This photo is very intriguing, and I really love the whole effect that multiple little (deliberate or otherwise) parts of this picture lend to it all.
Firstly, the color: Or rather, the distinct lack of color in most areas of the shot, give this piece a sense of extension to what might be going on in the subject's mind: a stillness that has occurred, a sense of tensity due to a realization, to lose the color in the air and in the face as the next moves seem critical.
(Please excuse me if my interpretations are completely off the wall - sometimes they are!
)
I also very much like the expression on the subject's face - it is pretty much perfect for the shot and in many ways completes the shot. I've seen many technically sound photos such as this that were anticlimactically ruined because everything was perfect but the subject's expression. It's the bow on top: as important as everything else, and maybe even more important than the package it wraps up and completes. For this, I am appreciative.
I have to say, the very next thing that draws me to this one is the use of lines all over the piece in such a wonderful way. First and obviously, the multitude of lines a house of cards affords, going in all directions while maintaining a studious structured whole; yet the best part about it is the subject's sweater - which lends both a crazily harmonious dissection of the right third of the photo with the line the edge of the hood and continuously, the zipper creates. And to top that off, there's the many horizontal black lines all over in a gapped (sic?) pattern that compliment the horizontal lines in the house of cards. Having both the diagonal and the horizontal lines in the house of cards complimented by one single garment of clothing is fantastic and rather hard to achieve, and that makes me happy.
Also, I must comment on the rather well executed contrast of white and dark space near the bottom and left of the photo. Whether it was intentional or not, the all-important white space in this shot really gives it the free feeling that it has, the non-confined feeling that you can empathize with as it comes from the thoughts - through the expression - of the subject. That seems to be a subtle, but again, rather important aspect of the shot, that I think you've done very well.
Lastly - the great little quirk about this shot - is that interesting little red and white checkered ribbon! It couldn't have been an accident, its presence, no - it must mean something, and what it adds to this shot is again, a quirk, but also creates a curiosity which seeks to satisfy the question of what it means in the larger scheme of the shot. The subject is holding up a house of cards, and staring at it as if he is unable to procure a solution to his conundrum - and yet, what is that little ribbon there for? Those little quirks really make me giggle, because they totally refocus your attention and make you appreciate the depth of the shot, while doing what any good lover does - leaving more to the imagination.
Overall, this picture is one to be celebrated due to its fantastical technical achievements, the wonderful subject whom has played his part perfectly, the quirkiness of the shot, and for being overall a very unique and well done shot. Good work.
Firstly, the color: Or rather, the distinct lack of color in most areas of the shot, give this piece a sense of extension to what might be going on in the subject's mind: a stillness that has occurred, a sense of tensity due to a realization, to lose the color in the air and in the face as the next moves seem critical.
(Please excuse me if my interpretations are completely off the wall - sometimes they are!
) I also very much like the expression on the subject's face - it is pretty much perfect for the shot and in many ways completes the shot. I've seen many technically sound photos such as this that were anticlimactically ruined because everything was perfect but the subject's expression. It's the bow on top: as important as everything else, and maybe even more important than the package it wraps up and completes. For this, I am appreciative.
I have to say, the very next thing that draws me to this one is the use of lines all over the piece in such a wonderful way. First and obviously, the multitude of lines a house of cards affords, going in all directions while maintaining a studious structured whole; yet the best part about it is the subject's sweater - which lends both a crazily harmonious dissection of the right third of the photo with the line the edge of the hood and continuously, the zipper creates. And to top that off, there's the many horizontal black lines all over in a gapped (sic?) pattern that compliment the horizontal lines in the house of cards. Having both the diagonal and the horizontal lines in the house of cards complimented by one single garment of clothing is fantastic and rather hard to achieve, and that makes me happy.
Also, I must comment on the rather well executed contrast of white and dark space near the bottom and left of the photo. Whether it was intentional or not, the all-important white space in this shot really gives it the free feeling that it has, the non-confined feeling that you can empathize with as it comes from the thoughts - through the expression - of the subject. That seems to be a subtle, but again, rather important aspect of the shot, that I think you've done very well.
Lastly - the great little quirk about this shot - is that interesting little red and white checkered ribbon! It couldn't have been an accident, its presence, no - it must mean something, and what it adds to this shot is again, a quirk, but also creates a curiosity which seeks to satisfy the question of what it means in the larger scheme of the shot. The subject is holding up a house of cards, and staring at it as if he is unable to procure a solution to his conundrum - and yet, what is that little ribbon there for? Those little quirks really make me giggle, because they totally refocus your attention and make you appreciate the depth of the shot, while doing what any good lover does - leaving more to the imagination.
Overall, this picture is one to be celebrated due to its fantastical technical achievements, the wonderful subject whom has played his part perfectly, the quirkiness of the shot, and for being overall a very unique and well done shot. Good work.