Divinas Palabras ( Divine words )

This capture is from the final scene of the theatrical play " Divine Words "," Divinas Palabras" by Spanish (Galician) playwright Don Ramon Del Valle-Inclan.

 

...Mari-Gaila ( the wife of the priest Pedro Gailo ) is introduced to the Seventh Miau, a mysterious fellow who has the ability (he says) to see into the future. They fall in love and begin an affair. When their affair is discovered, Mari-Gaila's world falls apart as she is tortured by the locals. Pedro Gailo, her husband arrives and save her from the crowd but then he attempts to kill her . At the last moment he changes his mind.

Comments please.

The shot has actually perpetuated a facial expression overcome by a blend of awe, fear, amazement. The man's intense almost obsessed focus on the blade is the strongest feature of this shot magnifying the importance of the blade as a central theme. Funny how mankind is under the command and authority of the non-living no matter how small they maybe. The right hand has tightly clutched the blade while the other hand is intimidatedly hesitant whether to touch such an object as if it were a snake able to sting. The shot has nicely portrayed human being under the obsessive influence of a tiny object which has acquired the distinct character of its own, as if of discretion power whether to let live or die.

 

The vanishing of the clothes into the background here is a powerful feature of this exceptional shot. The only remaining elements are the face and the hands- an appropriate deviation from reality to symbolize the motifs.

The only drawback that pulls me out of the depth of this shot is the ungainly reflection of Flash on the player's forehead. Couldn't you possibly turn it off? I know it would then be hard to blot out the clothes, but That reflection makes this shot absorb reality which is an undesirable effect here.

Arash thank you very much for your very interesting and creative critique. Unfortunately there is very low light and I couldn't capture anything without flash. You are very right that the flash light destroys the magic of the scene.

Great shot! Black background and black clothes merging into each other, works very well. The eyes are in good focus and is sparkling - works very well also. Excellent!

I chanced the original with this new manipulated in PS. I believe there is no flashing any more.

My friend, what are you doing with our eyes; this is pure manipulation! Best regards, Catalin

Excellent and dramatic capture,Michael. Merging of his black robe with the bachground ,makes a 3D effect.

Nice work Mixali

A bit scary, and very effective, Michael! Though if I haven't read your comments, I would have thought there is some madness involved, as a knife is mistaken for divine words :)

Very nice work, Michael!

Excellent work on the three photos Michael. Congrats.

Great lighting technique, well done :)

Thanks for your warm comments.