Dreamcatcher

I am presuming the piece is digital, judging from the exif - meaning the film grain, light leaks, and dust spots are digital. Some of the critique is based on that assumption.

Vision: 5/5
When I think vision in terms of photography, I think of what the photographer intends to capture when going out and taking a picture. Not necessarily the exact frame or composition, but something more abstract--an emotion, a statement, or an analysis. I think the photo demonstrates a clarity of vision in this sense, from the title to the aesthetics. It has a mystical, dreamlike quality, and contrasts this against the digital aspect of the piece, that being the filmic treatment, from the light leaks to the dust and grain to the 4x5 format. We associate digital as being less real to a degree than film, yet here the use of film-like qualities, applied digitally, creates a surreal atmosphere.

And conceptually speaking, while many metaphoric statements could be applied to this work, one I like most is the duality of sleep. It can be both relaxing and rejuvenating, or harrowing and treacherous. The model seems at ease, yet the landscape depicts a barren waste.

Originality: 4/5
Sleep studies aren't particularly new, but the use of an unexpected location (a dirt clod) gives it a twist and is a nice break from the typical grassy fields or bedrooms often used for the subject.

Technique: 5/5
The tonal range has an exquisite balance of contrast, the contours and light patterns on the model's back are especially delicate, and the color values and film emulations are natural and have a sort of tweaked perfection, adjusted to the point where even a naturally occurring lens flare would be imperfect over a digitally applied one.

Impact: 5/5
I was immediately drawn to this photo and it offers much depth in the way of the aesthetic details and the psychological implications (as indicated in the description). Overall, a very striking photograph.