[Pavel]

I am not going to say anything now - I want to hear your reaction - please be blunt (and Zig, if you consider responding - simple language so that I have some notion of what you are talking about - otherwise i will respond in Czech)


needless to say, this is way out of my comfort zone - so i do not know what to think

[NT73]

Are you in orbit?
It is quite an interesting effect, but I find I am trying to decipher the globe.
The Mona Lisa on the left is interesting. Rather like an old masters style painting.

[Don Schaeffer]

why are you so uncomfortable about this? It's just a neat photo--well done.

[enviroguy]

Pavel, don't fret. Your latest work is very eclectic which is a really good thing; I know that this variety is making you happy and you certainly are not getting stale with your images. I find this one to be very interesting visually with good lighting and attractive toning. I am a bit disturbed with the crop, since the top and right side of the sphere appear to be touching the edges of the frame as if they were stuck there. However, I suspect that you did this purposely as part of your intent, since you rarely do anything by accident. So, the aquare format seems to work well.

Oh, I just noticed the person in the background, apparently also absorbed with the globe. A nice touch to add a bit of interest.

Regards.....Dennis

[Toad]

Very nice work, Pavel. I enjoy the way that your reflection in the globe is basically sepia and how that sepia toning fades to color in the real world.

How could this photo be better than it is already?

1. As previously mentioned, a little breathing room for the globe on the top and right sides would help. It feels pretty tight as is.

2. Perhaps a slightly stronger focal point within the globe's reflection. Ideally - another view of your figure on the left.

Just my $.02

[Pavel]

Another version.

Thank you all for comments.

@NT - The woman is indeed an important part of my photo. I waited patiently until she finally walked into my photo. I am glad you spotted that. Including her made the composition even harder than it would have been otherwise. The photo is meant to stimulate your imagination - putting me in orbit would qualify.

@Don - Thanks - this is a long way from landscapes - so I am trying my baby steps. Over time I may feel clearer about where I am going.

@Dennis - yes as you know I have a ball as i always do when I try something new (ish) for me.

@Robert - Thank you. I know what you mean about the tight crop - The new one is looser - I had to actually generate new canvas on the top to do this. I agree about a strong figure in the globe - I waited for about 15 minutes and nobody walked in the right spot. I may try again.

Thank you all again. I am curious what yhou think of the follow up. I did that before I had benefit of your comments, unfortunately.

P

[Zig]

My language IS simple(just not always easy) No need to threaten me with a foreign language, I do try and be precise and helpful.

I'd have the brightness up on both images. I like both versions.
Version 1: I think the placement is fine and emotive; it doesn't need to be constrained by any traditional notions of "composition", quite the reverse in fact, given the symbolic meanings one could ascribe to the image. In fact, it contains such a wealth of ideas, tones, shapes and textures..that the introduction of colour is to me superfluous. Rich, contrasty monochrome would heighten the impact(for me).
Of course the female IS the important part of the shot, she's instrumental in its meaning. The "tightness" and edgy feel of the framing really works well, in my opinion..as if there is something emotionally constraining the female. It conveys a sense of urgency and heightened emotion, which would be too moderated if composed "classically". It works so much better with the "uncomfortable" framing..I thought that was the point!
(As an aside, I saw some monochrome portraits of the performer Tim Minchin recently: on many shots, the photographer deliberately cropped to cut off the top of his head. Far from being a mistake, this worked well to convey the subject's edgy and uncomfortable comic material.)
Version 2: a beautiful central image: a wider aperture would have reduced some distracting background and given a pleasing contrast of textures...but I appreciate that choosing the right aperture for a shot like this can take some trial and error.
As Don says: neat photo..and well done.

[Toad]

Jeez Zig - I can't even spell intellectool - and you are one. Succinctly stated.

[Irma]

Happy to see you wandering around out of your comfort zone...

I like the idea of the gradient conversion from sepia to bw, but I see the transition sepia-bw a bit to hard. Maybe giving a bit more room to the transition? and only leaving the corners with pure sepia and bw? I like very much the detail of the woman in color. I see as well your intention in placing the ball in the top/right edges and leaving room for the person. I think that is clever. However that places the ball right in front of me, it feels a bit intrusive, like I am forced to see the ball.

I don't know if you or anyone else has this same idea, but I have seen that square pictures are better seen when they are small. In this case I would even suggest to frame it in white. I did the test and looks great! The ball is not longer in front of me and one can appreciate your composition with the woman in the bg. On the other hand as it is I can also go backwards and see it far from me, but I think framed look nice.

In the image two things take my eye; the handle of the window at the right and the circle in the center.

The second one is really beautiful. I love the colors and the sense of room behind the ball. I don't feel constrain by the square frame anymore. I see an interesting background well balance with light, color and subjects. I like it!

I hope my comment helps...

[NT73]

The reflection of the hanger irks me in the second one.
Other than that it is like an asteroid floating in the ether.

[nia]

Dear Pavel, my language can be problem but I am afraid I can't talk technically as you wish

But yes, it was so impressive for me, and I found these shots such a wonderful trying... I loved the idea of the woman in there... but how this ball stands... this is like a magical touches. "vynikající " and " děkuji "

with my love,
nia