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Jon
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From a few weeks ago,
Jon agreed to stand in front of the camera for me-
Any c&c appreciated-joseph
Is this the same crazy dancing guy?
I really like this Joseph. The direct eye contact is great, and his expression is, well,
I’m not sure if he’s about to smile, or tell me off for doing something very naughty,
(is there a word for that?)I like the lighting, how did you do it?
Like the depth of field too, and the framing.And, again, the direct eye contact is very strong.
Is this from the AI 8×10? First portrait?
Nicely done…
Sinead
My first thoughts were “More questions than answers” as Jon seems to be in a pensive mood, almost in the image for more than the images sake. It’s an attractive photograph in the photographic sense.
I too am curious on the lighting…well, please divulge.
Alan
I really like this portrait Joseph, well done.
It’s beautifully lit and is so direct. The 10×8 camera is capable of resolving such beautiful detail. I’m sure the print is worth looking at up close.
It might be nice to consider putting together a series of such portraits with perhaps a common theme?
Just a thought.
Great image.
:D
Thanks Sinead, Alan-
you want my lighting secrets?
Daylight, sunny day, in a bright room, with a roof light,
a black board as a background, which also helped to control the light,
other stray light sources covered up,
and last, but not least,
my dark cloth, which is actually white,
drawn up close to him to lighten up the eyes.Sinead, there’s not much more direction than stand there, and don’t move-
but there were other more abstract conversations, regarding projection-After the film is loaded, I step away from the camera
which can sometimes be less distracting for the subject…
You don’t get to shoot many pictures on this thing,
so there is a sort of a sense of occasion when the shutter is tripped-Alan, I don’t know if that answers your question, or some of them-
I did try to instill in Jon the notion that I wanted him to project through the lens,
I wanted stillness and intensity, and that we wouldn’t be shooting lots and lots of film.The location and lighting were arranged,
I was fortunate that the sun came out and gave me a couple of extra stops to play with,
so we just got on with it and took it-Yes Sinead, that pic was taken on the same morning as the point and shoot prototype picture…
First portrait on the big camera…
If only I could find some more victims…There is a routine to using this thing, and I’m still learning it-
so portraits might be a bit simplistic until I feel fully comfortable with it.However, perhaps ‘direct’ and ‘simple’ shouldn’t always be overlooked when it comes to portraiture…
Thanks for the comments-
Oops, Cross posting there Seoirse-
Thanks for the comment, I think this camera does this sort of thing quite well-Haven’t printed it yet, though I’m looking forward to it-
Might also be a candidate for toning…
Excellent Joseph. Just an amazing depth of detail. Normally a
fine stripe like this would be definite non-runner for any kind
of photography – I expect it’s the incredible resolving power you
get with your kit that allows you to get away with it.I think this is a really brilliant picture. If I wasn’t already a paid-up
member I would join your fan club tomorrow morning.Edit: fixed a typo.
Had to go to flickr to view this..and finally got around to doing that.
From another paid up member….amazing portrait.
Loved the lighting specs…always love to hear when someone goes au natural–
that always gives me hope for my still and forever probably limited kit.
Shar
Hi Joseph,
I find portraits a very interesting subject.
The technical aspects (lighting etc) are not something I am competent to
comment on but I do like looking at portraits and seeing how a subject
“performs” when a camera is pointed in their direction.This is excellent in my opinion and I am taken with the intensity with which
Jon looks into the lens.
You can’t ignore the look.Did Jon like this image? (BTW I am not saying he shouldn’t like it)
I ask this because I have read a little about this subject and have come across
at least one example of a subject that fell out with a portrait photographer because
of the way they were portrayed in a portrait.Some of my favourite portraits (taken of friends/relatives, unposed and not commissioned) have
been disliked by the subject.Sorry for digressing again.
Very well done.
John.
Excellent portrait, and what a strong contact with the camera!
I think, you’ve found the perfect spot lighting wise.
Just one little thing… is that a shirt popping out at his neck? If I had to find anything wrong with the picture, that would be it. Hope you don’t mind, I am trying my best to find mistakes.
very nicely done J, I have to say this made me look for quite a while –
First thoughts on this were:
* i really liked the tones , the blackboard makes a super backdrop – must try steal that one !
* dramatic lighting from above but very nicely balanced – partiularly around the eyes .. so i thought that was a brave and very distinct choice
* the tactile quality of the stripes and textures -also very appealling
* …and the expression – So intense and on edge – works really with the lighting .* the choice of composition bothered me – I thought you might have been better off going more for a head and shoulders – I felt the long torso ending just before the arms made it feel to static – but int the end I decided i like it as is .. it adds to the tension and feeling of the image.
having read the thread – I’m just going to say – loving the natural light and reflector ;) hard to beat :) bet it will look great in print
L
Thanks everyone, glad you like it-
There’s just one thing I need to clear up immediately-
Sharon, although the intensity of Jon’s engagement with the camera might suggest otherwise,
I was fully clothed while taking this picture.Pete- thank you-
I did post it slightly larger than I usually do, which does help with the strobing on the stripes-
I haven’t scanned this very large, the purpose of exposing big film is to contact print,
particularly for portraits, so this is likely to stay at 8×10…That’s not to say there isn’t reasonably incredible resolution in the in focus bits,
but we’d be talking threads rather than stripes…John, I did ask him-
he hasn’t got back to me yet on it-
I hope he does-
I wonder will his mother like it, or if she might have preferred if he had smiled…Cheers Rob, thanks for the comment, although Zoltan immediately disagreed with you, which is fine-
I don’t know Zoltan, the exposed Tshirt under the turtle neck is a look-
you know, like showing your boxers under baggy trousers-
there are some bits of fashion I just don’t get myself,
but that’s not to say that they shouldn’t be recorded…I don’t think I mind it too much really-
it was April, after all…Thanks Lorraine, for the detail-
The top light is a good thing, but shadows do change abruptly for small differences in position-
Jon was over for a reunion a few days before,
so I asked him to wear the same jacket for the picture,
and it worked out quite well, I think-
In a way, it does help the picture, the more control you have of the elements within it-
but you, of all people, know that-Good too that the composition bothered you-
perhaps it was one of the reasons why it made you look a while…Thanks again for the comments-
joseph
You don’t need any more people telling you this in fairness, but this is a really powerful, well shot, well lit, striking portrait.
I love the intense expression of the subject. I love the detail in the jacket. I had the same thought as Pete about how a jacket like that wouldn’t always photograph well – it sure does here. I really like how the depth of field stops short of his right shoulder. I like the backdrop too.
People say it all the time but this in one image I’d really like to see in print.
Well done Joseph.
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