Waiting?

[PlasticSpanner]

Whilst setting up to shoot some fireworks I spotted this lad on his own waiting for the show to start.

 

[LaFoto]

Well, I see what you meant when you put this photo up into Photo Critique, too, just so someone would tell you in clear words why this has been up and about for 20 hours with zero replies.

Thing is: I have seen it first this morning and did not reply, either.
It does not grip me as much as the overall scene must have gripped you.

What does fascinate me though, and this quite deeply, is the Escher-effect of the half-pipe ... do you see that?

So the waiting aspect of the boy standing there in light that we don't know where it comes from steps back for me and my eyes keep following the halfpipe, trying to find out why it tricks me so!??!

What is the red stripe at the top?