestion in mind and maybe try it.

john

John (Crosley)

This is a link to an analysis of Edward Hopper's 'Nighthawk', a painting of a man, back mostly to viewer, which creates a dramatic sense of loneliness.  I have been familiar with this painting for most of my life, and I have been influenced by it.

Stephanie White, in her analysis of 'Nighthawk', compares it to this above photo 'Loneliness' in her analysis of cinema techniques, and does a good analysis.  It's worth reading, and here is a link.

http://swhite-cinetech.blogspot.com/2012/11/loneliness-in-images.html

I consider her critique, able, intelligent, and to the point.

And, as she says, this photo is really quite simple, yet powerful -- one of my best ever, and incidentally, one which I set out to 'make' rather than just accidentally 'capture', though I usually (and here too) am open to myriad possibilities with potential subjects.

See also, 'Loneliness With Hope' featuring this same (anonymous) woman, which also is 'powerful' in its own right, but also seems to 'tell a story' to many viewers.  

Thank you Stephanie White for your thoughtful analysis.

john

John (Crosley)