Thanks, Jeff, for your modeling assistance. I know it was tough!
Set-up: A big bamboo blind hung up over a pole in the kitchen. Sheet hung up about 2 m behind that to eliminate distracting elements on the wall. A 500W tungsten studio light shining at the sheet. The 2 models near the screen.
Post-processing: Levels. Curves to enhance contrast. Channels Mixer to change to monochrome. Color Balance to give photo a warm tone. Experimented with blurs, but decided they didn't enhance the photo. Border.
Statistics
Place: 7 out of 165 Avg (all users): 6.5607 Avg (commenters): 8.3000 Avg (participants): 6.4750 Avg (non-participants): 6.6344 Views since voting: 14549 Views during voting: 298 Votes: 173 Comments: 16 Favorites: 4 (view)
This image is about the viewer intruding during an simple, intimate moment between two people; you want to look but feel you shouldn’t. There is something voyeuristic about looking at such a loving, private embrace, but the emotions the moment evoke override that sense of guilt. As photographers we are all aware of the thin line between capturing an image and invading someone’s privacy and this image reflects that issue perfectly, even though it is posed.
The eye is drawn to the man’s eye and then to that kiss and is then held. The fact that the eye is held there gives the illusion of a long, passionate but tender kiss that lasts till the viewer moves his gaze. This in turn creates a sense of peace or calm within the viewer as though time is slowing down somehow.
The lovely muted colour in the picture gives a sense of warmth echoing the intimacy and feeling of the image. This is enhanced by the lighting, which has a lovely and appropriate soft quality creating just the right atmosphere. The lighting combined with the correct exposure has ensured there is just enough light on the couple to give enough detail to hold the viewer’s interest longer and to make them look more closely: Any darker and the detail would be lost and the feeling changed. Any lighter and the feeling of intimacy would be lost.
The light in the image gets darker as we move from left to right, which almost creates the optical illusion or impression that the woman is slowly steering her partner backwards into a darker, more private room.
The blind offers great texture and creates a necessary barrier between the viewer and the couple. Its horizontal and vertical lines give the image a dynamism that turns a good picture into a great one. The horizontal lines in particular give a sense of movement and keep the eye moving from left to right.
There is a great balance between the positive and negative space.
This is an excellent image that fulfils the challenge perfectly. It captures a moment of intimacy in a subtle and evocative way.
This is a very well composed entry. The only concern I have is that for an outside looking in I would expect to see some visual clues to help. Either the frame that the reed curtain is in, on a hint of some objects in the room.
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