Untitled

hmmm. I'm not convinced that white thing in the mirror is her shoulder: the angle's not right, and there's no light on her shoulder. I'm thinking it's something off camera, maybe a garment on a hanger.
Also, to Emmanuael, why does the tree have to have significance? Why can't it just be something beautiful for the sake of being beautiful? Notice how the model's body parallels the trees curving lines?

Very strong piece and nice feel. Nice diagonal from bottom left to upper right and still circular too. Love the pose of the model and the color choice, monotone well done.
Balance is off a tad though as I eventually go out the top, and to eleminate that 'exit door' I'd crop just over half the distance of the space from the mirror to the top out. The distracting element in the mirror ends up being the center of interest and should have been noticed during the shoot. If PS (or editing program of chice) is not a no-no in the artist's mind I'd use it to remove it, otherwise keep a good look-out for these things in future shoots. 6.5 out of 7. Keep up the good work.

I thoroughly enjoy the smooth depth of contrast with the lighting, I feel the detail in the shadows contributes to a wonderfully enigmatic photograph. I would rather have seen the model more closely align body lines with the tree, bringing it less mystery, the picture truly has enough. The final point of the enigma, one that is truly interestingn is the white showing in the mirror. Accident or no, it helps complete the picture. I suggest that a slightly closer crop on the top, left and bottom eliminating a little more of the uncessary towels and slightly distracting vignette darkness which loses more detail and detracts, than it does add. Overall, I still thoroughly enjoy this photo. Thank you.
Chris
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It's not bad. Is it a commercial image or a fine art image.

The best commercial images should stand up to a fine art critique.
Every inch of the image needs to be examined. This doesn't quite hold up, but you deserve all the encouragement
to study deeply, to observe more critically.

Keep shooting.

Howard

Very beautiful composition. Along with the blue tone and the limited lighting, her pose sets a magnificant mood. I would add a little fill light to the right side of the model to help her stand out a little more from the background, but otherwise well executed. Bravo!

A photographer's best friend and worst enemy is light. It seems that light has seen Selina's skill, talent and artistic creations and chosen to be a friend. The common appreciation they have for one another is evident here. The use of light works very well here particularly in shaded areas of the middle and bottom right of this photo. I like the way light has been used to cast a shadow . Strangely, the reflective light along the background wall (highlighting the tree) is from the opposite direction to the reflective light of the model, the sink behind her and to some extent the bath tub. This 'play' of light works very well with the colour tones to create a surreal, dreamy mood. For me, the model is just one aspect of this picture and carries no more or less appreciation than, say the tree muriel, the bath tub, the tiles etc... I see it as a collective work of art and a good choice by the elves. Well done Selina

I think is photo is amazing. You did a wonderful job! I believe the white thing in the mirror is a towel hanging on the wall in the background.

Love the model's pose.
I would agree the white thing in the mirror is distracting - once you notice it. I will have to say that my eye was not naturally drawn to that portion of the image until someone pointed it out (though I'm sure I would have noticed it on longer inspection over time).
All in all, a very enjoyable image and one that is going into my favorites. Great job.

Lovely blending of the tree and overall toning

hello everyone, thx for the great compliments on my work! I totally agree with the aspect of the little thing in the mirrow, it should not have been there, thx for the constructive critiques! :-) I will keep shooting! grtz Selina

If this image was executed for a bathroom fixture company, then both client and photographer should be very pleased. The woman is coiffed, elegantly dressed, and posed in a sort of a neutral, "fixture" position. What exactly is she doing in the bathroom, this begs.

The depth of the photo, in contrast to its commercial sheen, derives from the dramatic, soft lighting and the dark, flowing tree on the wall -- and only that. The "shoulder" in the mirror could be intrigue, but in this formal arrangement, it is intrusive.

This is not "art", but the young photographer, especially with viewing the rest of her portfolio, is headed in the right direction. She finds some spectacular settings, including several stunning trees. She has the hints of an innate sense of style, something few photographers acquire.

Lacking is control of the model's mood and positioning, or a match of setting to intention, and for this many of her dramatic photos lack the final touch of ambience, that which elevates an image into the sublime. The model here lacks a genuine mood, too contrived. It seems like a large format problem, not enough alteration of the model and her clothes to catch a moment that is really magic. Likewise, I'm sure a majority of you will disagree. These are ineffable standards.

We learn from our mistakes, not from a long Flickr-repetitious litany of "awesome".

Douglas

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Bravo Douglas ~ totally agree!
I would really like to emphasis the reflection in the mirror since there is more than just a 'shoulder', it's totally intrusive to the scene.

Strengths - it offers simply what it is - outstanding composition. Weaknesess - only what others can formulate in thier own view - feels right, brings me in to the photograhers world - discuss or dissagree!!
David.

I am more intrigued by the author's youth than I am of the image. How it this level of artistic maturity possible from so few years of life experiences? So photography prodigies do exist.

I'm glad to see this image without layer upon layer of texture enhancements to manufacture aesthetics. Apart from the blue cast which I find a little unnatural, this picture demonstrates a level of artistry normally associated with commercial professionals with many more years of experience.

 

I must agree with so many of the others that this young girl is making absolutely wonderful use of lighting, especially backlighting, and she does well with her model's poses. This particular model's pose to me is magic. I love the "S" shape of the body and the mimicry of the left arm to the right leg. Well composed, and I would not crop any part away. Granted, I would have cropped off bits here or there were the image mine, but that's just what I do. Often to undesireable ends.
I don't believe that is a shoulder in the mirror, but rather a towel on a towel bar. I am curious as to what that other item in the mirror is. It looks like an out of place, half full, shot glass.
I cannot believe that the water pipes come right out of the middle of the bathroom floor. What a strange way to make a bathroom. But, plumbing aside, Way to go! And congratulations on being selected this week. I know you will do well in your future as a photographer.
Willie the Cropper

WOW! What a serene image. Your chosen hues caress the subject and create a peaceful place to admire. Wonderful work!
Reid.

I saw this image a while ago, and my first reaction to it was just " Wow !", and it hasn't changed since... and certainly this is for me one of the most deserving POWeeks ever presented on this site - and one of the very few, and I'd say "too" few commercial-looking POWs.
I wholehartedly agree with Douglas Hopkins about the photographer having "hints of an innate sense of style, something few photographers acquire". But I absolutely disagree with this: "The model here lacks a genuine mood, too contrived". That's just one style of photography, which one may certainly like or dislike, but you'll find "contrieved" poses in every issue of any world-reknown fashion magazine every month.
I was absolutely amazed, just like Michael Chang, to see that the photographer was born in 1987 !! Indeed, "How it this level of artistic maturity possible from so few years of life experiences?".
About lighting, pose and composition, I can't add anything to what Bill Tate wrote here: "this young girl is making absolutely wonderful use of lighting, especially backlighting, and she does well with her model's poses. This particular model's pose to me is magic. I love the "S" shape of the body and the mimicry of the left arm to the right leg. Well composed, and I would not crop any part away."
The only issue I'd like to address is the reflection in the mirror... Some found it a bit intrusive and distracting, and to some point, I agree. But did anyone notice in the technical details, that this picture had NOT been manipulated at all ? Let me just ask: who on this site can master both lighting and styling to this degree of perfection ? And who among those is 21 years old ? See what I mean... Everyone can make an oval selection in Photoshop and copy what ever in it, and paste it in this mirror to correct the "intrusive" reflection - in less than 2 minutes. Selina posted this picture as it was taken, and she was right, imo, because she certainly deserves more credit for her achievement with the camera here, than she deserved to be blamed for something as easy to correct nowadays as this reflection in this mirror. One also needs to consider, that when you take a picture like this one, you do it in a given environment, which we know nothing about. What was behind or next to the photographer will then always be reflected in any mirror that's turned towards the camera. And the wall on which the mirror is happens to be facing the camera. Not sure whether Selina could have spent time controling the lighting and elements next to her during her session. When you do commercial work, you are often pressed by time, and nowadays, who would really spend time correcting something like the area reflected in the mirror, knowing that photoshop will allow to correct this in 2 minutes. :-)
Basically, I just love this picture, and can certainly appreciate what an achievement it is to come up with something like this at such a young age. If I had taken this picture, it would directly go to my commercial portfolio - with or without correction of the reflection in the mirror -, and I'm 43, and shooting commercial stuff since Selina was born...:-) That makes me just plain jealous of her talent. :-) All the best for the next years ahead, Selina : i think you have a truly great future ahead...

As with most of her photo's there is a tender play of light and dark that adds to the isolation and blending of the subject. There is also the theme of water in this as well as her other photos. Going through the collection it is pleasant to review her different use of aqua. I additionally like the stop action motion in her album. Very nice photo, very nice album.

There are many here more knowledgeable than me but I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents. To me this image is a bit unfocused. Between the sink on the right and the tub on the left my eye just doesn't know where to settle. Most of the time it's on the tub. I also feel the model is a bit too small in the frame and the room is taking too much of the focus away.
The light is really excellent on the subject but since it's a bit over powering on the subjects in the room, again, the image just looses focus for me. I cropped it a bit and find that I like the image a lot more without the other items in it.

http://www.davenitsche.com/davecrop.jpg

Simply perfect! I love the light and the mod.

Excellent crop, Dave. It really cuts to the vital elements of the picture.

I think you would need to see other treatments of the subject to express a qualified opinion.Dave Nitche for instance by merely changing the crop has I feel wrought an improvement.For me the pose is a problem and must have been for the model also, it is intended to convey relaxation but if you look at the curve on the back and the position of the feet it must have been quite diffucult to maintain. The shadow on the face was burned in or the wall was dodged.Why? It probably merits being photo of the week because it's different.Regards

I'm sorry not agree, the crop is too agressive and leaves much of the original mood out of the scene. The sorroundings adds a lot of value, the image is not only about the lady. The floor, the washer, the mirror, even that (painted?) tree on the wall are all grabber.

While I would agree with Doug that Dave's crop "cuts to the vital elements of the picture ", I think it unfortunately deescalates the extraordinary to the ordinary. The image would not have received more than a second glance had the original submission been cropped especially given the peculiar aspect ratio.

No, I think the problem lies not with the composition but with the mirror. Try to imagine a bone-white mirror frame for a moment, and the lamp above dodged slightly to bring out details. If one wished for more, the reflected mirror image can be replaced. I wouldn't do any of it (post production) though, as doing so would destroy the charm of a real but photographically imperfect setting.

My feeling about the pose is in part in agreement with Doug: "the model's body parallels the trees curving lines" , and also that her body is framed by surrounding elements.

I don't believe the actual pose is intended to convey relaxation, rather a common model's pose in commercial photography which to me more intends to convey elegance. As this type of work is not meant to be viewed longer than a flip of a magazine page, the striking yet elegant intention is probably best suited. I also can't think of a more effective pose.