Which one captures character of the subject? [Archive]

serissolutions

28th of April 2005 (Thu), 19:59

I am working on capturing the essence of the person I am shooting. I want my shots to be more than preplanned portraits. I am looking to show the subject in his day to day activities while allowing the viewer to get a glimpse at his character.

Did I do that with any of these?
Which do you think has the most artistic look to it?
Any worth framing?

http://www.serissolutions.com/photos/images/Children/Young_Michelangelo.jpg

http://www.serissolutions.com/photos/images/Children/Artist_at_Work.jpg

http://www.serissolutions.com/photos/images/Children/Picasso.jpg

I just thought this last one was cool..
http://www.serissolutions.com/photos/images/Still_Life/Tools_of_the_Creator.jpg

cyclone

28th of April 2005 (Thu), 20:13

Actually, I like all three. Each has a different aspect. On the second, maybe you could crop out the window shade on the right - it is distracting. Also, if you could blur out the houses across the street as seen through the window, it would help as well (on all three).

Skip Souza

28th of April 2005 (Thu), 20:41

I like them all, but if I had to choose it would be number three.

Dimitry

28th of April 2005 (Thu), 21:17

I like # 2 and #4 the best. They seem different then your typical photos

LadyHawk

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 00:25

My favorite is the second one, Seris. He is looking so intently at his palette...

Carzee

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 00:38

Ditto on that second one!

http://www.serissolutions.com/photos/images/Children/Artist_at_Work.jpg

symes

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 00:54

I prefer to see the faces of young children...I find it adds more to the picture and I think you have done what you want with # 1...The others have some distracting qualities to them - the houses in number 2, and for some reason my eye takes me straight outside on number 3 even if the scenery is not all that prominant...

Andy_T

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 04:18

If your aim is to cover the 'essence' of your subject, then I am afraid your son somehow has a dark, somber character :wink:

Other than that, they are very nice :D

Best regards,
Andy

lmelendez

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 05:53

I like the second one.

tim

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 06:10

2, for sure.

serissolutions

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 07:18

If your aim is to cover the 'essence' of your subject, then I am afraid your son somehow has a dark, somber character :wink:

Other than that, they are very nice :D

Best regards,
Andy

Good comment.
Well dark on one of them. I thought the others were not as dark.

I was at iso1600, 1/20, f4
I didnt want to go to 3200 because of the grainyness. Out door light was very cloudy. I could not get it brighter without blurr.
I am a noobie, so maybe I just shot it wrong.

serissolutions

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 07:20

I hear alot of votes for 2 but dont you think the background is distracting?
I thought 3 was best.

Thoughts?

Carzee

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 07:28

hear alot of votes for 2 but dont you think the background is distracting?
I thought 3 was best.

Yeah and the easel isn't well outlined in pic 2 either - but its the pick of the shots seen so far.

ajbalazic

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 07:31

All are nice but I like #2 best. As mentioned, background is distracting. Nothing a little PS won't fix.

Steve Parr

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 07:40

For me, the houses in the window are just too distracting. For that reason alone, I prefer #1...

Steve

Michaelmjc

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 08:14

I prefer number 1 as well. Great compostions.

erics

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 08:32

I prefer number 3. I like the way he seems oblivious to the camera and deep in concentration. I like the slightly wider view as it defines his location better, but I find it does not distract from the main focus of the picture.

stelogic

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 08:58

number 2 for me .. great shots

cfcRebel

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 09:12

I just read about some guidelines for good painting. Surprisingly alot of those guidelines are applicable to photography. Based on what i learned from them, #2 definitely serves the point of "I am looking to show the subject in his day to day activities while allowing the viewer to get a glimpse at his character". Because you have two main subjects - your son and his painting. They should not compete against each other for viewer's attention. The painting in #1 and #3 was brighter than your son's image. Thus the painting captured more attention.

As some already mentioned, the background of #2 is distracting. Perhaps you can add more bokeh to the bg to make your son and his painting stand out more?

Just MHO. ;)

serissolutions

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 10:35

I just read about some guidelines for good painting. Surprisingly alot of those guidelines are applicable to photography. Based on what i learned from them, #2 definitely serves the point of "I am looking to show the subject in his day to day activities while allowing the viewer to get a glimpse at his character". Because you have two main subjects - your son and his painting. They should not compete against each other for viewer's attention. The painting in #1 and #3 was brighter than your son's image. Thus the painting captured more attention.

As some already mentioned, the background of #2 is distracting. Perhaps you can add more bokeh to the bg to make your son and his painting stand out more?

Just MHO. ;)

Wow great point of view

Fer

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 11:09

I love them all!... cfcRebel has a good point, so therefore my choice would be the last one, GREAT photo! :D

Starfleet_EMH

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 11:13

I'm for #2: The picture is reduced to the "basics" -- the silhouette outlines a very young artist totally focused on his painting. The reflection of the color paste on the [I-don't-know-how-U-call-the-board-thinggy-in-his-hand] show that although he just started with his work, he's already "into" it. Maybe that's another "Picasso?" ;)

I definitely agree with others, that the bokeh is quite distracting. Otherwise, great shot!

EMH.

PS: That's another 2 cents from me -- oh boy, with all that money, you can buy some ice cream for your son already :lol: !

Mills

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 11:14

Number 2 for me.

Starfleet_EMH

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 11:16

Something else came to my mind: How would the picture look like if the left window was covered with blinds as well?

EMH

Fer

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 11:18

Something else came to my mind: How would the picture look like if the left window was covered with blinds as well?

EMH

Good point.

jfrancho

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 11:18

Number 1 is showing the subject at his most creative, using the handle of the brush to create an effect in his artwork. This gives me more insight to the subject's personality than any of the other photos.

serissolutions

29th of April 2005 (Fri), 14:46

Number 1 is showing the subject at his most creative, using the handle of the brush to create an effect in his artwork. This gives me more insight to the subject's personality than any of the other photos.

Wow! Great observation! I was wondering who would notice that first. I didnt even notice it until my wife pointed it out.
-A