Garland

[Old Timer]

A candid portrait of a Bluegrass artist. Garland has been singing and picking all his life in Bluegrass bands. A close personal friend of Tom T. Hall since childhood he was on stage last Saturday afternoon and turned to look at the banjo player to his right. I was just off stage right and snapped this image as he glanced over at me. Just like you opinions.

[Seb]

A candid portrait of a Bluegrass artist. Garland has been singing and picking all his life in Bluegrass bands. A close personal friend of Tom T. Hall since childhood he was on stage last Saturday afternoon and turned to look at the banjo player to his right. I was just off stage right and snapped this image as he glanced over at me. Just like you opinions.

OT, I think that the tones are great and your picture shows great personality. You have captured something here. I am concerned by the very bright area on the right side though. Since one side almost seems solid black and the other one is pretty much solid white, I would be tempted to fill the washed out area with black, cloning the color from the left side. Just some thoughts.

Seb

[coachgns]

Don't know the guy, but this picture tells alot about him. To me it shows a life on the road. I really like the way you captured this.

[Old Timer]

OT, I think that the tones are great and your picture shows great personality. You have captured something here. I am concerned by the very bright area on the right side though. Since one side almost seems solid black and the other one is pretty much solid white, I would be tempted to fill the washed out area with black, cloning the color from the left side. Just some thoughts.

Seb

Very good suggestion Seb. This was taken in a covered pavilion and the stage area had a black equipment trailer parked behind it. Since I was to one side I caught the van on the left and open sky on the right. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Old Timer]

Don't know the guy, but this picture tells alot about him. To me it shows a life on the road. I really like the way you captured this.

Thanks that is what I hoped the image would say to the viewer.

[Overbeyond]

Hello Old Timer
I agree with Sebs observations etc but I have to say you brilliantly captured a beautiful face. I assume the strap may be that of his banjo. If so I feel it is a pity the instrument was not included in the shot. I'm a big fan of Bluegrass and all the old Appalachian stuff as it is so closely related to Irish traditional music.
Could I recomment a book to you.
"There is no eye" by John Cohen of the New Lost City Ramblers folk group. Beautiful photographs from the Appalachians and it's musicians and lots more too.
Tom

[Old Timer]

Per Seb's suggestion.

[Alison]

Gorgeous shot OT.
Plenty of character captured in his face.
I like the tones and the composition is spot on but then it would be because you are an awesome photographer.
And I love your lighting. Did you use any flash at all?

The white didn't bother me at first but now you have blacked it out it looks even better. However, the top of the black edge needs just a little softening.

[Old Timer]

Gorgeous shot OT.
And I love your lighting. Did you use any flash at all?

The white didn't bother me at first but now you have blacked it out it looks even better. However, the top of the black edge needs just a little softening.

No fill here all natural light, that gave me fits. Yes I'll fix that later this was kind of quick fix to see how it looked. Thanks for the very positive comment.

[Old Timer]

Hello Old Timer
I agree with Sebs observations etc but I have to say you brilliantly captured a beautiful face. I assume the strap may be that of his banjo. If so I feel it is a pity the instrument was not included in the shot. I'm a big fan of Bluegrass and all the old Appalachian stuff as it is so closely related to Irish traditional music.
Could I recomment a book to you.
"There is no eye" by John Cohen of the New Lost City Ramblers folk group. Beautiful photographs from the Appalachians and it's musicians and lots more too.
Tom

Thanks for the comments and the book suggestion, I'll checkit out. There is a lot of Bluegrass music all around where I live, might say it is the local music of choice. Several large Bluegrass festivals will be held in the next couple of week very close by, it's a shame you can't be here.

As for the strap, you're right it is for his instrument, but I think the image would have suffered had I included it. I feel that he intensity and character in the face would have been lost somewhat by a wider angle shot that would have included the instrument.

[coachgns]

I certainly cannot articulate why, but there is something in the face originally that seems to be missing in the "fix." It FEELS better as it was originally - I feel his age & the life he lived better. Just my totally subjective opinion.

As for photos of the appalachians, my S.O is an artist, and she has been to that area of KY twice to teach workshops, and insists that it is the most beautiful place on earth. Her "masterpiece" from that area however is a piece done at the Coal Miner's Memorial - a tribute to those who lost their life in the mines.

We are going to Alaska next year - I wonder if she'll still put the Appalachians as #1. She still puts it above Acadia, Santa Fe/Abq, and Phoenix area.