Gloria Sprung
September 2019 - Tom the Vet
About the Image(s)
This is Tom, a vet who I came across at the local neighborhood McDonald at breakfast time. The image is several years old. Using my point and shoot camera I took several images and chose this because of the clarity of eye. Camera settings are 1/100, f/4.0, ISO 80. In Lightroom, I made global adjustments and straightened the image; then sharpened the face in PS and added a vignette.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted
Striking.
Rough wrinkled skin against soft sandstone brick. His left eye captures mine in a deep captivating sense. With his deep stare the Marine in and him being Navy beckons rivalry, all friendly banter of course. My minor wish is for more cigarette holding arm and I find the image warm and satisfying as a proud old salt and honorable vet would. Thank you! Posted: 09/07/2019 18:13:30
Rough wrinkled skin against soft sandstone brick. His left eye captures mine in a deep captivating sense. With his deep stare the Marine in and him being Navy beckons rivalry, all friendly banter of course. My minor wish is for more cigarette holding arm and I find the image warm and satisfying as a proud old salt and honorable vet would. Thank you! Posted: 09/07/2019 18:13:30
Thanks for your comment Dan! As a follow up - my subject was there again the next day- this time I asked him if he wouldn't mind moving against another part of the wall a few feet away to this solid background. And I got this image and a few others as well. I gave him 4x6 prints later. Posted: 09/13/2019 06:07:12
Gloria, both images are good example of street photography portraits. I like the first option better where he has a more intense look, plus I like the background. The second image has the additional distraction of the McCafe cup, plus the angle looking up of the cigarette. Posted: 09/13/2019 07:32:30
Thanks for your feedback Isaac! The second time I was a little more prepared; shot in Vertical portrait mode to get the hands, and had him move to a different background. But as you mentioned - the moment was not there. One of the problems I face with being height challenged is that my camera position is always tilted :( Posted: 09/13/2019 08:53:45
Love this street portrait. I especially love the detail of the dangling ash from the cigarette. I like the angle of the second one and the background/simplicity of the first one. It also takes a lot of courage to take street portraits so awesome job on getting up close and personal!! Posted: 09/14/2019 21:59:23
Nice subject to photograph. Like Lauren mentioned both have positive elements. Finally I prefer the second one but with a solution to eliminate the can (crop, stamp...) and after clear up the white of the eyes. Posted: 09/20/2019 04:46:10
Very Interesting portrait! His character is there for a beautiful portrait, the lighting is nice and the colors as well. I have made these changes: made a crop to focus more on the face and made one spot of rule of thirds on his eye. in addition to making the corners a little darker to direct the eyes more to his face.
Nice work! Posted: 09/21/2019 07:00:01
Nice work! Posted: 09/21/2019 07:00:01
I think you have captured Tom's life in a picture. Past military with cap and shirt to prove it. Beard stubble, long hair, and cigarette ash suggest a do not care attitude. Finally there is a suspicious look that tells me he doesn't trust many people. Very good. Posted: 09/29/2019 21:59:26