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Wow - now that's original! Beautiful execution of a terrific vision.

Original y bonita.  Saludos

I don't know what it is, but I like it. Is the woman real? I'd like to see the photo without the spring formation to see if I'd like it better. That seems a bit distracting to me because it doesn't follow the lines created by the model's pose like the arching light does.

As one who indulges in abstracts, I was attracted to this image immediately. I love the deep blueish purple blue of the sky and the shower of orange fire raining upon woman, who apparently is presenting herself as a willing sacrifice. I'm also impressed by the arch of her back being congruent with the elliptical patterns of color.
Congratulations, Norm.

Woman's body in position of suppliance backed by fire and brimstone. Could this be a warning about how women are treated in photographs? In any case, regardless of such considerations, it's visually not that interesting to me. She's in a pretty typical position of body as displayed object backed by a type of hyper-orgasmic fireworks of mythical proportion. Somewhat overblown for my taste and lacking in any sort of real, transformative, or interesting connection to the subject. A lot of sound and fury but ultimately hollow for me.

Visualization of a fake orgasm.

I like the image. As an experiment in using alternate light sources, it's a good idea. Ultimately a figure study in Nature. the figure is strongly contrasted with the background defining it well. The warm and cool relationships(with stars no less) is a very attractive combo.

I think there is plenty of room for improvement. The truncated spiral doesn't balance the composition as well as it could. And I wouldn't mind seeing the sparks splayed out more symmetrically right and left.

Overall, it's a nice idea and excellent use of an alternate light source to elevate an otherwise traditional figure study in Nature.

The Photo.net Elves state that this was chosen as POTW because it's a "long exposure".

I suppose it is, and I guess that's as good a reason as any for a photograph to be chosen as POTW. What do I know? I'm just a photographer.

Unfortunately, there's no information given anywhere as to how long the exposure was. We don't even know what kind of camera/lens combination was used. There's zero exposure data given.

The photograph itself is pretty standard fare, just a different take on painting with light during a time exposure. I'm not even sure the sky is real and I'm not all that sure this is one single exposure. And I can't even really tell that the model is actually nude.

So it's really sort of a ho-hum image for me. It doesn't speak to me at all.

I join Fred and Jim.I don't see the connection between the figure and the light, as well as the forms in that lighted composition.
The sky are another factor that ,for me ,does not connect to the whole.
There is nothing that draws me in.

I like the shot. I do agree with the others who wonder how it was made. I am assuming it is a double exposure. This knowledge does diminish it slightly and I would also agree that there is no relation between the model and the background, in fact the nearest thing it reminds me of is sparks from an Hawaiian volcano, but then there is the impossibility of someone lying so dangerously close - this leads one to realize that this is a construct and is not "real". Another critique I can make is that the helical trail fits poorly with the sweeping curves, and I think not having it would improve the image.

Having said all this, on balance, I like it because it is visually striking, colorful, and novel.

This appears to be quite a well made composite - the background precisely matches this image:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=17659616

Hard to tell but the foreground could have been a composite as well. Either way it makes a convincing picture to the casual viewer.

It does, doesn't it? It again makes me wonder how many images went into this creation.

Jim, I think this is a competent photo by any measure even if it doesn't necessarily meet the standard of high art we've come to expect when a picture is selected as PoW.

The whirling steel wool trick is something we've all seen but few of us have actually tried. Nudes at the beach is even less accessible for most of us. The landscape background appears to be one of Norm's favorite spots and looks like a place I'd frequent as often if I had access.

Taken in the context of Norm's bio - a degree in cell biology and computer programmer with diverse interests, it's a pretty good creation for a passionate photographer even if this is a composite, considering it's not his day job.

Remove the background and I still find it a fascinating way to illuminate a model. "Painting" with light, not unseen before, but maybe not this variant. The color of the background is the complementary color of the light's color and makes the foreground stand out.

The contrasting colors and the shower of sparks catches my eyes immediately, but then there is nothing to take over from there. The image looses interest. That is OK. An image doesn't have to have a message or story.