I was working on this theme to enter in the "eyes" challenge which ended Feb.5th. I had taken this shot on the 4th, which was the day this one opened. I don't know how that image of the wallpaper showed up on the subject's head. The only light source was a 40 watt lamp on the far side of the room; I didn't use a flash. At 1st I thought it was the light showing the pattern through the fabric, but obviously it couldn't have shown through her head! Later I tried to replicate it with no success. The only editing was cropping, resizing, adjusting lighting, colors & hues, intensity & shadows.
Statistics
Place: 182 out of 188 Avg (all users): 4.2356 Avg (commenters): 7.6667 Avg (participants): 4.1045 Avg (non-participants): 4.3178 Views since voting: 926 Views during voting: 355 Votes: 174 Comments: 7 Favorites: 0
First Impressions I remember seeing this image during the challenge and my first thought at that time was "uh-oh, this isn't a reflecting surface" (from the challenge description: "Creatively photograph a reflecting surface that is not a mirror..."). From the title I gathered what direction you were coming from as the photographer, and while I applauded the courage for creative thinking, I was not surprised to see the end results when the challenge had ended.
Looking a bit deeper The ghosting effect could go two ways:
1) The intent could be read as she (the subject) is fading away and becoming non-existent from the "Oppression" as indicated in the title. Seen this way, the ghosting is quite clever and would be a positive to anyone that picked that up. Problem is, from my experience here at DPC, a ghosting/fade effect is hard to use effectively in a photo that pleases the majority of voters. Many don't take the time to contemplate the smaller details, and this effect (ghosting) gets lost unless the context of the challenge merits it (spiritual themes, etc...).
2) It could be considered a mistake, or misunderstood as to how the effect was accomplished.
Based on your comments in the "Photographer's Comments" section, it appears that you're not sure of how this ghosting look happened. Looking at the shutter speed of 1 second that you have listed in the details makes me wonder how it happened also. :-) From what I've read (no personal experience), an intentional ghosting effect is done with a longer shutter speed, opening the shutter with the subject in place, then covering the lens with a dark object (black paper, etc...) while the subject moves out of the frame, then continue the exposure long enough without the subject to record the background area. Or reverse the process (start without subject, cover and place subject, then uncover and finish exposure).
If viewers/voters came across your photo and didn't catch the ghosting part of it, they may have just considered it a little blurry and not well taken. A couple of technical points could also lower the score with the noise that's evident in the face and robe, and the reddish cast of the lighting indicating that the white balance was not set correctly.
Ultimately, in the end I think the reason for the low score was the expectation from voters to see some sort of reflection from a reflecting surface - meaning you were probably tagged with DNMC (Did Not Meet Challenge) votes.
I like your creative thinking, and wish you the best of luck in upcoming challenges here at DPC.
Questions? Feel free to PM me for clarification. Thanks!
My guess is that she moved before your shutter closed. I love that this effect looks like a reflection without being one. This picture reminds me of Medieval/Byzantine icons.
Almost called this a shoehorn shot, but the pattern of the wallpaper on her forehead indicates this is indeed a reflection. I'd like to know how you did this. I hope you detail how you captured this image in the accompanying notes for the entry.
This reminds me of the story Yellow Wallpaper. See how the wallpaper has entered her mind? This strange frightening photo deserves at least a Posthumous Red Ribbon.
I can't decide whether I think this is extraordinary, or whether I think this banal. One could get all philosophical and say that its very banality is profound. Ideas of melting into the background, of simplicity, of being very very apposite to our times. The mystery of that expression is the killer at the moment - that's what makes it. I'll go for the former, I think. And whoever challenged it's legitimacy needs their head examining.
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