George and his Art

[CLKunst]

A simple little picture of a simple little picture. What does the board think of this?

[swmdrayfan]

Hiya C.L.
This fellow looks pretty proud of himself.
John

[Overbeyond]

Cl; I like this picture a lot but would like it a lot more if the blue background could be changed. He has a lovely humble face and the waves on his forehead are wonderful. Try a b/w on this. It might well work.
Tom

[sweetdeal22]

what asa were you using? the picture seems a little grainy.
also... i cant really tell... but i think the focus is on his forehead and his hands... i think the photo would pop out a little more if the focus was on his eyes.


is there more to this story?

nice shot

[CLKunst]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to look and comment on this one.

John - I'm not sure if he was proud but he was very sweet and happy.

Tom - I think you're right about the black and white conversion but his painting is nothing but abstract colors, so I decided to split the difference and do a selective color (Again. . . sorry! ) I'm trying to not to over use this technique but in a situation like this it seems to be effective; please let me know what you think of the results.

Jessica - Yes it is grainy, I took it at ISO 3200 1/90. I was caught without my bounce flash and refuse to use the on camera unit unless it's for fill on a sunny day and even then I don't really like it. His eyes were very heavily shadowed by his brow and the overhead lighting which is probably why I was off on the focal point a smidge.

You want the George story? You got it. Here it is:

I was invited to go on a local cable access show and be interviewed about my concert photos, show some work and basically get my name out around town. I went to the studio to do the thing and while I was there George walks up to me and kisses my hand as an introduction. I was charmed. Then he asked me if I would take his picture. I said of course. I always bring a camera out with me so I was more or less ready. We scouted out an uncluttered spot in the lobby of the studio (He wanted me to do it at the lunch room table but I refused! ) and I took his picture. I turned away for a sec to check a setting and he was gone! I thought that must be all I get and started to walk back into the studio and then he was back with this little picture of his. So I took a few more quick snaps of him with his painting and then went back to being nervous as hell. I didn't really put a lot of thought into the shot at the time as I was distracted about the interview (I don't end up on the OTHER side of the lens too much you know) so I didn't work it as hard as I should have perhaps but I was so bowled over by this sweet man and his gentleness that I was happy to do it for him. The adjusted image I am attaching is a truer sense of the actual lighting. In the first post I lighted the area around his eyes considerably to bring them out at all. That's what I get I guess for not bringing the full kit with me everywhere I go. I could have fixed all of the short comings of this image if I had had my gear and my wits about me.

Sorry folks. I'll have to post the picture later, the server has taken 20 minutes to upload one dinky picture. I'll try again late when less folks are on.

[dbutler]

WOW!! That's awesome CL! I really like George too. I like his heavily furrowed brow. It shows maybe a life not so easy, but he can still find beauty in this world, or create his own! And I like how he holds his picture so close, against his chest. As if it's a very part of him, and not some inanimate object.

[CLKunst]

Here's the 2nd try.

[Lava Lamp]

A simple little picture of a simple little picture. What does the board think of this?

I have been reflecting lately on success at given endeavors and I think one must be either very good or very different to stand out from the crowd. The "stars," of course, are both.

I like your picture (a lot) 'casuse it is different. Probably taken too close and with too wide an angle lens, but if we push further back with a telephoto we end up with just another average picture. It's different, too, 'cause of that wry expression George has.

I think this is just excellent. Perhaps some asjustment in color and contrast would make it pop even more.

[Overbeyond]

I think this has worked out well. The background is grainy put not a real problem.
Really nice photograph indeed.
Tom

[CLKunst]

Thank you Tom, I like it both ways now. I had considered doing this right from the start but was afraid the SC bit would be too cliche. Now that I've done it, it works for me.

Thank you LL those are some very kind words. I shall sit down with focus this weekend and look closely at the few others of him I took for comparison and do some tweaking.

D, he was practically hugging it! He didn't offer a word of explanation either, one minute he didn't have it the next minute he did and after I took the shots he kissed my hand again turned around and went home. He volunteers at the TV station so I will have a print done up for him and probably just drop it off there for him to pick up. What a character!

[CLKunst]

I tried a variation of that painted effect that GB and MJS were talking about in the Painted House thread out on my friend George. I am pleased with the way it helps control the grain and lighting but is it too soft now? Whatchotinkadat?

[mpreslar]

CL, The face is a bit too soft in the 'Painted' one, but I like the rest of the image. I think if you put the 'Painted' look one on-top of the sharp one and do a partial erase back on the key points of the face (eyes, mouth, tip of nose, hairline... Heck, with his great forhead, you might do the whole face) with about a 80% eraser it might make it better. All-in-all, it is a very sweet picture.

[Alison]

I love the first selective colour image you did. Although it does look a little grainy.
Great composition though and he looks so happy with his painting.
I love selective coloured images that have meaning. This one definitely does.
It's a painted painting ;)

[CLKunst]

Now that I look at it here it looks too light AND too soft! Fiddle, fiddle, fiddle! I shall try to use Marty's suggestion and some up with a better blend.

Thanks Alison! I appreciate your comment.

[sweetdeal22]

i like the second one the best

for being so nerveous, I give you a thumbs up for having your camera with you and actually taking the shot ;)