The long walk home

There isn't much about this photograph that I don't like. I'm sort of a sucker for wintry scenes that suggest a bit of isolation and/or loneliness against a large backdrop.

I'm iffy on the splash of colour. On one hand it emphasizes the solitary figure, but on the other hand it's a bit of a gimmick that really isn't needed.

I do like the figure being toward the right of the composition. As far as I'm concerned, it could be even more to the right. It gives me the sense of distance-yet-to-be-traveled. It puts me in mind of the poem by Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, one line of which reads "And miles to go before I sleep." The limbs of the magnificent tree going towards the left of the photograph balance the composition for me, while leaving enough room to show the shadowy outlines of the trees in the background, giving the image more depth. And I like it that we can see the snow falling.

It might be a bit derivative, but I still like it a lot. If it didn't have the splash of colour, it would be a print I'd have framed and hanging on my wall.

It's a romanticization. IMO, it's more graphic than photographic. I actually think the selective color here goes well with the overall vision and conception, all of which, to me, is somewhat of a known and tried-and-true quantity. It is something we are all familiar with, this kind of photo/rendering. So that can be very pleasing and reassuring. A very known quantity. Not my cup of tea. I like a little more spice and even a bit of tea spilled on the floor now and then.

If this were my picture I'd certainly consider making it into my Christmas card for the year. Soft, peaceful, full of winter's romance. Sure, this means there's little in it to get excited about, but I think it's very pretty indeed.

I love the surreal feel of it...the pop of red  in the coat.

For a good total balance the person is too much on the right. On his way "to the trunk" the distance at least should be shortened with 1/3 compared to his position now. In fact it's nearly going to a position nearly half way that distance. I personally think the red too "strong" compared to the tree, next isn't his posture fortunately. No, I'm absolutely not nit picking, however a person in such an image always should fit perfectly (!) well. Then the image might last "for ever".

I am afraid that although I admire its composition that there is no feeling of 'Photograph' in this image at all! It looks like it was etched onto a stone and printed off. Essentially, it feels and looks to me like a drawn Illustration. There is just 'no way in' to this scene. It is so controlled and post produced that it has lost all atmosphere and for me serves only to be read 'on the face of it' even though this sort of shot and subject matter is usually redolent of emotion and identification. Best, Steve

This is a good photo-illustration with a strong graphic appeal. It appears selective color was used but unsure. The landscape color is so subtle and uniform it looks processed. Using the "Kodak red spot" is a tried and true technique, if a bit clichéd, to give emphasis to a smaller subject in a landscape and it works well here to draw the eye in an otherwise monochromatic scene. Sensitive placement of the visual elements makes for a balanced and pleasing composition.

Here's the picture with the figure removed.

Here's the picture with the red desaturated.

It's interesting to look at the variations Martin produced. I now think the tree has been at least partly desaturated, because to my eye it has a somewhat "plastic" look to it, not completely natural. I can understand the motivation for desaturation if the goal is to make the red-jacketed person more prominent (although I would also argue this might be going overboard). I do like the tree and think it could stand on its own (no pun intended), but not in its current state of processing; too much has been done to it, IMO.

The desaturated red seems to my eye to be less jarring visually, and it maybe gets the same point across (at least the point that I see in the photo, and which I described previously) but in a more subtle way.

I'd really like to see a B&W version of the original, and I'd really like to see a relatively unadulterated version of the original (i.e., no desaturation of the tree, assuming that has been done in the current photo). Me thinks the creators may have been trying too hard to get the idea across in the photograph, and that less might have resulted in more.

I think the photograph is extremely beautiful. The minimalism is refreshing while at the same time rather sad. Everything looks so cold and empty. This photo has a very bittersweet quality about it. I really like the fact that this photo almost looks like a painting.

very beautifully captured ..

This wouldhave been just another winter photo except for the walker in red.

That nailed it! Nice work

Very much resembles a pencil drawing more than a photograph. Great detail and shading in the foreground tree.

I JUST LOVE IT. , Sorry I can not contribute with some comment that will help to improve this Pic. For me it is just perfect as it is. Great!!

I share that sentiment...

...and agree with the number of others that while it's beautiful, it looks more like a drawing than a photograph (having said that, I wish I could "convert" my photographs into this graphic style; it's art too for sure!)

The creative ending here is very appealing and the total value of the image appearance is wonderful by all means.
There are always massive changes to many elements when an image been driveted away from its originality to gain a creative touch, for me the person figure sound un real and been added to this image, I can not find any sort of real relationship between the figure and the rest of the place, a slight shade could some how enhenced the present of the person here.
Again the foreground with its totally lost details and textures do not help to complete a well balanced fore ground lay out.
Other wise I must admit that I did like the creative work done here and bravo to the photographer for having his image selected as the POW.

Rashed
Colombo / Sri Lanka

I have been looking at the photo for the whole week and been reading the critiques and looking at the photo again. My original opinion has not changed. Apart from being a little tilted towards the right, I find this paiting-like photo very beautiful and peaceful. The red colour gives it (for me) a touch of warmth and is in fact what connects me to the photo. I Love it. Very well done B Read. Great picture. Michel Yazigi.

Interesting subject and nice work. However this photo seems tasteless to me, the subdued colours put it in the family of the painting art...

I would like to see the original shot also, but since it's snowy and not bright environment it wouldn't had significant declination, except some hints of brown color on the tree log.It's a wonderful post-production, nice color selective work that turned it to a photo-drawing that just photo.The slight over-exposure fits perfectly in this case.Regards

I like the photo and 95% of the composition. The colour is fine with me also. Some ranted about "seen it before" but haven't we all seen most of it?
Being an OCD person the photo cries out to me for symmetry- Having the figure directly under the branches' arch in three more steps. It's almost like not hearing the last note in a symphony.
B&W would be more interesting, I believe.

So many viewers seem to want the person in just the "right" place. What's wrong with a little tension?

Interesting that the comments were mostly positive until chosen as a photo of the week.
Then turned moderately negative after that.

I just want to know what the blotch of color on the tree trunk represents, myself.

I like the image in all other respects, other than the low resolution.
Would you mind posting a hi res version of the pic, perhaps?

I think you'd find that would be true of most photos. The critique section tends to garner a lot of friendly critiques, more like a facebook chat than a photographic interaction. The POW seems to attract a slightly more discriminating crowd, a crowd at least somewhat wiling to actually look at the photo and have some sense of what works and what doesn't, of what is good and what is not. This is generally the case, though there are, of course, exceptions.

Being a New Zealander and having lived on the Gold Coast of Australia for many years, My first impression (which has'nt changed) was feeling the cold and sensing the smell of snow from my childhood years. For me this photo has impact of times past. A photo that has impact on first veiwing invites me to look at more from the photographer.Tj.