An En Light End Bean

[This was written in response to the photographers post above.]

Actually, I often consider that one of the functions of the POTW itself is to "elicit a response in the viewer." It's definitely one of the significant reasons why a photo may get this level of response, regardless of the photo or the photographer. My own view of its place in your portfolio, and nothing said by others here would contradict this, IMO, is that it fits in well with the rest of your work and is of a very like kind but just isn't as well done or as interesting to look at as a lot of the rest of it, for the various reasons stated. What's interesting is that all that's been said here and all that's said in the critiques of any of our photos can be dealt with, understood, or rationalized in any number of ways, as well it should be, since no one is right and no one is wrong in these matters. It's just a sharing of genuine thoughts by peers.

Raymond, I am not sure that I would call the results of wide angle distortion "foreshortening," but I do like the effect by any name. I see that you have even more exaggerated examples of it. One either likes the effect or one does not. There rarely seems to be any middle ground. In my own case, I think of it as something of an acquired taste. It is an effect which you have used to advantage in other shots.

Jim Phelps has also applied the effect to nudes, where I once did not care for it but now do--again, an acquired taste.

In any case, there is more optical gymnastics going on than anything else, not to take anything away from the physical prowess of the model.

I like it.

--Lannie

Ah yes, humor. Humor from limber females in various contortions with the added wide angle distortion to accentuate it. Pretty much surrealism derived humor I'm guessing similar to Magritte except instead of juxtaposing objects in out of place relationships, Raymond uses the contorted female as an out of place condition of the human female figure as a sculpted object to marvel at with a high art, dignified side show vibe to it.

After Raymond mentioned humor as his underlying intent I had to think about that for a while and came up with the above just to get an understanding what he meant. I did not immediately pick up on humor in any of his work and certainly not in this one. The humor is very subtle in a surreal sort of way.

But still with intent, ya' go big or you go home and that cyan background distracts from the true intent due to it being neither pronounced or subtle. It comes across as a mistake and out of place but not in a surreal (humorous) sort of way.

""Not all of course, but most of my works are intended to amuse and yes even bemuse which again makes this quite successful.""
Great Raymond, that is what I was waiting for. Some sort of distance taking from the masses of distorted female bodies, as nude shots, we see around, and maybe even in your own portfolio. Seen from that angle, as it was your intention, I find it indeed amusing, and the cyan glow is adding to the pun. The total seriousness of the lady is too.
My first remarks was made from a point was bored and sincere , and therefore totally beside the point.
This being said, I'm not sure the picture automatically fulfills its objectives, to make the viewer laugh. He has to be told, in order to see the ironical joke of it all. It is one of these cases where a clearly telling title could have done the trick, I think.

I don't find it amusing (I also don't understand the title). But it is a good shot - in a yoga instruction book kind of way. Unusual to see the sole of a foot looming so large in a pic. I can see the color cast, but it doesn't particularly worry me. I think I would prefer it in black and white.