Emptiness
by barbaraanne

Comment by strangeghost:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB
by strangeghost

COMPOSITION
A well lit, wonderfully evocative scene. Your choice of vantage point draws beautiful lines all throughout your photo that naturally lead the eye and draw my interest. The shadows are deep and dark, but still reveal a teasing hint of detail. After wandering over the architectural highlights, my eye is naturally drawn to the photos on the walls. The two at the far end are clearly recognizable as portraits, but who are they? The closer photos on the walls are indecipherable due to the perspective. Your title doesn't leave any clues (but sets the emotional stage). I'm glad I had your photo notes to help me interpret the scene. I'd love to have seen other perspectives that would have shown a few of the miners' faces in some detail, but this would have meant drastically changing your composition.

TECHNIQUE
Nearly perfect. There are a few blown highlights on the upper beams but this hardly matters in a wondrous scene as this. You've captured such perfect earth tones with such a variety of different feels for each wall, the floor, the woodwork, etc. It's all very well done. Textures are visible throughout owing to your excellent focus, deep dof, and near perfect exposure.

OVERALL IMPACT
This is a wonderful photograph and one that you should be very proud to have created. It drips with feeling: loneliness, emptiness (great title), abandonment, etc. Like all great pictures, it suggests stories; poses questions for the viewer. It drew me in and I'm honored to have had the chance to study it closely.

Gerard
by barbaraanne

Comment by Bud:
Classic portrait... everything seems to come together on this. The only negative is the two different background textures creates a "line" through his head.

Gerard
by barbaraanne

Comment by cloverstar:
I must say he is very handsome, especially his eyes. The sharpness is very good.

Gerard
by barbaraanne

Comment by bryantbus:
Nice, good looking guy. I like how he seems to look right at you. Very personal.

Gerard
by barbaraanne

Comment by Tammer:
Nice portrait, I like the...furry thing in the background. Gives the model a rugged kind of look. Good luck in the challenge. 8

Gerard
by barbaraanne

Comment by Elaine:
I think a different background would have been better

Gerard
by barbaraanne

Comment by hideout:
Nice casual pose, but don't like the chosen background, the furry stuff is distracting, still a 6 for above average model choice.

Gerard
by barbaraanne

Comment by madison461:
Such a handsome man. The background detracts from the subject which is a really hot guy! I hope you will retake this photo without the distracting background.

Gerard
by barbaraanne

Comment by mystical_princess:
I wish the background was a little more out of focus and maybe a tad of contrast to help bring him out more.

Gerard
by barbaraanne

Comment by CLarson557:
Very nice portrait. Excellent lighting and pose.