Well done :: A bit dark - but that is the mood, eh? :: Might have been more effective with some more punch to the text - maybe a little contrast boost? << 8 >>
This looks like a really nice shot--I assume that you wanted to keep it a bit dark on purpose, but I think that it's too dark--I have to struggle to make out what's on the signs. You could of taken advantage of the advanced rules to brighten certain things while keeping others darker--could've created a stronger contrast too.
Wonderful title... at first I thought you made it up as it sounded "period" but then I saw it on the poster after looking again. It really emphasizes how chilling it is that human beings could be sold so unflinchingly as to allow the sellers to say "oh yeah, we've got some, uh, fabric and stuff too". Choice of black and white is almost essential here. The other choice would have been sepia - color just would not work for this historic feeling shot. I like how the first word "slaves" is partly covered up by the window.. almost as if to say that there is embarassment that such a thing as selling people could happen. I think the composition would have been better with more context - part or all of the window frame showing - but then of course the words could not be read, and I prefer to read the words rather than see the window frame. As a nice touch, it looks like ship rigging in the reflection? Keeps in historical context.
I hope that the voters do not penalize this shot because they think it is offensive - the act is offensive but my feeling is that this photo is not. The full value of the shot was very much something I had to spend time to appreciate. I did not get everything at first glance and I am afraid that many people will pass this shot by without thinking about it as much as they could. Good luck in the challenge.
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