A Holga Portrait...

[mtbbrian]

With my new scanner, I have been going over stuff that I wasn't too sure about when I first did it.
So here is a portrait I did a few years ago. I saw this guy walking around the state fiar park and thought he would be interesting to photograph.
What do you think?
Brian

[almo]

Honestly, and this could just be me being narrow minded, but I see only one professional use for this image. Album art. If he was in a band this would have made a perfect portrait. Good idea, somewhat misused.

[Arctirus]

I'll have to agree, holga seems to often make an otherwise dull shot interesting but it's jut not cutting it here.

[mtbbrian]

Honestly, and this could just be me being narrow minded, but I see only one professional use for this image. Album art. If he was in a band this wouls have made a perfect portrait. Good idea, somewhat misused.

You know John, I don't quite get what you mean here.
Please be more specific in what you mean here.
Thanks!
Brian

[almo]

You know John, I don't quite get what you mean here.
Please be more specific in what you mean here.
Thanks!
Brian

I guess what I mean is that I'm not really feeling that mystical Holga magic from this image, but it does have the look of a punk album or skateboard ad photo. I guess to be more critical, I don't really care for that heavy shadow behind him, and his shadow on the wall is distracting. Also the general lack of definition in the subject and his strange mugshot like profile create an ambiguity that renders him somewhat soporific. The album thing would work well because we would have a reference point for this guy. Even a sports ad would give us some clue about him. As is, as just a stand alone image, it just doesn't move me.

I try not to be that specific, because I know I wouldn't have done any better myself. But hey, knowing is half the battle.

[jar_e]

Brian,

Nice holga stuff, though the shadow in the bottom left bothers me. I agree how this is almost artistic, and an interesting spin on a normally boring picture.

Jared

[gahspidy]

Brian, I like the subject as this guy is an interesting looking character and seeing him in fron t of a cyinderblock wall in that pose adds to the stark feel of the shot. I like the holga magic as it always brings an image above the norm. The only thing i find "wrong" with this is your shadow in the lower portion. I assume it is your shadow as the lighting suggests it is behind you and seems to have thrown your shadow in the frame. That takes away from the image. Still other than Album art, I think it can make an interesting addition to a theme on the study of people.