Every maori face tattoo is unique to that person. they can tell a lot about where you come from and who you are.
Natural side lighting through a window.
Converted to black & white. contrast. rotated. darkened down corners. sharpness. noiseware.
Green hue added to tie in with tiki (stone used in maori jewellery).
resize. sharpness. save for web.
rotated.
Statistics
Place: 79 out of 684 Avg (all users): 6.2645 Avg (commenters): 7.3846 Avg (participants): 6.1981 Avg (non-participants): 6.4844 Views since voting: 7824 Views during voting: 396 Votes: 276 Comments: 31 Favorites: 2 (view)
Hi, my name is Christian; I’m from the critique club, and WOOHOO! I love this image. As I said when I commented on it during voting. So...
The subject works very well, serious, beautiful, yet not threatening. Rather than a possible arrogance which could be shown in the face of a traditional warrior, there is instead dignity, wisdom and gravitas. A hint of sorrow?
The focus on the eyes is superb, with a detail and limpidity that make them seem truly alive.
The composition works very well; the tight crop really insisting we look into the subject’s eyes, making the connection. The lines of the tattoo bring you in and through to the eyes, on an unending loop. Which I’m sure was the original intent in traditional facework like this. The lines of the tattoo themselves are lovely, and they work in such harmony with his face.
The tones work well, a full tonal range, leaning toward the contrasty. Very nice indeed.
While some may have not agreed with the green cast, I find it quite effective. Despite his overwhelming humanity, the green does separate him, make him slightly otherworldly. Monumental.
I gave you a 7 during voting. I wish I would have had time to go back through for a second viewing as I would have definitly bumped this up to at least a 9. Very well done IMO.
there is much i do like about this portrait; principally it's the intensity, the unflinching stare at the camera. and the artwork on the face is fantastically intricate and detailed; why don't kids get this sort of thing done instead of tigers, hmm? much more interesting. so dark (in spirit) too. things i'm not particularly keen on is the choice of green (he looks a bit queasy), the lack of any discernable body to give context and placing of the head, and also how the sharpness gets lost around the chin. also; i'm in two minds about the narrow crop - i imagine it does intensify both attention to and the appearance of the face, but it draws attention to the fiddly border, and make me feel claustrophibic. i just realised that the guy sacrificed his eye brows for this shot! i had given you a 7, but due to this realisation, lifting to an 8! wow!
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