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Overall
Vision
Originality
Technique
Impact
<img class="avatar" src=a.deviantart.net/avatars/t/h/t… alt="" title="ThePhotoCritic"/>
Every now and then, an image lifts itself off the screen by combining technical excellence, composition and subject matter at a really high level. This is one. (They are always a pleasure to crit, by the way!)
The hair caught in mid-flick is the initial eye-catcher. But immediately, the crispness of the whole image grabs one, and then the strong compositional lines become evident. And ultimately, the physical tension that Monica is holding becomes clear, from what seems initially to be quite a relaxed pose.
Taking it from the unusual pose. At first it seems that she is leaning against the wall, but then one notices that right foot is holding more than just her body, but is almost a pivot for the whole image. The arms in that backward balance also speak of tension. Her left leg out straight is critical to the composition, giving balance to the pose, but also a lead in to the image. I don't know how many shots you have in this series, but the only imperfection here is in her facial expression - eyes half closed and mouth reacting to that flick. Maybe trying it with her mouth deliberately closed? Unless this was a look you purposefully chose?
Composition is classical. The leg gives a bottom-left-of-image lead in to the body, positioned on the right line of thirds. The hair, a focal point, is on that line and the upper third. The face and arms thrust us back into the image, to be held by the wall and roof of the walkway, which hold it all together. Tight and clean. The highlights on front of the legs and face pick out the composition brilliantly (in both senses of the word!)
In fact, the lighting and tone work very well here. Images in closed spaces like these can be very dark, but this is a bright, clean, fresh image, and that is much of its appeal. It's almost like Monica is just revelling in the pool of light, like its a pool of water! Purists would say that the blown whites behind her are not good, but I think that they are important in the energy of the image, giving a source to the flood of light. So here, they work. You have kept the detail elsewhere in the whites along the wall and her top, whilst getting those critical, crisp, contrasty shadows and textures.
This is definitely a stand-out classic for me! Well done
Grant H