Lucia

Uhm, about the subject: ...you choose, maybe a little too "Tolkienian".

Technically: you CAN do better with an H-bad (in terms of light and definition... am I wrong???)! Some adventurous people of my knowing can surely do the same with a Fuji semi-toy camera and COOP 200asa films (unavailable in Illinois, sorry!)

Still stands as a rather good image. Good job!

I like it very very good! I would give it 7/7 The blond hair works quite well, it dosn't desract you from the dress, people might say the background is busy, and therefore distracting. No it's not distracting. It adds to the image. Very VERy Very Very Good!!!!!

I also like the photograph just as it is.

I don't know whether this works as a fashion shot. I think that it works as an artwork. I enjoy the subtlety of its muted colours and lack of tonal contrast. It depends for effect on the wonderfully linear texture of the vines which sweep around the figure in the squarish curves so beloved by Art Nouveau designers. Her hair grows out of the vines, her garments are the last clinging autumn leaves. William Morris would have loved her; so would Gustave Klimpt, Munch and Murcha.

This photo is making quite a stir amongst you all. I think it's Fantastic. When i saw it as photo of the week i was amazed and instantly drawn to it. The backdrop draws me into the image forcing me to look closer. I love this.

 

Nice one Chris.

I totaly agree with the author on the location choosin...I also like the framing that leads you in the middle...very original!

In my opinion as a fashion shot i would consider it to be very good, however i would prefered slightly less background and more of the main subject...

As regarding lighting i find it to be awesome...

Well done

An interesting one this-

Something abit different!The strong vertical shape of the dress and the patterns dominate the picture.And as allways it's great to see somone deliberately center the subject.

I can't decide if the square behind the subject is disatracting or not.Pity about the dreadfull dreary darkness of the whole pic-slide film?

At first glance, it made me think of an image of a saint.

It looks like a saint as back then (500 years ago) they did not know it was better not to center the subject, that it would create a static image. Lack of knowledge, what can you say. Not much different from a lot of people creating images today.

For a different, non-centered angle of the same subject, see photo_id=2736973.

Perhaps the idea of static composition in historical context is related to the medium and method used to create an image. I am sure that comparing past masters with present day photographers will not win any arguments concerning who knows more about composition. Those types of comments would be more meaningful if a specific example were cited. In the case of this photograph, I think it has been pointed out that it is intended to be static by design. Whether or not this is a valid or correct choice is ultimately up to the viewer and highly dependant on the intended use or context in which it is viewed. One type of composition might work very well on a chapel ceiling but not in a magazine or book where the image is split into two parts by the display medium.

 

This photograph could hardly be called a failure and yet it does not appeal to everyone equally. It reminds me of the current practice of distributing magazines with multiple versions of cover art with the intention of grabbing the attention of different types of buyers and consequently selling more magazines. Chris did not decide that he was satisfied by making only one image of this subject but explored multiple possibilities. I seriously doubt that Chris has any lack of knowledge when it comes to composition.

I find the image interesting but not really dynamic enough to make for a good fashion shot. The lighting is flat and the image lacks overall punch. Vision this image printed in a fashion mag. and I think you will see my point. To many objects competing with the fashion elements.

 

I would love to see this image shot with a single cross, or edge light an some increased contrast.

I manipulated the image to add some visual punch and make it a bit more commercial (IMHO)

Gregory, I like your idea, but it is totally opposite of what I was trying to achieve. I am really happy to see almost just as many people dislike this photo and try to improve it. I am glad I made you think.

Regards.

I'm bemused by the very didactic criticism this work has come in for - much of it seems to miss the spirit and the merits of the image, and tries to make it something very different.

 

What I see here is a beautiful, eerie, calm, and mysterious illustration from a gorgeous illustrated book of fairy stories. To me, the work is very much in the tradition of the great book illustrators from the turn of the 20th century. (n.b. this is a compliment!) Think Kay Nielsen, but with a gothic, desaturated twist... and very much its own thing.

 

What is the story? Should we leave the pages blank, or tell it? When is the rest of the book coming out???

Heather... I am not sure, but you are on the list! :)

wow wow wow... god damn this is so well done... the set... the model the dress... works so well...

7/7