...As for the question at hand, I am puzzled by your question, "Does it work?" I can only say that for me the second photograph is the strongest. I like the position of the Mother and daughter on the same level. I like the daughter 's expression looking directly at the camera resolved to be her own person. I like the Mother's inward looking expression feeling the weight of her life. I like the light on the daughter brighter and more focused and the Mother stepping back a bit out of the light and relinquishing her control of her daughter by slightly turning away.
That is my answer to your question. My question is which one "works" for you. I will be curious to know what the statistical break down of responses that are returned to you ie. #1 or #2 etc.
...On to your questions. Question 2 first: I think that the second portrait works best. But the answer to the first is no, I do not feel that these are working as well as you can make them. I hate to say that but I must be honest. Here is my thinking. I feel that you are trying to do at least two things with this 'series: mood and relationship between the mother and daughter. Their relationship seems, for the most part, not to be with or to each other but with the camera. I suggest that you try posing/positioning them physically to emphasize their relationship and to forget the camera. I feel that you are on the right track with lighting by having one emphasized, bringing one to the front, perhaps you could be even more dramatic with this. The mother barely visible and just a hint as to the daughter's origin or the two as equals but very different from each other, or very much alike... Whatever try and make it more apparent that their relationship is important. Black and white with toning and vignetting sets a mood so make sure that it relates to the mood of the subjects. Whew, am I ever full of it! Anyway, those are my reactions. Back to your first question: For most artists these are quite good. I just know enough about you and your work to know that you can make them absolutely superb and want you to cross that line that so few of us can cross. Keep at it, this has the potential to be an extremely powerful series and you can do that. I look forward to seeing your next step. Best wishes, s
From: LL Date: Monday, January 24, 2011, 3:08 AM ...S's response was very good, encouraging and prodding. However, I think that you accomplished the feeling of mood and family relationship in that photograph. And I disagree with his analysis about the relationship to the camera. I like the daughter peering so intently at the viewer/camera and the mother slightly turned away and looking inward. Its a great portrait. My only suggestion has to do with the vignette. It seems a bit too obvious for my eye. ...
From: RD Date: Saturday, January 29, 2011, 11:55 AM
Luba,
...Speaking of light--I found your portraits heavy and brooding overall, both in the filter used and the vignetting. The door, blank wall, and expressions added to the starkness. All of that "worked" in creating a strong, emotional image. I wasn't drawn to them because of that heaviness, and yet, if that is what is true about these two people and their relationship, then you succeeded. The third one, with the mom (?) walking into the background--I like that motion, although the girl's pose feels stiff and standard. From my perspective, these images don't have the force of those that you showed at Whidbey.
I hope that's useful feedback, and I hope your creative life is rich in all ways.
...definitely agree about vignetting - in the final version it should be much more subtle...
i am also tempted to disagree with ss - the relationship with camera is a definitive element or might be a definitive element... symbolically representing our relationship with the outside world, perhaps? the degree of self-consciousness, perhaps? I am still rolling it in my head...
6 comments:
On Jan 22, 2011, at 7:27 PM, LP wrote:
Hello to All of You -
My question (actually, two questions) is/are
- does it work? if it doesn't - what seems to be the problem/s? etc...
- which works better?
Appreciate your time and thoughts...
From: LL
Date: Sunday, January 23, 2011, 1:46 AM
...As for the question at hand, I am puzzled by your question, "Does it work?" I can only say that for me the second photograph is the strongest. I like the position of the Mother and daughter on the same level. I like the daughter 's expression looking directly at the camera resolved to be her own person. I like the Mother's inward looking expression feeling the weight of her life. I like the light on the daughter brighter and more focused and the Mother stepping back a bit out of the light and relinquishing her control of her daughter by slightly turning away.
That is my answer to your question. My question is which one "works" for you. I will be curious to know what the statistical break down of responses that are returned to you ie. #1 or #2 etc.
LL
From: SS
Date: Sunday, January 23, 2011, 11:06 AM
...On to your questions. Question 2 first: I think that the second portrait works best. But the answer to the first is no, I do not feel that these are working as well as you can make them. I hate to say that but I must be honest. Here is my thinking. I feel that you are trying to do at least two things with this 'series: mood and relationship between the mother and daughter. Their relationship seems, for the most part, not to be with or to each other but with the camera. I suggest that you try posing/positioning them physically to emphasize their relationship and to forget the camera. I feel that you are on the right track with lighting by having one emphasized, bringing one to the front, perhaps you could be even more dramatic with this. The mother barely visible and just a hint as to the daughter's origin or the two as equals but very different from each other, or very much alike... Whatever try and make it more apparent that their relationship is important. Black and white with toning and vignetting sets a mood so make sure that it relates to the mood of the subjects.
Whew, am I ever full of it! Anyway, those are my reactions. Back to your first question: For most artists these are quite good. I just know enough about you and your work to know that you can make them absolutely superb and want you to cross that line that so few of us can cross. Keep at it, this has the potential to be an extremely powerful series and you can do that. I look forward to seeing your next step.
Best wishes,
s
From: LL
Date: Monday, January 24, 2011, 3:08 AM
...S's response was very good, encouraging and prodding. However, I think that you accomplished the feeling of mood and family relationship in that photograph. And I disagree with his analysis about the relationship to the camera. I like the daughter peering so intently at the viewer/camera and the mother slightly turned away and looking inward. Its a great portrait. My only suggestion has to do with the vignette. It seems a bit too obvious for my eye. ...
LL
From: RD
Date: Saturday, January 29, 2011, 11:55 AM
Luba,
...Speaking of light--I found your portraits heavy and brooding overall, both in the filter used and the vignetting. The door, blank wall, and expressions added to the starkness. All of that "worked" in creating a strong, emotional image. I wasn't drawn to them because of that heaviness, and yet, if that is what is true about these two people and their relationship, then you succeeded. The third one, with the mom (?) walking into the background--I like that motion, although the girl's pose feels stiff and standard. From my perspective, these images don't have the force of those that you showed at Whidbey.
I hope that's useful feedback, and I hope your creative life is rich in all ways.
B
On Jan 24, 2011, at 2:46 AM, LP wrote to LL:
...definitely agree about vignetting - in the final version it should be much more subtle...
i am also tempted to disagree with ss - the relationship with camera is a definitive element or might be a definitive element... symbolically representing our relationship with the outside world, perhaps? the degree of self-consciousness, perhaps? I am still rolling it in my head...
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