Stroke

That angle works. She looks a little overexposed but I dig it.

not sure if it was intentional, but the arm and the out of field lamp post are excellent together like this.

I'm not sure how you feel about it, but I think the lamp post really gets in the way of this otherwise nice shot.

Nice, but it would have been better without the lamp post.

I disagree about the comments on the lamp post not belonging in the photograph; in my opinion, the lamp post becomes an abstract visual element (a 'stroke') which makes use of the open space behind the subject and adds a lovely dynamic to the compostition. Even the title of the photo seems play on the dual meaning of 'the stroke'---the subject stroking her hair and the visual stroke that is made in the compostion by the out-of-focus lamp post. For those of you who believe the photo would have been 'better' without the lamp post, please try to visualize this compostion without the lamp post---it would instantly become boring.

Thank you for your critique of thie photo "Sroke". I Would like to

know what you think in the form of comment and rating. I thank you

for all of your attention as I am pleased to take photographs and am

even more pleased to have them viewed by as many people as do view

all the wonderfull works on this webpage. The stroke was taken as a

part of my new admiration for street photography with a 35mm camera

on a summers day in Toronto Canada. Please tell me what you think of

this photo. I must say that although marks are great, words are even

better as they are better at explaining a viewers tasted rather than

a simple blind number rating that often begs a "why?"

Thanks. Babatunde Martins

I agree that the lamp post / arm position juxtaposition is interesting in a co-incidental way, but it doesn't make this a good photograph. I don't think it would be much better without the lamp, just more unbalanced. I'm not sure what redeeming qualities this photo has at all. The black dress disappears into the black shadow at bottom left, and the bridge of her nose is a perfect match for the contentious lamp post. She gives us no personality, but rather we get a cold shoulder. The out of focus building and empty street give us no sense of place and the tilt lends no dynamism, but instead makes me think it's an accidental frame, exposed as the camera was slung over the photographers shoulder as he prepared to cross the street for a better angle... t (sorry) Your tilted girl image was much better

excellently captured moment!