A difficult moment in abstract

This is a strange photo, I know. But somehow I like the graphic look

and just looking at it makes me smile again. She was so cross with me

that I took this photo ;) What do you think? Is it in any way

interesting?

Jeroen, did you "abstract" it on purpose? I assume by abstract you mean lack of detail, reduction to black and white, etc.

 

It's not an attractive photo, but it has some interest as an abstract of a certain emotion or pain on her face. Do you want it to still be recognizeable as your friend?

 

If not, I would abstract it further. And/or you can get rid of the ?bottle opener? or whatever on the wall, and whatever is black in the upper left. Come down to the pure human form with the emotion.

 

A quick and dirty example of further abstraction is provided. Oh, and by the way, I keep looking at the bottle opener. It assumes more significance than it should.

 

Oh one more thing...I like the composition the more I look at it.

 

Oops, I didn't realize my abstract would be right on your page...hope I didn't offend or derail the future discussion.

I would most certainly agree that this is a strange photo! What are the dots I see?

Did you want on purpose that her eyes were hidden or you discover it when you have the photo in your hands? It seems that you had harsh and low light and you did what you could with it.

Thanks for the feedback guys. Cool work, Glenn! I like it. Posting it inline is absolutely fine, don't worry. What exactly did you do to create that? Chuck, which dots? Around her neck? That would be a necklace.

 

Yes Oscar, this was most certainly in low and harsh artificial light and I could just manage shooting wide open. But is was also the first time I used TMZ, so I didn't exactly know what the result was going to be. All negatives shot that night where a pain to print. In this case, I like the fact that the harsh shadows on her eyes emphasize her difficult look. And that the various lines make it look like an abstract painting, with a barely recognizable human figure. The beer opener is amusing, because it hints that she is in dire need of a new beer :) But I agree that if it is to be a 'serious' photo, it needs to go.

 

My idea was to use it as an editorial, perhaps on the deleterious effects of alcohol. Or the other way around, to use it as an ad for beer, as above. Do you think it works graphically?

But I keep thinking she is in the bathroom and is straining, perhaps. Something about the walls and her facial expression and her position. It doesn't make me think about yearning for beer.

 

Still, if you were serious about going in that direction, you want her looking less abstract and more human, yes?

Beer?

Hmmmmm, looks like she's sitting on a toilet and encountering some difficulty.... *ahem*....

For this to succeed as a persuasive rather than informative advert, the product being sold should be easily apparent or interpreted. It isn't in the original pic and your modded Grolsch one assumes that one knows what Grolsch is...

... Grolsch stops constipation???

Hi guys! Thanks for those last comments, Glen and S. Now I can't see anything else but her sitting on the toilet... damn :)

 

But you're probably right. Apparently Grolsch needs to work more on it's brand name, since I thought you knew it. And of course I didn't want a tap water like Heineken defile my picture ;) Cheers, Jeroen

Shouldn't have looked at the earlier comments, but it definitely looks like she's on the toilet, straining. Sigh. Or maybe after too much Grolsch, she needs to pee, and it's burning as she's urinating. Or something like that. Album cover for Frank Zappa?

 

I don't have much to add about the picture itself. I am neutral about it, but I have no suggestions for improvement.

 

I fail to see the appeal, but no specific suggestions for improvement.