Peter Elliston
June 2021 - Tony in the Caravan
Original
About the Image(s)
Detail: This shot was taken from a larger image - see original. During the pandemic my friend Tony and I found a crumbling caravan in a field and I decided I could use it as a set for some odd shots of Tony who was keen to dress up using some of his collection of hats. So, this is Tony in his matador hat peering out from the broken window of the caravan. As you will see I have tidied it up quite a bit. I think mono suits Tony’s face pretty well.
Taken on Fuji XT3 1/125 @f4 ISO200
This round’s discussion is now closed!
13 comments posted
I think the lighting works well for B&W with a useful degree of contrast from the centre of his face to the sides. Also the short depth of field is to my eyes effective as it leaves only his face in focus in this crop yet establishes a sort of internal fame with the window and cupboard without them becoming a distraction. His face is well sharp.
I think Tony would also suit a French beret and a string of onions for the next shoot; just a thought.
I also wonder, even though he is a friend, whether he might like a little bit more space. I am not suggesting that he cannot support the close-up of this B&W, but I do think that the angle of his head and narrative of him "looking out around the corner" might suggest keeping more of the original shot: the cupboard door as negative space to balance his head and to take it off the centre line. As in ... Posted: 06/02/2021 20:46:55
I think Tony would also suit a French beret and a string of onions for the next shoot; just a thought.
I also wonder, even though he is a friend, whether he might like a little bit more space. I am not suggesting that he cannot support the close-up of this B&W, but I do think that the angle of his head and narrative of him "looking out around the corner" might suggest keeping more of the original shot: the cupboard door as negative space to balance his head and to take it off the centre line. As in ... Posted: 06/02/2021 20:46:55
Thanks Gerard. I like the idea of the negative space but was not happy keeping in too much of the foliage which is out of focus. As it is I have left in a few leaves but even they are maybe a distraction - see Michael's comment. Posted: 06/04/2021 02:59:53
(Groups 3 & 83)
Peter, what a beautiful portrait! Your friend has a very interesting face that really lends itself to monochrome. You have posed him well and your final crop works really well. My only suggestion would be for you to clone out the leaf, as I feel it is a distraction to an otherwise excellently composed and edited image. Posted: 06/03/2021 21:19:37
Thanks Michael for your comments. As for the leaf - that's one of those difficult decisions. I left that in to give some kind of context to the shot even though it is out of focus and indistinct. Sometimes it's a just a case of making a decision and living with the fact that it will be OK with some viewers and not with others. In a competition what for one judge might be a problem, for another it would be fine! It's a bit like if you have a photo of a model and part of a foot or hand is cut off but everyone knows it's there. Posted: 06/04/2021 03:04:23
(Groups 3 & 83)
So true! …and such is the subjective nature of our art form! The artist only has to please him- or herself! Posted: 06/08/2021 00:28:04
(Groups 3 & 83)
So true! …and such is the subjective nature of our art form! The artist only has to please him- or herself! Posted: 06/08/2021 00:28:05
Hi Peter,
You captured a very nice portrait of your friend. His black shirt and hat works well for a black and white image. Good exposure and well composed. The window frames his face nicely. His features are very sharp. I wonder if you cropped off the bottom of the image just below the collar of his shirt thereby creating a square headshot image. Then you could eliminate the out of focus leaves. Just a thought. Posted: 06/04/2021 19:44:41
You captured a very nice portrait of your friend. His black shirt and hat works well for a black and white image. Good exposure and well composed. The window frames his face nicely. His features are very sharp. I wonder if you cropped off the bottom of the image just below the collar of his shirt thereby creating a square headshot image. Then you could eliminate the out of focus leaves. Just a thought. Posted: 06/04/2021 19:44:41
Thanks Barbara - I may try that tight crop. Posted: 06/05/2021 03:04:15
Hi Peter,
You have captured a lovely portrait and it works so well in monochrome. I would crop the bottom to just above the big leaf as I find that very distracting. Maybe a light black vignette might draw your eyes to the face and not the edge and the out of focus leaves to the right of him. Just a suggestion.
Apart from that you have just enough light and shadow on his face to show off all the detail. Posted: 06/10/2021 21:14:55
You have captured a lovely portrait and it works so well in monochrome. I would crop the bottom to just above the big leaf as I find that very distracting. Maybe a light black vignette might draw your eyes to the face and not the edge and the out of focus leaves to the right of him. Just a suggestion.
Apart from that you have just enough light and shadow on his face to show off all the detail. Posted: 06/10/2021 21:14:55
A great portrait, wonderful face full of life and character expressing a great story. I would also crop more off the bottom to eliminate the leaf or clone it out and perhaps a little less light on the left side of his face. It does look good and I bet he had fun posing as he looks like he's enjoying himself. Posted: 06/11/2021 15:53:11
Peter, I love the character of this man. I made a visual image of what I would do with this image. Good catch. Posted: 06/13/2021 18:22:16
Thanks for your comments Linda. I will experiment with a tighter crop. Posted: 06/14/2021 02:54:18
This is my visual file. Posted: 06/14/2021 08:36:15