Halloween 2010 -1

Painted with light, F/11, 15 sec., ISO-200. Cropped from a previous upload.

A picture for Halloween 2010. Is it too dark, or the purple too

bright? Does the contrast work? Thanks for the feedback.

Excellent work, I like the mysterious atmosphere. Congratulations. Best wishes. Vicente.

Hi Michael!

I really like this version much more than the previous.  You've maintained that dark, spookiness, yet the image is much brighter and easier to view.  With the crop, you've eliminated the distracting vines, but maintained the stairs' railing.  I like that this could have easily been shot at a dark castle.  Your colors compliment each other well.  Halloween is my favorite holiday/time of year.  I actually leave a lot of my decor up year round, candle holders etc.  I would be more than happy to display this image on my wall.  I've always admired your skills, especially when it comes to processing.  Excellence. 

Lacey

Nicely done, love the light and color.. 

i don't have any idea to improve your beautiful image. you just can play cutting the frame , maybe on the right and on the upper  side , i mean zooming on the subject in some way. A great shot anyway

regards

vezio

Great shot Michael! You've really captured the Halloween spirit here (no pun intended!) I love the purple and the lighting adds to the mystery. Great work, and Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year too!

Thanks everyone for the splendid feedback. It helps me with viewer perception that somehow gets lost when I stare at the image for hours.

To be honest, I'm having trouble liking this rendering; it looks too artificial and saturated - over the top, as it were. Can't tell you why I feel this way but probably because I was there, and know the "mood" I was after but somehow not succeeding with. 

Here's another variation that more approximates what I'm after. It's still not there but getting close. I know there's something I can do to take it further but just isn't coming to me yet. As works in progress goes, this one will probably go through a couple more variations.

[Link]

I like your newest version as well.  Each have their own strengths.  I guess the best question to ask here is how are you trying to depict this scene?  Are you going for more natural, or supernatural?  This image is that of a more supernatural feel.  Something of dreams/nightmares.  Your newest version is more natural.  I feel as though I really could come across that scene in real life.  It's all spooky, and fantastic (fantasy).  Obviously I can't see inside your head as to how you feel this image should be portrayed.  But perhaps if you could convey in words how you are feeling, I could lend a more useful critique.  For me, I find word extremely difficult.  It's always easier to show than to describe.  But sometimes feelings can cross over from the world of emotions to the world of vision.  Anyway, just curious how you see this image when you close your eyes... 

Hi Lacey, I'm really stumped by this and won't be able to give you a satisfactory answer. The original intention was to shoot surreal images, but given the hastily arranged shoot and time constraint, I (we) didn't have time to adequately prepare or select a location - had to work with what we had.

I had wanted to use a smoke machine (but there was no available power) which might have made the (rendering) decision easier. As it is, I like the other upload better only because it appears less tweaked, or less obvious, anyway.

The thing about light painting is that it's not easily repeatable given the variables, but this is one picture I'd like to shoot again.

You really should do something with the color balance here.  I mean, her skin tone makes it look like she's dead.  Oh, wait a minute,  that would mean that this Halloween offering is a success wouldn't it?  :-)  Anyway, I'm on record as stating I prefer your other similar offering over this one for reasons I explain there.  Wouldn't want to repeat myself.  Best, LM.

I would agree with Len, that the other version of the same, in landscape format, seems to have better color balance. My main question would however be the lack of details in the lower part of her dress, at least on my screen, risks seriously to unbalance the composition.