Looks very good, but I think it would look a bit better if the person wouldn't have worn a blue jacket? Don't know why I think this :-?

I like. But I think the jacket is a little too bright of a color. Perhaps more blue as xeo suggested? Very nice, though.

Would it have been less effective if it were in b&w? The blue is a bit distracting.

I like the gnarled-ness of the stick.

I didn't even notice the stick. That blue is the only non-brown tone in the scene... it stands out way too much. Not even a strong DOF can help that. It's so straining on the eyes to try and look at the stick - Once I look at the jacket, it feels better.

Good work with the hump off the back and curve of the stick. Nice find. Try to tone down the blue - or desaturate the entire shot completely.

the difference between the foreground and background is so strong that it almost feels like two images overlayed. I do love that stick, however...

The image looks unatural and makes me feel uncomfortable. It may be the odd blur, that just looks unreal (Photoshoped?), or maybe the turquoise blue as people have already stated. I do like the mimiciing of the sand, stick and form of the person. Fine idea, just something off kilter.

Nice shot. I like the blur, I like the splash of color in the background. Nice subtle details, good tones.

Rock: the blur is natural, as are the colours. As for it making you "feel uncomfortable" ... cool. I guess that the point of this shot, or one of the points - for me at least - is that I didn't want the two items, or the shot as a whole, to appear balanced. Not sure I can explain it, but I'd rather people thought there was something "off kilter" than not ... if that makes sense.

An interesting pic but better without the guy, try cropping him out, pictures don't need 2 subjects competing for attention. Then the twig becomes a little Ansel Adams, beautiful, with lovely subtle colours.

I think the stick on its own would be a bit dull.

Great photo Mr Nightingale, love the similarities of the shapes, the depth of field and the persons jacket that adds colour to the photo.
Also think that some of the visitors to your photoblog have possibly missed the point or maybe didn't read your synopsis.

i am amazed at your unique ability to see things. beautiful compostion!

it does feel a little off kilter; it makes you think twice. thumbs up.

I can't imagine how you could have planned this shot... The line of the person's back and rucksack and the shape of the stick. Was it an accident? I somehow think it WAS planned, but as I say, I can't see how...

You have an eye for this kind of stuff for sure, I wish I could see stuff like this.

David,
I love the concept, but as many here, I do feel the jacket is a bit too bright.
If we ignore that, I can definitely see what you mean on the figures, and I believe this goes beyond that, since the person seems to be an older person.
Interesting.

StuartR: it wasn't planned. That said I did photograph about three people walking past, and this was the only one that worked.

As for the jacket: I guess that the main reason I left it this bright is that it doesn't allow you to focus on the foreground element - the stick - at least not easily. Had I desaturated it the shot would probably have been a bit easier on the eyes, but as I've said, I didn't want this one to be balanced, at least not in the traditional sense.

This makes me sort of sad simply because it reminds me of being in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, and doing tsunami beach cleanup. I witnessed many, many dangerous objects protruding from the sand that were impossible to pull out. But sadness aside, I like the shot still.

You sure do make your "backyard" look beautiful. Yet another amazing scene.

I actually like the color. The picture would be boring with just the stick. I could see it in black and white, but I think the "out-of-place" bright jacket adds a whole new spice to the scene. Love it!

I like how the stick is in focus, rather than the man.

Very interesting idea/study

Doesn't do it for me I'm afraid, a little too contrived. By placing the stick in an unnatural way it becomes another artifact and the comparison loses any real meaning. You've got to keep trying new ideas though, you're good enough to make most things work.

I like it - it's interesting in a humourous way ... almost as if the stick is mimicking the human. Excellent concept - with eyes open like that - it could lead to some really amusing captures.

I was thinking upon first regard; either you had to be damn quick - or jolly patient - to capture this one!

I think this photograph is a beautiful one indeed, very unique. I also loved the blur for the background. The smallets things in the world are often gone unrecognized such as ( a twig). I enjoy this photo.

looks like some alien horror movie when the guy sticks out the tentacle to grab the unsuspecting human prey! great shot dude

I like the two elements being the natural on the right and manmade on the left echoing the creative of the right hemisphere of the brain and the academic of the left hemisphere.

However the stick was surely posed for the shot and I'd have liked it better if it had been lying as driftwood, truly au naturel

You said yesterday that all being well you should have moved servers by the end of next week - it can't happen soon enough, the site took an age to load today

very "chromasia" style ^___^

wow great composition. "the old"!

he hee lots of comments! I actually really like the colour of the guys jacket, im drawn to it first then back to the stick, if gives it an interesting contrast and seaside kinda colour, makes it unordinary which is what i love about your pictures :)

Thanks everyone.