Comfort

[Trevor Ash]

I don't often post photos for critique but this one is a bit unusual for me. I'm not really interested in any of the technical aspects of it. I'd like to know from you what works and doesn't work about the image in representing "comfort" and giving you that "warm comfortable feeling"

To give you and example of the effect I am after, another idea I could have tried is a photograph of a lit fireplace.

What other thoughts come to your mind when you view it? Personally, I think of reading books too.

Thanks for your comments.

[Elysian]

I looked at this and the first thing I thought.... wow!!
And don't laugh... art was one of these things I thought about and I'm serious.
Let's first start with some minor details. I would prefer a tighter crop at the bottom.
I'm not so sure about leaving some space at the top... I think it would make the image less abstract and the image would "convince" me even more that we're dealing with a lamp here. A black border works well with this image, but I really don't like that gray texture surrounding it; it distracts because the texture and colors are not in balance with what we see in the image itself.

It's not only the colors that relax me, but also the beauty of the light, patterns, curves, shadow, the symmetry, reflections and even the straight line of the table. All of these are in my view in perfect balance, not complicated and that's the reason why I feel relaxed when I look at this shot.
It's also a beautiful lamp with a 'strong character' (can't find other words right now).

My personally opinion is that you HAVE succeeded in what you wanted to express as a photographer, a deeper meaning, in this case "comfort".
I'm happy to see that more people succeed to do this so very well like Gary did by expressing a day in the Central Park.

This is what makes photography so beautiful, not the lifeless carbon copies that we sometimes see.


Well done Trevor.

[opus]

the warm light is comforting. However, the dark areas are scary. I think the dark areas, along with the sharp angles of the lampshade, counteract the comforting aspect of it.

I think for comfort you should maybe put a big cushy quilt or fancy lace doily under the lamp and softly light it. Also, pay attention to the lampshade, maybe change it to a solid cloth shade, something softer. Softly light the whole area. Maybe add a sweet photo frame next to the lamp.


Thoughts that come to my mind: reading, definitely, especially late at night. Homework. A thin cotton quilt. Rain outside. Quiet. The house creaking. Country house or cabin in the woods. Hardwood floor.

This is what comes to MY mind, based on MY experiences.

[Trevor Ash]

Thanks both of you for your comments thus far. Kelly, your comments about the dark and sharp areas are interesting to me. I see what you're talking about.

Regarding the border, I've been experimenting with that lately and appreciate your comments about it.

Thanks again for your honest commentary. I'm already learning more than I thought I would from your feedback.

Trevor

[Elysian]

For me darkness isn't scary. Darkness actually calms me down... reminds me of closing my eyes and relaxing or laying in bed in darkness with my window open and experiencing how this hectic world outside has become so quiet.
Trevor, it's just another example of people having different ideas about color and neither one of us is wrong.

As for how sharp angles counteract the comforting aspect; I don't have a problem with that, because I think it makes this image stronger... it serves as a counter balance, gives the lamp more character, gives the shot more character.
Of course, you can go into extremes and make everything moody and soft, but too much can have a negative effect in my view.
Sometimes you have to avoid to go for the most obvious when you think about "comfort", let the viewer figure it out on his own, let the viewer search for reasons why he feels like that, but avoid labeling it like we label a bottle to tell the viewer what's inside. Anyway, that's the way I look at it and not everybody will agree.

Just showing you a different view Trevor and also showing you that the closer you get to "art", the more different views you will notice (hint) ;)

[mtbbrian]

Thanks for posting over here Trevor, I appreciate it!
Please don't be a stranger here in the Critique Forum.
When I first viewed your photograph the first thought that came to mind was warmth. Mostly because of all of the warm color and light. So to a degree I guess it comfortable.
I like the photograph, it has very interesting compostion in the light, shadow and form.
Brian

[PuckJunkey]

I think this is a pretty nice shot of a very simple subject. To me it's a bit more photographic "illustration" than anything, because of the color scheme and perfect symmetrical nature of the composition. Still, the colors and soft light do convey a sense of "couch comfort" that we're all famliar with to some degree....

[gahspidy]

Trevor, I looked at this image and I immedeiately thought of fine art . .art deco type thing. As I started scrolling up to read comments, I was right in line with what Elysian had stated. a slight crop on the bottom and this is perfection. I like alot that the top of the lamp shade is cut off as it would have just been a photo of a lamp, but somehow cutting it off just where you have turns it into an image about the mood and textures and warmth that the lamp is giving off. And gives it that art feel that I see here. This is such a simple image and yet carries so much symmetry, texture ( rough texture on warm orange wall, smooth texture on reflected table surface and surface of the glazed lamp base) color, reflections, shadows and lighting. A crop slightly off the bottom and rid the gray outside border, is all I can suggest here. I also like the fact that you shot from slightly below the level of the bottom of the shade, allowing us to just peer in underneath giving an even further dimension here.
This is an excellent image. Well done.