photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> CSLR Challenge 81: Simplicity (Host: Jim Harrison) >> Exhibition > 11th Place
sonata
by Michael Puff
previous | next
11-NOV-2006 Michael Puff

11th Place
sonata
by Michael Puff

This gent is both a talented model and a talented musician. He wanted a portrait that said "concert violinist", nothing more and nothing less...that seemed simple enough at the outset but took us awhile to acheive the goal. I'm very open to discussion as to how portraits might fit into this challenge topic.

Canon EOS 20D ,Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
1/125s f/3.2 at 35.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
share
Guest 29-Nov-2006 06:37
Victor, I really appreciate your support of the original in pending because it's not a crop...it is the original image as framed in the viewfinder. I too like the original, it appeals to my sensitivities, but then I'm biased because it's what I wanted to accomplish.

However, I recognize that as artists we must first be true to ourselves and then learn to speak to a viewing public. A number of the comments, including Lonnit's suggestions, speak to creating an image that maintains strength on both first viewing and subsequent viewings. I felt that was a worthwhile exploration. I think you are correct that the current crop results in a different image, better or worse will be in the mind of each viewer. Still, I think it was important that I explore the suggestions. Frankly, I'm pleased that the image has sufficient strength to garner opinions that are polar opposites. I do appreciate that you took the time to share your opinion. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge26-Nov-2006 00:14
I prefer the one in Pending. I also showed both to my daughter, who hadn't seen either before. She preferred the one in pending because she likes the color better (so I told her to ignore the color) and because she can see more of the instrument. Then after viewing it a bit more she said she really didn't like the new crop as much. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge26-Nov-2006 00:14
I do feel this is more comfortable. He seems like he's supposed to be down there now, where before I felt like he was accidentally there, although, I knew YOU would never make such an blunder. I think you went a tad less drastic than I, yet I'm fine with this crop. Nice work! ~ Lonnit
Guest 25-Nov-2006 20:01
Uploaded a new crop. The original version is in the pending gallery for your reference. This is pretty much so the crop Lonnit suggested, which I do think makes for a very dynamic image while still maintaining my original intent. Thanks again to all of you for your comments...I'll keep them in mind for future portraits. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge22-Nov-2006 04:42
Very dynamic photo Michael. The story I see is that the violinist has just finished a lively piece of music and has brought the instrument to it's natural resting position while the body has come to a complete stop the hair has not and that the hair displacement is caused by the final action of the bow. My tendency in this case would be to have a tighter crop emphasizing the fingers, the violin and the contemplative expression which are wonderfully lit. That's just me. The negative space also works for me, in which case you can never have too much of it. I experimented with cropping the bottom 10% since it's already clear what the subject is. Anyhow, it's a wonderful photo as it is. Just some blabbering thoughts. :) ~kt
Guest 20-Nov-2006 05:10
Oh, my gosh. Just thought I'd check in after a fast and furious weekend...I never expected to see this much dialogue. I need to read through everyone's posts when I'm not exhausted and I can absorb it all. Still, I wanted to say thank you without further elapsed time for taking the time to share your thoughts. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Nov-2006 13:35
I love this portrait Michael, lighting terrific,... but my 'Acme book for budding photogs' tells me I shouldn't? If I'm ever gunna pass my boy scouts certificate of happy snapps... I'm gunna haveto come to grips with this here 'negative space' thingy?

I would have cropped a bit to bring the eyes up from centre'ish but then the proportion was too different.. so I had to crop a little off the RHS about the knuckle of his index finger.

But I really like yours... WHY? Regards Bob. (it would be interesting for everyone to post their preferred comp. of this!)
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Nov-2006 01:40
A very dramatic image, Michael. I have no problem with the violin and position of the bow as some have pointed out, it curiously forms a "V" shape and in my opinion encourages the eye to explore the rest of the image. Cropping can be a personal taste issue and for my personal taste, I would have cropped just enough to leave some "space" between the top of the bow and the top of the image. You could probably as ten photographers and all ten might give you a different personal opinion on how the crop "works" for them. Beautiful image and I'm sure your client was pleased with the resulting image. Markjay
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Nov-2006 21:44
Wonderful portrait Michael, and I believe you achieved your goal of presenting him as a concert violinist. The formal suit he is wearing and the beautiful instrument he holds says it all. I also like the crop and how the bow and the strings form a "V" [ for violin? :-) ] which is echoed in the "V" formed by his lapels. The placement in the frame is a little different from what many expect but the negative space above him adds to the dramatic effect of the overall look. He must be very pleased with his portrait! :-) CJ
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Nov-2006 21:05
I realize the violin is not the subject. The violinist is. And what is a violinist without a violin? Granted, you don't need the whole violin. Either crop presents just a portion of it. The counterpoint to your statement, "If the violin was so critical to the image, Michael would have included it in full", of course is, if it weren't critical, he would have eliminated it. He didn't do that, either. The bottom line for me is that when I look at both pictures, Michael's crop is more pleasing to me than yours is. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Nov-2006 18:30
You and your rule of thirds. I tried out your suggestion, and it does present a different picture. I don't think it's better, though -- just different. One thing you sacrifice with your idea is most of the body of the violin.

As presented, on the other hand, the violinists hand is close to a thirds intersection, and the bow goes through the other lower one. Drawing lines between these two points and the far corners results in an intersection over the violinist's face. The triangle formed by the bow and the strings also nicely frames the face. This is lost with your crop since it detracts from the triangle.

-- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Nov-2006 17:01
In terms of being simple, compositionally, this is right on topic, despite it's depth as a character study. It is a fantastic portrait. I do have critical remarks as well, though. The most crucial thing is that you broke the rule of having the eyes along the upper line of thirds. That's splendid, however, you know what I always say, "If you're going to break the rules, don't just bend them, SHATTER THEM, or it's just going to look like a mistake.". I've seen too many people take pictures composed this way out of inability, not artisticality. Pick up any non-photographer's photo album and you'll see plenty of shots with all this gaping space above - or they'll go the other extreme and chop off the tops of everyone's head, a la my brother in law. ;) I would have preferred you go further, and put his eyes on the lower line of thirds, instead of the horizon line. Right now I feel like you chickened out, not having the guts to go all the way with it. :) SHATTER IT, Dude! Other than that, it's really a stunner, although I do believe the bright side of the face, the most important part of the image, is a tad OOF.

I played with it in PS and I realized something. If you're going to break a rule, it's extremely important to keep the other rules solid, to anchor the image and give it strength. You broke the rule of thirds with the eyes, so now you must be sure to strictly adhere to it in the rest of the image. To do that, crop off the bottom of the image so that the strings and bow exit the image directly at the point where the left and right lines of thirds exit the frame. This also results in the the bow touching the left frame at the upper line of thirds. This also causes the lower line of thirds to run thru the head of the instrument, right at the point of the highlight on the tuning peg, additionally, on the left side of the image, the lower line of thirds will then run a line dirctly at the level where the hair meets the bow, underlining that line of highlights. This suggested composition results in a stunningly powerful image that really enhances this brilliant portrait. For the record, the image, at medium size, would become 267x368 (a crop of 32 off the bottom).
~ Lonnit
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Nov-2006 16:44
By left of the model I mean towards the tossed hair side, the side which has the light source. -Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Nov-2006 16:42
Great capture Michael, I like the lighting very much. I like the tossed up hair and I think that adds a nice dynamic to the shot. And I hope you would not mind my take on it. If it were mine, I would work on it a little more and do the following things:
I would reduce the empty space on the top and add the same space on the left of the model. Plus I would include the connection of the rod (don't know the technical name) with the instrument OR the other hand. As it is right now its just floating in mid air with nothing to anchor it in the photo. I am OK with the visible hand coming out of the dark to hold the violin, but would have prefered a little light to see some connection to the gent. May be a little light in the background to show the profile of the hand.
-Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Nov-2006 15:49
This is, IMHO, a *wonderful* portrait: I’d be quite proud if I had shot it (and probably also if I were the person portrayed). But as you explicitly ask for it, I dare telling you: I consider this to be anything but «simple»: on the contrary, I find this a very complex image... — db.