Christine Dengate – Aude and Infinite with Avalon (2014)

Wowsa! What a thoroughly compelling image.

I’m not sure I can offer any sort of ‘proof’ of why it works so well. Part of it is likely the Caravaggio-esque chiaroscuro–with a single bright source of light that enters the frame at a severe angle.

There’s a minute depth-of-field, making her face stand out but also grounding it in the milieu in which this scene is transpiring.

And mind is being paid to the rule that all things being equal, visually speaking–balance between an odd number of things is always preferable to an even number– five hands, three rings.