I cannot answer for another as to their interpretation of the phrase, "painterly quality," but as an artist outside photography in the arts of watercolor, oil, acrylic and encaustics, for me it would mean the image has the feel of a painting: rich, bold colors with somewhat loose yet very controlled and directed brush stokes sitting atop a well planned underpainting. When I first showed this to the director of the Visual Arts Center where this nice glass block wall resides, she showed me some images from a recent painting class from similar vantage points. it was quite amazing to see how close I was to them in creating a "painted" view. I can assure you however, this is a straight down the gullet shot through a very curved, glass block wall. Few pixels were harmed in the making of this and the other shots presented.
Was I after a painted look and thusly should I have put down the camera and taken up with brush and canvas? No, as my interpretation, regardless of how close the end result might be to a painter, was making a visualization through a difficult material. A study in light and shadow, if one must have a more defined interpretation.
