Xena Holloway: No title again... sigh

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The rule of thirds is prominent here, and good thing too. If this was centered it would have lost that neat edge. How this was shot, I don't know. But I am glad they did, it is very simple yet captures your mind. I imagine some fall prey to the idea more than others, with the subject being a mermaid and all. somehow, despite us knowing that this type of creature can breathe underwater, she seems to be drowning. Regardless of what is happening, the scary depth of the ocean is conveyed, and that is very unnerving to think about...

Black Hyena: Untitled

This photo is really dark. Appropriately so, but i still find it a tad bit off-putting. The subject is fascinating though, despite being mostly a form with no detail. But that one detail of the horns instantly draw attention and interest. As soon as we see that it is not human, there is that depth in concept created. The background gives isolation, and the snow loneliness and a sense of survival. Perhaps she was banished... we don't know. And that intrigues us.

Mert Alas and Marcus Pigott

Once more, this one tells a story. IN this case, the story is very powerful. We have some typical things reversed too, a neat concept. The expected roles of each person is incredibly reversed. We feel sympathy for the male, but have no idea if he is innocent or deserves it. The blood is a fantastic touch, to give it that real sense of brutality. This seems to be drawn from horror movies and the like, given the setting, and the entire shoot is somewhat interesting.

Jvdas Berra: Untitled

Water is always cool. Underwater shots in dresses are haunting on nearly every occasion. But in a ballroom? This is different. Perhaps it is set on the titanic, or some river overflowed. Hard to tell. Posing is great, giving a feel of both helplessness and succumbing to her fate. The water brings interest to the light on her skin, as the shadow are frozen in place. The dress billows and flows, and who knows how long that took to get to stay still. Overall a very aesthetically pleasing piece.

MIchael O'Sullivan: Giselle

The coolest photos, as we know, tell a story. This one is a bit more blatant about it though, with obvious subjects with a familiar feel, as if we have seen this before. The fog provides an end in the background, which to be honest I don't particularly like. The colors in the costumes work very well, and the dancer in the background could either be a shadow or maybe something sinister.

Bertil Nilsson: Untitled

The use of color to draw in your eye, and the choice of red is very smart, as it bring connotations. Being by the ocean, we recognize danger beyond what has already happened, and we can only guess as too whether or not he is still alive.  The gray beach and white water do an excellent job of keeping the tone moody and let the eye focus. Center is not bugging me here, but I would like to see some other crops of this shot.

Jamie Nelson: Elle Vietnam

Also mildly desaturated is this photo, but the colors are more prominent than the smoker below. This one, as opposed to apathy, has disguised movement. I do wonder how they got the cloth in the right place, and it probably involved a rather large fan. We can see a tiny bit of the shadows to tell us where the legs are and that they are out for balance, or in motion. Either way. we have implied movement, despite her somewhat restful pose with the upper half of her body.

Eugenio Recuenco: Picasso

This photo was chosen for the old feel, and the apathy shown. The tones of the walls match the tones of the dress and skin, and everything seems desaturated. Her position is one of indifference, and it looks like she only cares about the smoke for the time being. Composition is fine too, and the off-center works more than most for this image. It simply makes you stop and stare , albeit briefly.

Marcin Ryczek: Man feeding Swans

 As opposed to the last couple of photos, this one is not photoshopped, but rather extremely lucky.I don't know how often that edge is found naturally, and I assume it is because we cannot tell whether it is man-made or not. The bird congregate in the normal fashion, but the great mix of black and white make that side interesting. The other side is significantly less busy, but is well matched in contrast. The photo itself is the current crown jewel for Macin's business, and has gone a little bit viral. 

Karim Fakhoury: Animus

The last of Karim's pieces, I chose this one because it is a bit difficult to pick out what was in the original photo and what was not. I am tempted to say that the figure and background are all from the same photo, but judging from the rest, that is probably not the case. The idea of motion is very present here, matching the name animus, and the diagonal lines on the person give a very temporary feel. The additional content such asthe ring and the stars is kept to a relative minimum without loosing quality, a welcome change in pace.

Karim Fakhoury: Paint your future

Massive photoshop here, but it is not supposed to be hidden, aside from the smooth transitions and blending. The subject is well equipped in regards to facial structure for this photo, so a good model choice, a strong feature. All of the items are well integrated, and the idea behind the piece is conveyed effectively.  Color is spot-on, and the galaxy feel just continues to add to the effect. very cool indeed.

Karim Fakhoury: New Era

This one reminds me of the Myst series (A trend with me, deal with it ;D). The figure and the foreground are original, but the background and the reflections are no doubt added in. With lots of of work on the lighting as well. Subject placement is fine, but the real beauty lies in the surroundings, so that is not a point of interest. The whole theme is really cool though, and this has been added to my background folder. 

Karim Fakhoury: Departed Soul

Another one of Karim's photos, this one began as a lonely field, on a bland sky. Obviously that is no longer the case. The rocks, mountain, sun, deer, all of that have been added, and I must say look reasonably natural. I say reasonably because how often do you get that mess in the antlers. The light work is what is amazing, as the deer has the correct highlights and everything. Very neat, very skilled.

Karim Fakhoury: Genesis

I am gonna give you a warning: I found an artist I love, and I am going to exploit it. So yeah, expect more posts about Karim. This is part of a Illustrative Portfolio, where the picture is taken and the details added. The original photo is the figure on a rather blank background; the smoke and animals have been added. This whole series is a very cool application of Photoshop, In addition to regular photography. The model posed fantastically, allowing for the Illustrations to be easily drawn no doubt.

Inna Mathews: Untitled

Taken at Piedmont Cemetery  this picture has fascinating colors involved. The black of the subject, contrasted by her blonde hair, which goes with the light green in the background, all combine beautifully. Shadows fall wonderfully, and the balloons have an adequate amount of highlights. As far as concept, the balloons are an odd touch, not something you normally see at a funeral or in a cemetery.   But the addition of those items lets the subject have a nice lean, and balances the piece.

Utilitarian Photo by Erwin Olaf

Okay, she looks creepy, and in charge. In charge for a reason. Perhaps she is the daughter of the commander? Who knows. But that leather dress does well in the light, and her hair is perfectly shaped for the photo. I get the impression that someone found this dress and felt the need to use it. Her arm placement is what makes her seem important, despite her size in contrast to the chair she sits within. Best of all, she is not seen from a direct angle, but from this fabulous side view. Now if only she would stop staring, it's rather creepy.

Witchhunt(?) Carrie Angel of Lunnaesque

Out of all the ones posted so far, I think this has the strongest story element. The costuming is fitting, and the cage is very interesting visually and concept-wise. Then the green mist is curious, adding a flair of witchcraft perhaps. Jagged rocks denote a distant land, and the clouds are gradient-ed accordingly. The pose is reminiscent of somebody fleeing another, so this could be a witchhunt. Interesting historical inclusion, should my assumption be correct. Now, excuse me while I get lost in the landscape.

Irvin Riviera's somewhat sexually charged photo

I do wish some of these had titles. But alas, I cannot find them. Anyways, this one is neat technically and interpretation-wise. The sky is unnaturally green, but it blends well with the subjects and their surroundings, without the need for sky. The sun has been toned down to an appropriate level, but still leaving glare in choice locations. the blurring is well done, letting you get the idea but still have a presence. There are many ways to see this photo, ranging from tribal to interpretative. I leave you with your own.

Irina Istratova: FlexDreams

Some pictures grab your attention, and some suck it in like a visual black hole. This one stopped me from scrolling rather instantly, and I find it really neat. The light balance in this is wonderful, and really accentuates the wrappings on the body. There is a tasteful amount hanging off, and the dark dress of the standing woman gives a fashion contrast. The window keeps the background interesting, and that leaves us to look at and wonder about what is happening, and how they managed this shot. I assume the dress, but I don't know for certain. Anyways, a neat supernatural piece for your enjoyment.

Victoria Stutz's Work

The reason I chose this particular image is the brilliant idea of using the wet hair to add line and interesting shapes to the figure. The hair is obviously not naturally that close, nor that smooth, but you just don't particularly care. It becomes more natural around the shoulders, and then you notice the other parts of the composition. The background is a transition that is not noticed at first, but then is very apparent. The thing that is curious, is that she has lipstick on, despite being in a shower situation. Or perhaps she is not, and instead we are in the latest action movie, and she got out of the ocean... or something. Something along those lines.

Beata Ryden Profile #2

Wow, the colors on this. I love the sweeping fabric, a vibrant red that flows inexplicably in the unnatural wind. The forest is also atypical in coloration, with cool colors and a spooky vibe. The bubble around her head is the real focus. It could mean a few things, but most dominantly isolation, and protection. Perhaps she is in a hostile situation, where the air is toxic. It is not space travel, her arms are open to elements, so one doesn't know what to think. But colors are excellent, with the right amount of haze.  

Beata Ryden Photography Profile picture

Once again, the name escapes me. But look at this amazing shot. A touch of sci-fi, some fantasy, and a figure that reminds some of Stevie Nicks, all build together nicely. The sunlight is actually very picturesque, giving her a tasteful halo, and keeping the background muted. The spheres are what make this so fascinating though, and one wonders how they were placed. More importantly, what purpose does this maiden and the spheres have? It does certainly bring up questions, and I would love to see the answers.

A piece from Magnetic Threads: Puspa Lohmeyer

This one I enjoy for the simplicity of the setup. A simple headband turns a simple portrait into a edgy piece. This is not a typical style you see in public, (barring the pop culture), and she seems to despise you for looking. The light on the wall reminds us of the reflections, and it brings some highlights into the piece. There is a tasteful blur in the background, barely noticeable, but there. As far as composition goes, no immediate problems, so enjoy the photo.

I can't find the name, but it is by Puspa Lohmeyer

It falls prey to centered. I don't like that decision. However the setting and costuming are great, and the clothing almost complements the wall decor. This larger-than-life headdress gives a notion of nobility, but her surroundings dictate otherwise. So perhaps an exotic dancer on a break? But then there is the punching bag in the background, so what is she exactly? This may be explained in the name, should one be able to find it. But there is a great amount of mystery in this photo, and  like it as such

Private Moon #6: Leonid Tishkov

This is an excellent use of a prop. The entire 6-part series is spectacular, but this one stands out. The lines given by the roof, and emergence from the floor, and the clutter of the space work wonderfully. Normally the clutter would seem busy, but it is united in one shadowy-blue color scheme, all leading back to the obvious focus. It is centered, but not criminally.

Cotton Candy: Cadeography

Having worked with photoshop's levels for a bit now, I now can recognize the use of the blue slider to give color variation and to off-set the pink that is so present. The model has very interesting makeup, and even hints at the blue in the eyes, and this is carried into the outside. She lies on dead leaves, so perhaps this is trying to be a fall thing, such as when the carnival comes to town? 

Masquerade: Cadeography

By far, one of the coolest masks ever. A bit ostentatious, but very, very cool. The whole picture feels like a modern interpretation of the traditional masquerades, and this guy got caught late night, in a back corner. The way his eyes are are indicative of the unexpected. The  levels on this are effective, highlighting the form enough to see the black gloss of the mask, but also letting there be a darkened rim of sorts, giving a nice contrast. The tattoos also give a nice texture to the front arm, letting this picture feel complete. 

Lara Mcone: Blaze Diaries (Sebastian Troncoso)

This piece was chosen because of the use of blur. The subject seems shrouded by the smoke, which blurs what it covers, but then we almost see a clear image where the smoke is not. The clothing on the model is also unique at least from what we see of it. The title insinuates a greater plot, or an over-arching storyline. From there, it would seem tat this is some old-style detective adventure with a female protagonist. I think this  is very effective at portraying a story, and it also catches the eye.

Unnamed, Elena Alferova

Going right along with the given theme, the first I found was this beauty. THe thing that catches the eye the most, whether you realize it or not, is the contrast in the subject vs. the background. The figure is young and smooth, the back old and rusty. As far as colors go, the whole piece is unified in some form of gradient, starting with her hair color and branching out. This, combined with the faded edges gives a neat feel that I think makes this so mysterious, a vibe built upon with her expression, and the appearance of being up to no good.

Colors all Around: Philip Schumacher

This photo is hopefully indicative of the theme for this blog. I will be focusing on figures, and something more dramatic than the standard landscape. I chose this one to start up because it is a mix of light and dark themes, with the colors showing a festival(perhaps?), but the expression being unfit for such an occasion. The hair color really pops out against the darkened and cool colored face, which also differentiates itself by the very same colors. It is somewhat centered, but I do not think this detracts from the photo much, and a simple crop could fix the issue if you must.