Branches

Clever composition, minimalist exercise of aesthetics. Excellent.

Excellent

Very beautiful composition.

Compared to the similar photo in the photographer's portfolio, this one seems more like an experiment in photo manipulation than a photograph. The bolt of lightning seems disembodied somehow, not connected to anything else in the photograph, as if it was just added as an afterthought. It's just there, hanging in space. The tree has been reduced to a one dimensional lifeless silhouette, sort of like a Rorschach ink blot...it has no meaning for me.

Simply put, the other photo works for me. This one does not.

I agree with Jim, this one does not seem to work, for me either, at a first glance. However ...
Fairly minimalistic, with a basic idea, that I like. A fine silhouette view of a tree lost in the winter whiteness, as a symbol of life sustaining of nature in the unforgiven coldness of Mother Earth, during winter - joined by the white-hot forces from the sky in the form of lightning with the same silhouette outlines, as the poor tree. The two joined within the frame of the photo by a fine continuous toning of grayness. Fairly refined image, which whispers more than shouts.

It's a decorative graphic and about as compelling as clip art. It's not a photo. There's not much in that image to come up with anything more meaningful to say about it.

I applaud Martin's experiment even if it didn't turn out to be a crowd pleaser. This is the sort of thing many photographers do, often without a specific goal, simply to see where something might take us.

The lack of discussion this week should in no way become a reflection on Martin's work or community standing. I don't think it was a very choice from his portfolio; I might have chosen this one instead.

Michael, your choice might do for a general more pleasing photo, but less thoughtful, maybe.
Yet another time, I'm missing some wordings from the elves, but I might be quite alone thinking that.

Michael, a much more compelling choice to discuss on Martin's work and vision IMO.

Nice find, although I do remember it linked to a few years back and it still catches me by surprise and delivers from a gut level just as I remembered it. That image makes this thread's POW appear to be made by someone with completely different photographically creative sensibilities and sensitivities.

It would be interesting to me at least just to know what motivates and inspires the elves on their POW choices. They could at least throw us a bone.

I tend to agree with Jim. Martin's related image strikes me as being more interesting with its billowy clouds.

Just a little reminder to those who seem to have forgotten some of the rules...
From "About photo of the week":

Guidelines on posting comments

1. ...Comments about the "choice" of the image with regard to whether you agree or disagree with the elves' choice or discussions about photography vs graphic art or any other far off departure from the subject of the POTW as an image for discussion will be deleted.
4. Try not to write a novel with your comments and responses.
   Very often there are wordy and frequent comments by the same people which basically say the same thing in various ways that belabor a point and are overly verbose. Try to keep your comments concise. These posts may be edited and/or an e-mail will be sent to request that further comments be more concise and to the point.

Try not to get caught up in "winning" the debate. We are here to share and learn from each other!

The POTW should be approached as a challenge to critique the image presented, not the image we wish had been presented. It is often more a challenge to the viewer than to the photographer.

It seems to me that the comments on the present POTW with reference to other shots of Martin, are indeed comments on the POTW and nothing else. Maybe I'm just being more jesuite than helpful.

Nice image. The gradient background really ties all the elements together as one cohesive thought. Great job!

[tongue in cheek]

This is an inversion of the Sistine Chapel. Rather than Michelangelo's vibrant, powerful God arriving from the right, reaching to touch the limp and lifeless Adam on the left, here it is a perky, if leafless, Adam (the tree) who reaches toward God (the lightning) and God who is limp and enervated.

That tree makes the lightning look like a dust bunny, a piece of lint, a bit of insignificant static in a pair of old socks. And it's not even a big or in any way gesturally powerful tree.

Some well meaning friends set up a blind date between Wilbur and Ethel. It's not working out too well. Just putting two "like" things in proximity doesn't necessarily result in a relationship.

I think it's an interesting creation. Both main elements are just hanging there in space, and I like the contrast of the dark tree coming up from the light and the bright lightening coming down from the darkness, each representing similar structures produced by very different means in nature. I might play a bit with the tilt and length of the lightening, but have no objection to the positioning of the objects as seen.

Good idea and a good shot to illustrate something (what?) or as a shot selling something (although again what I can't think of right now). But it does show a lack of plausibility as a photograph of reality making it painfully obviously a composite and as such I always think needs to be considered differently from a "real" photo. A small point (but very prevalent these days) the watermark is very intrusive and irritating, obscuring the image and rather ruining its balance.

The battle between good & evil...yin & yang....i like the interpretations you can derive from this photo...really makes you stop and look...and that's what a photo should do.