What does the Bible really teach?

[RBSinTo]

Taken last fall in front of the Toronto Eaton Centre, while I was waiting for my wife Barbara to finish her shopping.
As I often like to do when I meet them on the street, I was engaged in an interesting religious discussion with the Jehovah's Witnesses when an attractive young woman withsome very interesting facial piercings and hair braids came by. I asked if she would allow me to take a head and shoulders portrait, and then thinking that her exotic look seemed ancient or biblical, decided to tie it in with the street preacher's message in the background. And got this shot.
motorized Nikon FA
Nikkor 24 f2 AIS manual focus
Fuji 100 ISO colour slide
f2 @ 1/1000th

[Rick Waldroup]

Sly, suggestive, and extremely humorous - this shot speaks volumes about our relationship with religion today.  Fantastic photo, Robert.

[RBSinTo]

Rick,
Thanks for the kind words.
Robert

[Frank Fremerey]

Wonderful intimate portrait.
Interesting environmental setting.

[BW]

I like the interaction and the contrast between foreground/background. The title made me look as well

[Airy]

Interaction between religions, possibly. Early XXth century, Léon Bloy, an ever-polemicizing French author, pointed his irate finger at sport becoming the new religion. Here one could consider fashion, make-up etc. to be another one. But that's just a possible reading. Personally I am not inclined to think that every person with an unusual hairdo is trying to state some kind of belief.

Most importantly, the three layers (foreground / middle / background) make a great picture here. And good you asked the young lady to pose.

[John Geerts]

Yes, agree with the above. Impressive shot.

[Akira]

To me, this is rather a humorous contrast between the bible and the combination of the elements from the seemingly non-biblical world.  An admirable and enjoyable environmental portraiture.

[RBSinTo]

Thanks all for the kind comments.
Airy,
The young lady wasn't making any belief statement with her hairdo or ornamentation. In fact, as she told me, she was on her way to a modeling session, when she just happened by.
It was my opinion that her look was tribal or biblical that led to the juxtaposition of elements in the composition.
Apparently it was successful as it has generated a number of interesting comments both here and elsewhere.
Robert