Swing, Swing...

[livin4lax09]

For a workshop project. C&C welcome, yes it's pretty morbid.

[GB1]

Brent - I like it for what it is. It is strange and morbid. The light dropoff is a good thing here, creates an effect. However, what doesn't work in my opinion is the area under her. I see that you tried to get a bunch of people smiling but I think I'd prefer it to be a gallows or some sort of structure. The idea is good though, and I wonder if others will prefer the ground area as is.

GB

[livin4lax09]

thanks for the comment. it's interesting, it doesn't seem to strike a chord with anyone. I think if you saw the rest of the images you may prefer the people below, but I'm going to have to wait to show you those.

[CLKunst]

Interesting Brent. At first when I look at this I'm smacked in the face by your obvious subject. But the devil is in the details on this one. I like her shirt with the inside parts on the outside. I mistook the red background characters for red Victorian carpeting at first, probably the resolution, or my eyesight, or both. Are you trying to make a pattern on the floor? Actually on second thought there is an illusion of the far off floor. I think more torsos are needed on a few more of the spectators to bolster that feeling. My first thought was that she was in some kind of old hotel ~ but now I'm leaning toward "pursued by too many demons". She looks almost too cute for the role you've cast her in. I assume those are also shades of herself in the background? Sorry that's not more coherent but I thought you might get more out of my initial first impressions. Curious to see the rest. . .

[OldSchool]

Interesting shot -- not a feel good image, eh?

My comments echo those above in that there are lighting issues to work out. If you wanted back ground detail, then there needs to be some light down there.

For me, the biggest distraction is that the knot is blown. The forehead is a little hot too.

BR,
Tim

[gahspidy]

It's an interesting idea, and I like the creativity going on in this that i usually find in your sets. I actually find this a bit humorous only because she does not look to be dead nor does the noose look like it is actually strangling her. Her expression looks very posed and set up and so it gives me a sort of comedic value. i like the hint of people looking on at her from below.
If a morbid and gruesome nature was what you were after here, I would suggest really doing the subject up to look like she suffered and terrifying death and somehow try to give the noose a more frightening appearance.
I also agree that the noose and lighting on her forehead was too bright.

[livin4lax09]

gary,

It is unclear that this is not actually after she has jumped. it is pre-jump, as in she is standing contemplating the move, and the divisions of her self are below her, watching as she makes this decision, and some giving some opinions about the act.

[Greg McCary]

Well done Brent, different for sure, as usual. Your work is always top notch....My monitor may be off I almost missed the small faces.....

[gahspidy]

gary,

It is unclear that this is not actually after she has jumped. it is pre-jump, as in she is standing contemplating the move, and the divisions of her self are below her, watching as she makes this decision, and some giving some opinions about the act.

Brent, that puts a different light on this for me. Knowing your intention here definetely makes this more impactful. Other than the few technicals such as the blown out rope, etc, this is very good.

[PrevailingConditions]

Well done Brent, different for sure, as usual. Your work is always top notch....My monitor may be off I almost missed the small faces.....

I'm afraid I missed the faces at first too and I still can't tell that they're her faces.

Regarding the pre-jump staging, I'm afraid that if I were in that same position, I'd look a little more frightened. But it's still a well composed shot.

PC

[livin4lax09]

do you think you would really be frightened though? I mean, many accounts I have read of seeing people commit suicide seem to show that the people are pretty much at peace with themselves before they do it. I mean, they are deciding to take their own life, and I'm pretty sure a lot of thought has gone into it, so I don't think they'd really be frightened, more sad and anxious, but even the anxiety isn't really portrayed.

Yeah, I worried that the faces may be missed, especially those without calibrated monitors, even in the print during the critique a lot of people missed them, until they were projected big on the wall, and people all of a sudden looked at the image much differently. thanks for the comments.

[Overbeyond]

The photograph gives no evidence of it being an enacted suicide or "public" hanging. Looking at her feet it would seem that she is already swinging and her arms are suitably limp. But her face ruins this feeling.
This does not work for me because it needs to look somewhat real (assuming that is the idea) and it doesn't. It is too posed even if she is only preparing for the drop.. The burn out on the rope is too much and too contrasty.
I like the idea of looking down and seeing the faces below.