TRAPPED!!

I can't decide if the hands are too large or if it helps convey the

idea that all the strength in the world can't get a person freed

from a life they don't like. Comments?

Your recent plunge into more of graphic arts is a nice extension of your photography skills and very interesting. This one has real dramatic impact with the outstretched hands and nice symmetry of composition. The caption is also a good fit.

Scary shot, I love it! Nice composition, tone fit perfect!

I don't know...it would be interesting to see the face larger, but this has great impact!

My husband doesn't like this one at all, but I will leave this up for discussion for a while. It's fun to do different things every now and again. I might try different size combinations on the hands and face to see how that will work.

I agree with what Ken said. I think this image moves you from "fun" photography to "serious" subliminal photography. Also, this image is dominated by the masculine side rather than the feminine side which may be why hubby doessn't like it. I think its brilliant!

Maybe Ed doesn't like the dark feel or what ... but it's another interesting statement. What I love are the EYES. Did you enhance them? Or does this man have these fabulous eyes really? The hands aren't too big for me ... and I wouldn't have even thought about it until I read your comment.

HI Kim.

Great idea but how about making the hands smaller and making the face less distinct but then bring out the eyes more. Dark hollow eyes, lost eyes????

Just a thought. Keep up the fantastic work.

Stephen

Thanks for the detailed comments, everyone. This is actually a head shot of my son, but definitely considerably altered - his eyes are more blue/gray. I think I'll play with this one a bit more. Ed probably doesn't care for it because he knows my son and he's not a dark person at all, so Ed may be having a hard time seeing David out of context or something.

Truly a new dimension for you. And this one is a whole new level of quality and artistic vision than your previous efforts in this genre. It is graphically inventive and emotionally integrated. Wow.

Thanks, Mark - sometimes I creep myself out!! :)

It was a clever idea to make the hands dominate the image. He seems to be much smaller than the problem in hand otherwise he is trapped.

I did another one with the head larger and only partial hands, but I don't find it fits the concept of "trapped" as well. Guess I'll leave well enough alone! Thanks for visiting and commenting, Haleh.

I meant what I said of course as a compliment. I like the big hands representing a sense of entrapment.

I knew what you meant, Haleh, and took it as a compliment. :) I made the hands dominating to represent him trying to escape, but it's futile for him. I did try other versions to see how it would look, but keep coming back to this one.

I love this work! It makes you think, and that's what is all about!!!!! So go on, Kim, with your trials and errors, you'll find "it", that way or the other!!!!

Thanks for visiting, Ilana!

You're moving away from the comfort zone in photography. . . a powerful image. . . I agree the hands could be a little bit smaller, but the main thing I would like to see would be more anquish in his expression. . .

Donna, since this was just a demo shot I had taken of my son last year, can't do anything more with the expression. I was showing David how the different attachments to a flash work and shot off three pictures of him to show him. Nothing was posed. I've gotten a lot of mileage out of those shots, much to David's dismay. Now that I have this concept, I might someday try to shoot the elements with the final composition in mind. Thanks for commenting.

Hi Kim, I don't know what to say about this one. I love the hands, I love the title, I love the whole idea. I wonder how it would look w/ your son in color..or the hands in b&W. Overall, this is awesome! Very interesting. Looking forward to more!

Thanks, Sarah. These are fun to do, but sometimes I scare myself! Where do these dark ones come from??!!

Hi Kim:

 

I backtracked here from your comment on "Chronic Pain" -- and I'm glad I did!

 

There's no ambiguity about the basic message -- everything conveys the feeling of TRAPPED!! Because of the size and possition of the hands, the feeling I get is that the harder he pushes, the more deeply he becomes entombed.

 

"Where do the dark one's come from?" My opinion: they are as much a part of life as night is a part of each day. --jim