''My Darkest Hour''

Some photos don't have many elements but a lot of tensions and emotions and this, "My Darkest Hour" by *SprinkleSprankles is exactly one of them. The artist put a lot of effort into making a photo fitting to a really emotionally poem by Stephen Martin II and succeeded. However, to give a more helping critique, it is necessary to reason my ratings in detail now.

To begin with vision this artwork has a really big background, given Martin's poem in which he describes the unnerving time of uncertainty which probable most of us had at some point or another. The point where we have lost determination and where almost blank-minded wild thoughts still are running through the mind, often resulting in depressions or aggressions. Is he going to kill himself or about murdering someone? The one he mentions and giving his photo of old times a last look? Or did the other one encouraged him to murder someone that betrayed him and is displayed on the photo... or is he simply just sad about everything and wants to commit suicide but decides against it for now? Even the reader of the emotionally loaded poem is uncertain as it even starts with an unanswered question and ends with a "maybe".
The artwork with its gloomy atmosphere and the uncertainty shown in its hard to see contours and non-existing background is really fitting here in my opinion. The emblem is in fact a symbol used by a academy in Matsuri Hino's manga "Vampire Knight", however, in this context it doesn't seem very related to the manga. It amplifies the gloomy atmosphere here instead and bringing the feeling up, this watch is something important, counting real life-time.
So, for a really thoughtful made photo based on a great poem, I give this artwork 5/5 stars for vision!

The originality in this work is also very nice! you aren't using much elements, but you refrain from using them the old ways (like the emblem used to point to the manga or the clock to point to a certain time-point instead of a symbol for a emotionally state). The composition and simplicity of the concept seems also very unique to me. I also really like the blue light and underground where you can't really make out on what the watch is standing. Well, when I look on it on a larger scale, using a clock to display a time isn't that original, but as it is only on a large scale, I think 4/5 stars for originality are reasonable.

I really like the technique you have shown here, though! the perspective and deposition of the watch is really tension-rich and the eye is immediately drawn to the emblem, marking a white spot at the centre of the picture. The light-reflexes and just right use of shadows to make it mysterious but not boring (as you wouldn't see anything) are all well done. Even the signature isn't disturbing the picture without being unreadable.
So, 5/5 stars for technique here!

To make the reasoning of impact short, it is absolutely subjective and I can just assume reasons. The picture has a nice tension and is sure eye-drawing, even making a nice poster (which is probably why you are selling the print). However, after you look at it for a few minutes, you kind of get tired of it as there isn't much to reveal (like hidden details etc.). The background-story is making up to that, but in first contact, you don't read a poem in the description (most people read the description after a picture got their interest). so, I think 4/5 stars for impact would be appropriate.

So, concluding this is a really thoughtful and well done photo that requests the reader to take some time to think about it as a conceptual photo should do.

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You are receiving this critique as you submitted your art into #TheSp0t's critique-folder. I hope it is helpful!
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