Nana's Touch by Canon DSLR Challenge

Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 19: Hands (Hosted by Adam Clutterbuck) >> Challenge 19: Hands Eligible (Hosted by Adam Clutterbuck) > Nana's Touch

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03-JUL-2004	Joe Reilly

Nana's Touch

Image updated 07/11 to (a) ensure the tint really *is* amber, and (b) include an embedded profile. Many thanks to friends here for the candid discussion. Rather than re-work from the original, I've elected to leave as-is and simply carry the feedback with me going forward. Again, my thanks.

I suppose it is sinister. I wonder if there are undocumented strains in my character now "Shining" through [*sMiLe*]...

Canon EOS 10D ,Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
1/180s f/5.6 at 300.0mm iso400 hide exif

Full EXIF Info
Date/Time	03-Jul-2004 11:37:29
Make	Canon
Model	EOS 10D
Flash Used	No
Focal Length	300 mm
Exposure Time	1/180 sec
Aperture	f/5.6
ISO Equivalent	400
Exposure Bias	-0.50
White Balance	(-1)
Metering Mode	matrix (5)
JPEG Quality	(6)
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto

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Guest		16-Jul-2004 08:53
I read some comments with words like "sinister". They sure are entitled to their opnion as our own personal experiences affect the way we see things. To me the expression on the childs face is soft, content, accepting, friendly and intimate...like the child is actually looking forward to that kind and warm touch....very much in keeping with a touch from your nana :)

Guest		16-Jul-2004 08:43
Nice image for the theme of "hands". The emphasis here is on the hands...the touch of someone special which I'm sure is as unique as the hand.

Guest		13-Jul-2004 00:22
IMOP Something about this photo is unsettling for me. Nice concept if it was not ment to be unsettling but the cuped hand is what bothers me.

Guest		10-Jul-2004 00:17
It IS sinister. Just look up the word: "Note: [Accented on the middle syllable by the older poets, as Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden.] [L. sinister: cf. F. sinistre.] 1. On the left hand, or the side of the left hand; left; -- opposed to dexter, or right. ``Here on his sinister cheek.'' --Shak." Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. Seriously, though, I think the way the hand is cupped may contribute to the sinister quality of the picture. -- Victor

Canon DSLR Challenge		08-Jul-2004 08:16
I like the treatment, the soft face of the girl juxtaposed with the sharp hand. But have to agree that this is more sinister than a loving gesture, particularly because of the toning and also because of the combination of sharp hand versus the soft face. Actually it does look like the hand is on a collision course with the girl's cheek, maybe that was your intention perhaps? Would love to see this same shot in sepia with warm toning. Think it would completely change the mood of the pic. Cheers. Vikas

iso3200		08-Jul-2004 08:11
Well I never saw it as sinister, but I must admit that the tone makes it a bit more sombre than happy. To me though, the skin treatment is too much. The hand is more natural and this just makes your little girl a bit strange looking. Also the heavy contrast loses those lovely eyes she has into big black bottomless pits. I can see why others have the sinister point of view. So on that level people are not seeing what you intended to portray. On a purely personal level, I think it's great that you've been straying off of your magic formula pictures, but purely IMHO, this is not up to Reilly standards.

Canon DSLR Challenge		08-Jul-2004 04:23
I think the sinister is in the child. She's got a devilish smirk that tells me she's going to make that evil old witch (who's falsely luring her in with a delicate touch that will suddenly turn violent!) spontaineously burst into flame if she dares to try to pull something on her! Please don't ask me to babysit this child! Is there a long list of missing sitters? LOL! I think the deal is in the green. Oh, yeah - thunk me on the head here! Of course, I get it now. Witches are often portrayed as green, so that's the dusty recess of my brain that made that connection. I'm not big on green for people shots. I think the green turns a beautiful moment evil. Can you try a different tone? Sepia might be nice. The other thing is that b/c the hand is sharp and the girl so blurry, it creates more distance between the hand and face. The distance leaves room for this to become a slap instead of a caress. In a caress the hand would be touching (which I wouldn't be surprised if it is actually touching but that you post processed in the blur to draw attention to the hand) the face. The space now leaves room for the green to take hold and turn the caress into a slap. Good work if this was what you intended. Personally I'm into warmer fuzzier pix! I've never liked scarey movies. ;) LOL! ~ Lonnit

Jonathan (Yoni) Nissanov		08-Jul-2004 03:06
It comes off sinister to my eyes too.

Guest		07-Jul-2004 14:40
I think I stand somewhere between Gayle and Olaf on this one! I wouldn't call it sinister, but I can see what Gayle means by the comment. I'm guessing the aim here was the contrast between the perfect, smooth skin of your daughter and the aged, liver-spotted skin of her Nana, and I think you have added extra softness to exagerate the difference. Like Gayle, then, I think this gives a slightly unreal look to her and it is this which I think is the issue. Of course, as always, just MHO... Phil

Guest		07-Jul-2004 10:13
The image stands as originally posted. Also, mildly amused at the polar opposites in interpretation (Olaf and Gayle). I won't divulge intent just yet, as I don't want to color other impressions that may get posted...

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-Jul-2004 07:10
Was the picture changed? I don't remember it being so green when I first saw it. -- Victor

Olaf.dk		06-Jul-2004 20:39
Don't agree one bit with Gayle, except for the fact that it is a good photograph, of course. The fact that the girl is smiling - and the way she is smiling - shows that this is tender loving care, obviously! Nana is stroking her beloved grand (great grand?) daughter's hair. That's what I see... --Olaf

Canon DSLR Challenge		06-Jul-2004 10:14
Joe....this is sinister. It's creepy and dramatic and extremely well done. The girl looks like a doll, she does not look real, and the old hand looks like it's about to do something harmful. I am quite fond of sinister :-) Gayle