Unfortunately, I only just now saw this picture. Had I seen it during the challenge, it would have been atleast a 9!
This is a truly stunning work! (It's taken me about ten minutes to write this message because I keep scrolling up for another look!) This piece could easily grace the wall of ANY gallery.
This image has a lot going for it. First the pose...it just doesn't look it. The subject looks natural in the setting and appears as if deep in contemplation. Very emotive expression on his face that can lead in many directions depending on your mood when viewing. He appears relaxed and unaware he is being photographed.
The lighting is very well done. There are no glares or dark spots and the lack of strong shadows really helps set the mood of the shot. Even with the processing to fit the challenge there is a lot of detail left to see. Makes you almost feel as if you, the viewer, are right there with him.
Another of the strong features is the color palette the shot is comprised of. Excellent choices for shirt and background. They go well with the skin and hair tones. Nothing harsh or drastic which adds greatly to the composition.
Composition/perspective is was very well chosen. The profile really works here. In my opinion a head on shot of this just would not be as strong. Excellent choice. I like the tight crop here as well. Really helps bring out the strength of the pose and keeps you focused and wondering what he may be focusing on. I get the feeling, even without the title - strictly from the shot - that he is an artist looking over the last few details of paint just added to a canvas.
Forgeting the challenge requirements for a moment and looking at the processing...the grain definitely adds to the picture. It gives it a feel and texture, that along with the other qualities, just draws you in. Some areas look like they have more added than others but the mix works.
Overall very well done portrait. I honestly cannot find an aspect I don't appreciate. Very nice work!
Beautiful image, great post-processing. Certainly looks like a painter. Want to hear my one nitpick? I'll put it in parenthesis (in case you want to ignore it). (I wish you would have picked a different shirt, one of those white poet shirts with gathers at the shoulders and a floppy collar - I think it would have completed the image).
Neil; I'm so glad yours made top 20 but wished for higher - I also wanted to say thanks for the tech I used your spinning camera trick for my grain entry.
I hope you don't get masacred by all the purists on this site love the fx you applied looks like something straight out of one of my books of works by the great masters. Nicely done. 9
Really loved this picture. Looks so much like a painting, and definitely gives a feel of an artist thinking about his work. The only thing that might have supported the image better was perhaps a brush in his hand, to really match the title, or maybe placing an unfinished canvas behind him as a background.
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