The Puppetmaster

[Didache]

Hi all

Something I also posted in Viewfinder. I wanted to create something disturbing - ambiguous and yet sinister. This is the result. In my own camera club, there are a few who love it (in the photographic sense) but a few who don't know what to make of it. I may well submit it for a club competition, but I think I would have to make sure it was an open-minded judge.

See what you think!

Cheers
Mike

[arne saknussen]

Hey Mike, I do like this shot. My very first thought was that it was creepy. But the person's feet make it "safe". The shadows, especially the hands are what make it more disturbing. Note that including the feet is not bad, it just tones down the sinister aspect.

[LeeIs]

very different. I like the legs at the top right of the photo. not every day do i see legs places at that position of a photograph. also love the shadows here. also glad you shot this one in the corner of the room. the corner walls give this depth that would've other wise been missing had you shot it else where. overall very nice.

[draymorton]

Love it.

Where have you been?

[Greg McCary]

Not sure why anyone wouldn't like this. Nice work...

[jemmons0328]

Very nice work, creative.

[gahspidy]

Mike, great to see you on. I think there is a lot going for this. Put me down in the group that loves it.
I especially like the puppetmaster shoes... makes me feel like he is an odd one lol ahh the details
Love the pm shadows as well
I'd say the only thing I'd feel worth mentioning as a critique is that I'd wish the puppets shadows fell more or less like her puppetmasters with lighting from the side as opposed to directly overhead and from in front. I'd like to see her in more darkness rather than the brightly lit space she is in now,
Aside from that, its pretty fantastic and yes in a sinister like way.
Nice work and good to see you here again.

[Didache]

Thanks guys for your kind words.

gahspidy - thanks especially for your comments re the lighting. You are right that all the lighting came from above, with a small amount from the side. The difficulty was in getting the shadow of the hand right. Fair point about the doll being perhaps a little overlit.

Cheers
Mike