Critique / Discussions

If hands could tell a story they have many many strange and interesting ones to tell. This hand is that instance where a hand is telling a story. It is a story of work and toil. It is story of not shying away from plunging in even if it means getting dirty, getting scratched, bruised or maybe cut. It is the story that could be told by millions of hands: those hands of the workers who make our lives easier because they do the work that most of us shy away from. This image is an ode to those hands and to those workers who do and love the work as is evident in the gentle almost caressing touch of the hand against the metal as if saying "now you are fine for a while. You can continue whatever you do without worries".
On the technical aspect well I have nothing to say but "excellent work". The tones, lighting and color all contribute to the story and the mood and that is what makes a photograph powerful.

Bravo (both you and Aref) ;-))

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Seen in a group discussion (?)

Bravo to the photographer who made this photo a pleasure to look at and contemplate.

Thank you both!

It's the third or fourth time i look at this photo and i must agree with Aref. I can't find any negative points; the composition is perfect to me; maybe some viewers might find it a pity the thumb is out of focus, but most of them must forgive this since - of course the thumb isn't placed on the hand the way other fingers are, but - more important: it reinforces to the 'dirty-work'-theme the photo is about.
The lighting, colours and the oily look are excellent choices!

I totally agree with my predecessors: the treatment is very unique and enhances powerfully the dramatic mood of this pic.
I like the idea that you don't really know what these fingers are doing here; it leaves a lot to your imagination. however, I would have added one or two subtle details which would push your thinking in a general direction.. maybe a tiny latin/religious inscription on the metal.. or a small symbol for a tattoo. just a thought.

Hahhaha, since lodchjo already mentioned it, I have to say the thumb is a little - and its a little - detail I would loved not being out of focus.

Other than that I just love it (yeah, yeah, one cant be too descriptive all the time ;))

Otaku mention something interesting though ... I'm not a big fan on the religious though but a subtle hint ... would be interesting.

Why the religious hint? I am sorry but I don't see the connection with the oily hand--puzzled look on the face. Could someone explain to me?

Personally i wouldn't go for a symbol. To me it's a hand showing the signs of toil, hard work. A religious - or other? - symbol would take this away and move it into a totally different direction.

I fully agree.

I wasn't thinking about a religious hint at all but a hint in general - a little detail that stressed the workmanship displayed in the picture. As so I found Otaku's suggestion interesting, would that add or distract from the picture ?

That was my point.