leslie_cheung

First, let me say that the composition, light isn't bad. It's good but not anything special imo...Sure, it is tech well done. Good job! Having said that, it's just doesn't strike me as interesting...

Go to any beach in a liberal or moderate Islamic country such as Malaysia, Indonesia, or, say, Turkey and you will see the photo isn't rare at all. Most muslims women are all dressed up on the beach. Yes, they go into the water fully dress if they go in at all. They don't look at people in the face/eyes, especially caucasians women in a bikini. Heck, they always look down, even toward me...and I'm Asian in t-shirt and pants. The elder leads and younger ones follow and most of them are on their mobile/cell phone chattin' it away.

Anyways, I find the American and Muslim culture both strikingly similar. They are wasteful, excessive, Masculine to the core, and drive like maniacs in their huge SUV (with music way too loud)...the sad fact (big, big irony)is that they just don't know it yet. As for the photo, it shows how they (Muslims/Caucasian) just ignore each other, if anything. For me. it just a random (but well done) shot, another day on the beach. I could understand how the typical American will eat it up or find it worthy and "immediately recognizable." I personally find the title "Close Encounter of the Third Kind" belittling, alienating, if anything...

Got me, probably because it's rare for the average American audience to see these subjects?

The exposure is good.

It is of no interest photo wise. No great composition, no great light, no great impact, no subtlety, no message, nothing...

The photographer could get closer, among other things...

damn!! a POW that i actually like. very very nice. the foreground

blur adds to the photo imo. elves: put some more not so pretty photos

in POW please!