This image is a neutral depiction of a horrendous situation that I would not wish on anyone and is in no way meant to support or decry what is currently happening in Iraq or the greater Middle East. It’s simply an artist’s attempt of conveying a situation or a mood to viewers.
I decided to shoot this image since the idea for it hit me like a sledgehammer when I visited the site. It’s an underground ammunitions room / powder room of an old battery fort that overlooks Halifax Harbour. It’s no longer in use and feels somewhat like a dungeon nowadays. I returned home and debated taking the shot. The next morning I grabbed an old chair we have and I returned to the site and did my shoot. I am the model, using the timer on my camera to take the pre-focused shot.
The light source comes from a fixture in the ceiling. Instead of a standard bulb, they installed a spotlight bulb, which creates the lighting effect seen. No burning of the surrounding room to darken it.
Editing done:
- Adjusted levels to darken the image just a tad
- Colour corrected slightly using Color balance
- Slightly burned the top of my jeans and parts of my shirt showing in the light that were too bright.
- Tweaked brightness and contrast just a bit
- Dodged the face to better see the blindfold
- Resized for submission
- Sharpened with USM
- Adjusted levels to reduce brightening caused by sharpening.
Statistics
Place: 19 out of 92 Avg (all users): 6.3169 Avg (commenters): 7.2083 Avg (participants): 6.2308 Avg (non-participants): 6.3483 Views since voting: 2665 Views during voting: 508 Votes: 243 Comments: 65 Favorites: 19 (view)
The subject, focus, lighting, sense of depth, and perspective (both figurative & literal) all combine beautifully to create an extremely powerful image. Well done.
From the Critique Club:
This is a very strong image and presented with sheer depthness. The composition is classical, the lighting is classical and the subject is not as controversial as it may first appear, because the concept is universal. The topic if hostages runs throughout history and glorified in King Kong. It is a timeless image and would have come out with a ribbon if entered in the waiting, newspaper or open challenges such as the June.
The fact that it finished so high in the portrait challenge speaks of its superior strength. It is a photograph of strong visual impact and most important it moves the emotions despite out self control.
To have placed it in the portrait was to give away the ribbon. Yes, it can pass as a faceless portrait, but the point would have gone over the heads of many and the viewer expected a character study with a visible or discernable face.
I have nothing but praise for your image. There is always something that we wish to change in photos we see. This is perhaps the most complete image I have seen in DPC. I have not seen a ten, but I feel comfortable in placing this image at the top of the heap of DPC.
However, do not feel bad you lost out on this ribbon. You are certainly a force to be reckoned and your talent is certain to show up in future entries, over and over again. Congratulations.
I loved this one the first time I saw it. I didn't get the oppertunity to comment or vote in the challenge. It fits the challenge, and is a very, very powerful image that tells a story. Excellent shot.
Missed the voting on this challenge, but post-browsing through the entries your image really stands out and I'm pretty confident that you would have gotten my single 10 vote for this round. It wouldn't have made much of a difference for you in the end, but you deserve the recognition now that I found it.
Very nice with ppl who dare interpret the challenges a bit different without getting astray from the subject too much. I agree with those who deem it fit.
Don't kick yourself for putting this in the portrait challenge. I saw the huge number of "this is not a portrait" comments and I disagree with every one of them. This is the #1 best done picture in this challenge. Technically this is very good... I was totally and completely rooting for you on this one. It's the picture with the most feeling, the best sense of atmosphere... and it being controversial makes people uncomfortable and makes them question its integrity as a portrait. If you had that person sitting there pondering and looking away from the camera rather than being tied up, people would have understood it a bit better as a "portrait". I personally like it exactly the way it is. Wouldn't change a thing. Good for you for being brave and submitting it anyway.
Thanks for all the comments on this image. This image has netted me the highest number of comments for any of my prior images before contest end.
I knew as soon as the contest started that I had made an error on submitting this for a portrait challenge. I should have kept it for the June Free Study. Oh well, I can't complain since it finished approximately where I had guessed it would score-wise.
I am also not surprised by the 1's, 2's and 3's considering the subject matter and the loose interpretation of the challenge description. No "Why didn't this do better?" post from me. Can't please everyone. This image also has the strangest voter breakdown of any of my prior submitted shots.
First I like this photo, added to my favorites, but just not as a portrait.
Lighting: The most expressive part of the person is the face, and it is hidden in shadows.
Pose: Not really very expressive of the person.
Background: works well.
Not what I would normally consider a portrait, but what I'm hoping was done in a studio and not for real. Nice lighitng, interesting composition and use of negative space make this a nice image to look at!
TC
Lighting and composition well-suited to and reinforce your unusual interpretation. Good job avoiding haloing and artifacts under those lighting conditions.
I really enjoy this photo! The lighting is unique and well done. If I was to change one thing I may have zoomed in a bit tighter. Great job, I think this photo deserves a ribbon!
This shot stands out to me. It isn't a normal portrait. But it is definatly in color, and looks like it is in a studio. The light on the wall distracts me. I want to see more of it or not see it at all. I like the composition, off center works well. Good story shot. Spotlight is good. Nice job.
Obviously a strong image and a well taken shot. Composition suits the theme well with good environment. Should do well - probably in the ribbons. Hostage is quite well dressed though, so a bit more dishevellment would be a nice touch.
I gave this a ten because the subject was so strong emotionally right now, and the lighting is nearly perfect. The pose and setting are also great for the subject matter. This is my top pick of the challenge.
In terms of making it slightly stronger, I might have cropped a little tighter, as the negative space helps, but you have to tradeoff close up of facial expression to get the space, and I think you could give back a little space, maintain the great effect you achieved, and still get a little larger facial area. Just a thought.
The lighting here is absolutely perfect and gives a really gritty feeling of a hostage awaiting his fate. Love it, in the running for a ribbon here I hope. 10
Definitely a cool and original idea with great execution. The negative space and composition emphasizes the feeling of fear and desparity you are trying to convey. The lighting (or lack there of) works well to emphasize the model and theme...... Nice job, I give a 9
WOW! Absolutely stunning and realistic. Harsh directional lighting and negative space exceptionally well done. The hint of detail on the back wall of your "studio" is an added wow! I really hope voters recognize your talent and don't vote on the nature of your subject.
I like the lighting and creativity of this image, the floor was well thought out. This shot gets a 10 from me, but I think others may not find it meets the challenge. Good luck
Interesting choice, especially considering current news headlines. Not sure I would have done it. However you did it very well. I love the simple one light approch, and the backlighting. Placement is very nice as well. I hope it does well! 8
Not what I would consider a formal studio portrait, but you have defininately made your point well. The lighting is nice (for what you're trying to achieve) but I find the light area in the upper right corner distracting from the rest of the photo.
interesting shot but it gives me the creeps. somehow I have this standard opinion that a portrait should bring out the person at its best, and this picture tells nothing about the person. So for a portrait i don't really like it. As a picture it is very powerfull, but scary.
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