[Geoff Semmens]

This started as a study in thirds with Ali's eyes placed exactly on the line intersection and a lot of space to the LHS. I tried to get the look of M. M. captured by Eve Arnold. This was my preferred of about a dozen shots. I then realised that the face was strong enough to stand by itself without the element of space.

My next play around was to divide the picture into 6 squares and seemd to have something of interest in each part but the middle LHS cantained all the features of recognition.

The final image, I hope, raises questions of how we present ourselves to the world and how we often hide behind this mask of personality.

I tried colour for the face and BW for the rest of the head but considered this more striking / alarming(?)

My wife hates the image of our daughter-in-law but Ali has given permission for you to apply your eye for an honest critique.

How can it be improved?

Are there other interpretations of the image that may cause confusion and how might I have steered the viewer away from this?

At least Ali is more beautiful than my gardener!

Geoff TWO

[Markulous]

Think what you've done is really interesting, Geoff! And, unlike your wife, do like the result - possibly as I don't know Ali so don't have a problem with you messing her around!

One slight issue I have lies with the chair box - the chair dominates and is a little too much. whereas all the other windows stand up in their own right, feel that this doesn't work so well. Maybe a narrower chair (as I like the idea of a chair window!)

Without a doubt definitely easier on the eyes than The Gardener!

[j sotelo]

I like what you did, the idea is GREAT, but the face in B&W it just draws too much attention, try applying different colors to each square but dont use B&W. and also try applying a shadow to each square. wow so many posibilities to your idea I like the idea very much..

[j sotelo]

I loved your Idea so much I thought I'd show you what I meant in my previous post..

you can change the colors using Styles in Photoshop.

if you would like to know how I did this I'll gladly write a tutorial for you.

[Boofers]

I agree with mark, What would it look like with maybe a black border to fit with the rest, and maybe get a little more creative with the contrast of the B+W. I have made simular pic's for the grandkids that J. Sotelo is showing, but a different arrangement. I wouldn't mind reading about how you did it, one look and the stacking order,,,

[Geoff Semmens]

Thanks for the comments.

Another possibility would be to swap around the squares so thay are not in the "logical" positions. The next step would be to rotate or warp some of the squares.

Pushing the boundaries even further, the image could be made of squares taken from different viewpoints. I have a cunning plan.....

Thanks once again and twice thanks if it has been thought provoking.

Geoff TWO

[fionaB]

okies.... sorry Geoff but this does nothing for me.......... nor does it make me think along the lines you are aiming for........... i have tried to look at it objectively but i cant see what you are trying to say........... in saying that it is to my eye nothing more than an pbstract portrait and i just dont do most abstracts.so all that i have said may just be personal taste.......... i have had a look at your other one as well in another thread but it still doesnt work for me .

Fi

[skipper954]

Hey G2

I saw this after I saw the image of you. It appears that this is just the first step in your pregression to more abstract images. I am rather like Fi in that this does't really affect me because, well, it is just not different enough.

However, I am looking forward to your presenting an abstract image of a bunch of geometric forms and telling us that is your wife!!

skip

[Rob Barron]

I can see what you are trying to achieve there Geoff but not sure it is coming off as well as it could. I am not sure why you chose to overlay the mono layer rather than put it into its own area with white border like the other parts. That for me would have been stronger and would have given it a feeling of completion.

Just to show you what I mean, I have adjusted it slightly. See what you think.

Cheers,
Rob