wonderful photo. very inspiring.

I love the concept Peter. My only reservation is with the jewellery. You may have wanted the ring and watch as a human technology counterpoint to the ape's naked hand. Or was this an opportunistic shot without any contrivance? I just feel the image would have been better without the ring and watch.

Your photo evokes all sorts of relationships between ape and man - both similarities and contrasts. I like it a lot Peter. Congratulations

Coincido plenamente con Neil, es justa su opinion, aunque es una gran imagen, mas me recuerda a "Gorilas en la Niebla", un bello trabajo y muy pensado, no creo que sea producto de la casualidad, un cordial saludo Peter...I coincide fullly with Neil, his(her,your) opinion is just, though it is a great image, mas he(she) remembers(reminds) me to " Gorillas in the Fog ", a beautiful work and very well-considered, I do not believe that it is a product of the chance, a cordial greeting Peter.

Good photo Peter. I agree with Neil though regarding watch and the ring. I would also crop the wooden post, something like this:

marko

I agree with the jewelry...but still, very touching. Bravo. Iren

Julio, I am a he; at least last time I checked. Saludos, Neil

Brillant! Was the Michealangelo reference (Sistine Chapel) intentional? Anyway great color and a striking composition. I agree that you should lose the watch and ring but I think that cropping out the post just kills it by losing the slight panaramic feel and removing the feeling that the monkey is in a cage reaching out for a touch of freedom. The bar is important and integral to the feeling of the photo; the jewelry isn't. Anyway, great job.

So common since Michel-Angello indeed... Background and left side wood are a bit disturbing as well, and the hand is slightly too bright. I therefore prefer the corrected version posted in this thread. Nice enough. Regards.

Makes you wonder what each of them was thinking during the touch.

The pale one might have been thinking that it's amazing how closely related we are.

The darker complected one might have been thinking, "the idiot doesn't get it...it's supposed to put food in my hand when I stick it through the bars. Why are those creatures so dumb?"

More then excellent. DDD

This picture reminds me of Jane Goodall Photo with a Chimpanzee tougching her forehead. The photo was one of Michael Nick Nichols's best shots ....i like this one too... its beautiful and touching. See my portrait of Jane Goodall . Thank you.

Speaks volumns.....Jim

Well done, wonderful idea, that?s great, striking!

To love is to care.

=c)

http://www.fotolog.com/goonie/?photo_id=6253190

Thank you all for your comments and views. It's a nice feeling to have submitted an image that causes thought and emotion. For those who doubt, this was indeed a chance happening, a moment between man and beast, captured candidly and not, as some believe a prearranged, staged or posed image. The human (male) a complete stranger who was unaware of the camera.

Great photo, Peter. Cropping out the bar is probably the worst suggestion I have ever seen on this site. Without it there is nothing. It goes from an image full of emotion to just two hands. I think some people have read too many nitpick critiques and have, in turn, programmed themselves to think any little distraction must go without really looking at the image.

What Scott said squared. The bar makes this scene. It is everything. Who is caged and who is free? the answer? No One. I like the jewlery. It is our own self imposed shackles.

...as it is. actually brought a tear to my eye after reading all the critiques. cropping killed the emotion. the jewelry is awesome.

i joined the site just to leave this message.

keep it up.

Isn't it amazing how you get two different messages with and without the watch and with and without that wood post?

Was it for me, I would go the Sistine-chapel way, but removing the wood and keeping the watch.

Having read the way you shot it, I find it an outstanding candid shot.

What about a conversion in B&W? I might see two advantages: keeping a simpler colour scheme and therefore strengthening the message and reducing the impact of the green bokeh on the back...it tends to attract a tiny little bit too much of my attention.

"What about a conversion in B&W? I might see two advantages: keeping a simpler colour scheme and therefore strengthening the message and reducing the impact of the green bokeh on the back...it tends to attract a tiny little bit too much of my attention."

A good suggestion, I think... It would also facilitate getting a bitmore details out of the black hand while darkeninga bit the human hand. regards.

A beautiful moment ...