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Okay. First the usual disclaimer: I am not an expert, just another member of this group. My goal is to comment and critique, not to criticize. When I do judge, I am looking for emotion and a story as much as the quality of the image itself. I know that some people will have their own differing opinions. There is a lot of quality in these images so, as usual, judging was not easy.
MacRy
I love this image. Flames are a symbol of memory and mourning in many cultures. Every element of this scene brings the eye to that flame. The bokeh is enough to remove all background distractions but not so much that the context is lost. The red glass stands out beautifully against the neutral background tones. The shelf brings the eye across the image directly to the glass. That there is only one glass on the shelf adds to a sense of loneliness that we often feel when grieving.
hidefjunkie
There is a story here, and your image makes me want to know what it is. The grave marker is old, worn, and not well cared for. It makes me wonder if there is anyone left to remember the deceased. The empty field contributes to a sense of loneliness. The compassionate side of me wishes you had taken the picture from the other side so I could see whom this person was. The artistic side of me thinks the image is stronger because you shot it from the back.
AlexH
I am not sure what you were going for here. Compositionally, I am disturbed by the car. I do like what you have captured in the couple. They are clearly disconnected from one another and the world. I could interpret that there is grief because of that disconnection, but I do not see this image as representing grief.
oblomow
At first, this image did not do much for me, but the more I see it the better I like it. I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s. Servicemen and women coming home from Viet Nam were vilified. Thankfully, we have now learned to honor those that serve. Most images of military cemeteries are shot in a way that highlights the precision placement of the markers. It has become cliché and I appreciate that you did not do so. No matter where I start looking at this image, my eye keeps coming back to the large bush in the center. For me, it is a reminder that there is still life and hope even when we grieve. B&W is the right treatment for this scene, but I would love to see if a color image makes the bush more visually prominent. In either case, I think adding some vignette will help put more emphasis on the bush.
anotherscotsman
There is a very tragic story here, and I think you capture it well. The overall scene is darker than I might like but it adds to the sense of loss, as does the single figure sitting by the shore. My only criticism is that there is too much negative space in the walkway on the right. I would like to have seen this from a slightly different perspective that eliminated some of that.
CmdrLaForge
I like your concept. A lot of cemetery sculptures do not convey emotions well. This one does and you were able to capture it. Replacing all of the background with a white canvas and increasing the contrast as much as you have give this image a very ethereal feel that I like. I am very bothered by the angel’s left arm. Because of the way you cut this, the staining on the stone looks like a black outline cartoon. I would like to see this cut differently, have more feathering on the cut, or have that line lightened a lot.
Alexander.Of.Oz
I do not have a lot to say about this same image. I love it. It is dark and ominous, and conveys a strong sense of enduring loss. Very well done. As with hidefjunkie’s shot, the grave marker is old, worn, and not well cared for. I wonder if there is anyone left to remember Ginger.
Pukifloyd
This is a well-constructed image. The framing is good, and the flag provides a good color contrast to the more muted tones of the lawn and the grave markers. I am not, however, getting any strong sense of emotion from this. I do wonder, however, why Mary cannot be remembered for her own merits.
bent Christian
This image does not work for me at all. It looks like what it is: a picture of a movie screen taken with a cell phone. I see a picture of a person crying, but the composition does not convey any emotion.
NeGRit0
I remember this shot. You posted it a couple of years ago. It is a powerful image. I am a therapist and have worked with many suicidal clients. Your composition conveys the sense of loss and loneliness that my clients express. The anonymity in this image is complete. The subject cannot be “seen” at all. We see only the arms in three places: in front of the sink and in both mirrors. We also cannot identify the person in the picture on the counter because the face is covered. I would like to know what that picture is about.
The Bad Guy
Compositionally I like this picture a lot. The vignette and the lines of the arm immediately draw the eye up to the hands and the completely hidden face. Your use of light and shadow is perfect. The figures on the T-shirt are, I think, a distraction and I would have preferred to see a solid colored shirt. While his hands could be hiding grief, that is not clear from the context. I am just not getting any story here.
Indydenny
I like what you've done in this image a lot. Everything in the composition serves the purpose of bringing the one grave marker to our attention. The mostly hidden row behind it seems to be pushing that marker to the front, it is the only marker that has a flag, it is darker than the rest, and it is the only marker on which the inscription can be read. It is a very nicely composed shot. Good job.
“And the envelop please….”
MacRy and Alexander.Of.Oz tied for first and I do not want to choose one over the other, but only one of you can be the next judge, so…….
1st goes to MacRy. The candle shows there is someone remembering and mourning, so this is a hair closer to the theme.
2nd: Alexander.Of.Oz. We do not know if Ginger has anyone left to remember her, so that puts you the hair behind.
3rd: hidefjunkie and oblomow tie.
MacRy: it is up to you.
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American Cemetery
