Now I can say no

This is truly remarkable Jan.

Powerful Jan!..

Love It Jan!!!! Awesome Image!!!! : )

well, you’ve taken my breath away, jan. Amazing self-portrait.

This image is so strong! You are strong!

This is a beautiful piece of artwork, Jan!

outstanding,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I truly love you – my friend! Superb power!
K xxx

Very powerful image! Go girl!

Dynamic and intense Jan, and so well done… JD

Empowerment, eh? Terrific, terrifying and brilliant, Jan.

“perfect for carving up tofu and miscreants” .. a vegetarian can carve up miscreants as long as they don’t eat them right? LOL Glad you got the shot you wanted after all that work.

and here I was working on the light on the lake!! LOL Jan thanks for your favourable comments on Magic on Moraine Lake series … and yes back home to bad dust storms on the eastern board of the country from Sydney to the tropics!

You bet Jan – Here’s to us :D

Cool!—Steve

And Jan – I feel like you’ve made the perfect self-portrait for me too – I could never make an image that portrays ME NOW than this… :)))
K xxx

(Even if that’s not my body these days lol – maybe it will be when my ‘official years’ are the same as yours…)
K xxx

Jan this is wonderful. The power strength and energy is great off the image.
The way you are holding the knife is like you are prayer, ” give me the strength” and with the blade in darkness and your face lighter you are over coming the dark and the pain and coming into the light to be able to say NO
This truly hits a nerve with me so a FAv.

Jan – I just keep on wanting to come back and stare at this image – it makes me feel so so GOOD to do that…. and I’d keep on favouriting it time and time again…
K xxx

This is – for me – the image of the perfect woman… as it’s also so so obvious she has total control over that knife… and would only use it – or even ‘move it’ precisely as SHE decided to do…

Worth infinitely more than 1,000 words…so powerful Jan. Brilliant focus and lighting…as per Karen’s words, I think the blade works perfectly well in black. This is truly masterful Jan, you ought to be proud…such a show of strength.

Scary!!!!!!!!

This image is so so good for me….

Thank you Jan

Great shot Jan. Lots of drama and very creative!

Oooooooh! Jan, how exciting! This image is greatly crafted and so vast in interpretation! Well done!

Super. Very dramatic image, Jan. The off centre subject adds to the effect.

Amazing and brilliant Jan!

Very powerful work, stunning Jan!!!!

Jan, this is an amazing, powerful self portrait. Brilliant idea, dramatically executed, and an obvious fave :)

WOW! Awesome powerful shot Jan! Love the DOF!!!

Fantastic work!

Very powerful, wonderful work!

Hi Jan, PLEASE do not be sorry that your image makes me feel things and how i enturpert your image yes holds something for me in it. But for me this is what i love about looking at images, pictures the world around us they make me see, feel sense somethings, just how i work in my head and soul. I also see in images if someone may say something i suddenly get a image flash up on a screen in my head or minds eye, it is just how I work, Simon thinks it brillant to throw a word or sentence at me that will have me laughing out loud as others look at me blankly.. while i hae the most ridiclious image flashing in my head. Im glad I seem to be able to see and know. I look forward to your other experiments and works.
have you thought about adding it intothe challenge may bein woman photographer a self portrait, or you may have to look as may have the group wrong, but a stunning image and love looking at it, the strength of protecting yourself and I know now who i am and what i will allow. Simply brillant.

Jan,

The power is both in your eyes and hands. Having the face “muted” creates a desire in the viewer to know the mysterious woman. The image is evocative and the off center figure adds to the title.

The image provokes the viewer to ask questions. A photo with an emotional appeal must engage the viewer and this image definitely demands engagement. You can not be passive when viewing your photo.

Wonderful use of light, dof, and capturing something beyond a simple photo.

Linda (photopoet2)

A full day of attempts was well worth the outcome I think!! Powerful image and story here.

Remind me to never give a negative comment.
Excellent provocative picture.

WOW!! What an incredible, INCREDIBLE image. I guess I am supposed to see the knife in perfect clarity taking up so much of the frame, but I just keep seeing the eyes, the strength, the pose, the hair. So much emotion. So much feeling. WOW!

Hey, remind me not to annoy you Jan! Spectacular shot — so dramatic, perfect lighting, superb composition. Great work!!!

Awesome self protrait! You GO gurl!!!

What a powerful pic!
Unimaginable what it takes until we learn to say no!!!!
Sometimes I dream of confrontating someone who hurt me with a knif like that, so that he will never ever mess with me or anybody else again. Never!

Powerful, dramatic, and artistic. Some combination girl … especially in a self-portrait. Appreciate the symbolism … and held out in strength, in defence, rather than attack.

good for you lady!
here you are both damsel in distress and knight in shining armour.
the rescue never comes so sooner or later you have to stand up and fight.
keep surviving.
a strong and courageous artwork

Wow Jan – that’s some image! I wasn’t aware of this aspect of you.

Wonderful composition
Cheers
Rock

Fabulous shot. Your message comes through, loud and clear. And the technical aspects of the shot are excellent. Lovely focus on the knife and hands, perfect oof on you. Extremely well done. Kept me up late thinking about it. Seriously.

Jan I went to check the images for the challenge and see you have removed this one – please consider putting it back, you are a strong contender for the winning image! I could be cheeky and just put the vote in, but it would be more fair for the others if its still there.

Wow, Jan. What an amazingly provocative and powerful image. It is simply stunning. In that…it stunned me. It struck something very deep inside me and I just sat here and started to cry. Top of my faves!

Sort of both, Jan. Not so much personally – but immediate family and very close friends – have survived beautifully. The image really did resonate with me… in fact, when I’m on my own computer… I will forward this page to 3 people in particular. Thank you for creating such a masterpiece!

WOW Jan … this is so POWERFUL ... shows control and confidence, well done!! (So this is what you were working on when you bmailed?? It sends a powerful message). Take Care dear friend ~ Deb ~ ☺

Well I’m not arguing with you! Great image – would make a good avatar too.

LOL Jan … the inflatable moose huh … did you give it too much bull? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist). Take Care ~ Deb ~ ☺

What can I say…raw, strong, real and oh so honest! I love the statement you make with this shot Jan, the meaning invokes a tearful smile and a desire to shout “Hell yes, you can say NO”!

I’m touched by your statement about Bonnie, it reminds me of the many times in my life I wished I had a sister.

Jan, you’ve made it perfect. Nothing less. Well composed, dramatic tonality, works great in B&W (color would be just distracting here!). Lot of energy, self-consciousness, proud, strong, woman who knows a lot… And very different of what I’ve seen from you till know; if this is off your comfort zone, you should do it more often :) You’ve got a lot of comments and well deserved – this has so much impact!

Whoa- I am thoroughly moved (takes a lot, I’m a hard hearted woman)
AND
enthralled~

Fantastic image my friend…you have knocked my socks off!

Fantastic work.

POWERFUL. HUGS xxx

Nope, never too late, thanks and love to you Sis.

this is a great picture as everyone else has said!

WOW this is brilliant, powerful and an excellent piece of art!

Strong and excellent bw shot!

Hello, Wonder Woman! WOW, this is powerful. I applaud you on creating such a dramatic self portrait. From one who despises having her photo taken, it seems that you went out on a limb to create this work (or perhaps you aren’t as hung up on self portraits as I am). I like it, particularly the black and white image. That one really sings with emotion and tension. What I’d like to know are your stories behind your art, or at least I think I do. :-))) Warm wishes to you, Jan!

Hi Jan, I keep trying to frame something to let you know how much different power this exudes. Since I’ve waited to actually type anything, everyone above has said so much already. The part that gets me is the power of bringing nightmares into the light of day and the healing power of that. Big hugs, continue on your journey in good company and with your deep well of strength always there for you!

and p.s., the image you have chosen after all your experiments is stunning, in every detail!

BRAVO my dear!! this is indeed an image with a message… coming thru quite clearly! Awesome job!

It is a profound self portrait Jan, and your page is a good read. There remains so much mystery as I have no idea what this is all about. I discovered this as I was exploring your wonderful website, with a link I found on your fabulous Moose shot.
Let’s see it in the Alaska group as well.

Brilliant work. Wonderful dof, and a strong B&W.

Oh WOW Jan!!!! This is fantastic! So powerful and spot on! All your hard work on this was well worth it! Well done!

Great work here Jan, very impressive!

great composition! love the lighting and focus point

This is so powerful, really.
The title goes so well with it.

great strength and focus…. excellent DoF adds to the impact

Fantastic piece Jan!

This is really wonderful work, it continues to fascinate me, one of the works I come back to look at…

woman! are you reading my mind right now??? im shaking my head because your photos are hitting home. awesome seems too shallow a word…

I see this and think several things, first great image much emotional connectivity to the power and strength it offers. Yet, also a bit scary as to it’s violent nature and what emotions could cause such a defensive pose. I think women who lived trough a violent relationship might see it as a standing up and thus a lot of empathy to the subject matter. Creative as a photographer to illuminate such a subject, and good execution.

Jan, this is stunning. I am inspired and energized to see the growth in you and your work – and this portrait stands out in breathtaking clarity.

Brilliant and moving as well.
Deri

Samurai.
The brush and the sword.
Strength from within.
A refined and deceptive spareness.
I don’t know you, but perhaps I do now. Bravo!

really good.

very powerful

I love this, a fav for me.

Stunning work….Id love a sword like that

outstanding work my friend!!!