so- here's what I thought. The candles seemed to have been arranged according to some dimensions of the room they were in. Were this a self portrait with the camera on a tripod I believe that much more attention would have been paid to their positioning in the frame. I don't understand why the three in the foreground aren't aligned with the eight in the background (which seem to be so carefully placed). Also, why do the lights go out of the frame on the left while the model goes out of the frame on the right? Once again the careful placement of the eight votive candles in the back causes me to want a formal structure in the composition causing all the other elements placement to seem haphazard. The lighting gives a sense of mystery to the shot that is killed by the presence of the white doors in the background. Suddenly I realize that we are in an apartment with shag carpeting. I feel that lowering the camera angle to minimize the texture and amount of the carpet and disguising the back wall with perhaps a draped material would allow me to escape the mundane realities of this environment. I have had encounters in environments like this and invariably everyone involved came away with rug burns. I need/want/require my fantasies to be sexier than that. I would use the placement of the candles to lead the viewer into the image. Perhaps even having some (one?) looming very large and out of focus fuzzy in the foreground. Show me the entire body or have a reason why you didn't. For sure try to get a tad bit of light on the background behind her so that I can make out that fabulous shock of hair and perhaps the curve of her shoulder and hip. And lastly? Choose all black wardrobe or all white wardrobe or get rid of it all together. No mixing and matching. No plaids or bows. I think that this situation surrounding the production of this image is one that I myself would have liked to have been in. That in itself makes it a very successful image. I for one find amateur efforts much more provocative than professional ones and if for no other reason than that you should ignore everything I have suggested. What do you think Greg? r Gregory Fraser wrote: > > Well now Antonio, the title of the image is 'Portrait' not 'Self Portrait' so you really don't know what you're getting us into. Having said that though, it does involve fire and probably very loud tribal drums so what the hey! Left leg blue! >
