single photos hands 2

I would be interesting in hearing comments regarding this image in

comparason to the HANDS 1 / Thxs.

To your question, I really like the hands in both photos, but they are different. By this i mean it might be a little apples and oranges. Your treatment is the same, which is wonderfully done, but the feel and message will stimulate different things in people. my guess, most people would respond more favorably to the clean hands, but peoples immediate reactions are not alway the lasting reactions.

 

Now, to this photo, and comparing it in a different way with the other. Here, i think the background has become more an issue. It was very nebulous in the other photo and so acted only in a supportive role, a wonderfully supportive role. For me, this background is actually somewhat distracting because it is too clear and not necessarily pleasing. It takes away from the hands and competes too much for the attention.

excellent strong image!!!!!!

Hands 1 has the hands nearly completely isolated - there's no body connected with them. In this photo the body is present - which provides context with the rest of the individual.

I suppose the difference is simple enough: do you want the viewer to focus on the hands as individual entities in themselves, or do you want the view to focus on the hands as belonging to the man?

I personally prefer hands 1 because it evokes more for me than does hands 2.

In any case, they're both stunning.

Piotr: Regarding a comparison between this image and "Hands (1)", I personally prefer this image, using dirt rather than water. It provides a "grittier" image that makes the viewer think about why his hands have dirt on them (and many thoughts come to mind). The only other thing I can say is that I would have gone with a narrow DOF to eliminate the background of his body, as it does prove somewhat distracting. I would even go so far as to say, IMHO, that I would leave the background black, showing *only* the hands. The lighting on the hands themselves is perfect, and oddly, just the right amount of dirt allowing the flesh tones of his hands to show. And I very much love the positioning of his hands. Extraordinary image! Respectfully, Tina