Manhattan no.2

[Seb]

Something a little unusual for me...

Seb

[Trag]

Hey Seb, not that I'd exactly be qualified to offer a critique on your shots, but I have to say that I love this shot! I know it's not your usual style but I jsut really like this. I love the gentle lighting through the window and from the lamp on the left, it just gives the image a real old-time feel. Where the two people are positioned is also great, you just get a little sneaky glimpse and it lets your mind wander as to what he's doing and what she is looking at.
The only thing Im unsure of is the doorframe/wardrobe(?) on the left, I just can't decide whether it would be better in or out!
All in all, a wonderful image!

[Overbeyond]

Dear Seb
This has got tons of atmosphere and mood. Almost a bit chilling. I love these type of shots and you have come up with a very good one. I would like to see a little more detail in the dark areas below the window sills. The luggage on the bed is a little in the way also. These are tiny nit picks.
But I feel the wardrobe on the left is an essential inclusion as it gives us some light releif in what would otherwise be a dark area.
Reminds me of that old film starring whats his name (something Stewart) where he is in a wheelchair and notices someone spying in to his appartment from a building opposite; probably have this all wronrg; the old memory is going!
My favourite shot on this forum in a good while.
Tom

[yogestee]

Seb,,,this one has mood and impact..I would have cropped a bit tighter off the top and bottom....Good stuff all the same..

Jurgen
Australia

[molaselake]

What a great shot. It looks almost like it was taken from a movie or a painting. Actually, the composition itself a little like Vermeer's "The Music Lesson". Or maybe the perspective checkerboardish floor is just making me think that...I do, however, think it could be lightened up slightly. Awesome composition and subjects, though.

[Ronnoco]

Too much lost detail in the black areas and the angle of the shot does not work. It should have been shot from a side angle to show the faces. It is also not clear from the angle of this shot as to what the purpose of the photographer was.

Ronnoco

[Lava Lamp]

Something a little unusual for me...

Seb

Like it. Wish maybe you could seea bit more of the woman's face, if she were turned to the side and lit a bit better.

[Overbeyond]

Too much lost detail in the black areas and the angle of the shot does not work. It should have been shot from a side angle to show the faces. It is also not clear from the angle of this shot as to what the purpose of the photographer was.

Ronnoco

I agree about the dark areas but why do we need to see their faces? Showing their faces would 'reveal all' so to speak, exactly what we dont want. It's much better and more fun to imagine what the rascals are they up to. Seeing this now at home on my calibrated monitor I tend to agree with Trag concerning the frame on the left.
Tom

[Seb]

Trag: Thanks for commenting. I felt that the inclusion of the wall edge was useful to frame the left side of the picture but that's just my personal take on it.

Tom: Thanks. This is actually a "decisive moment" kind of shot. It was taken during a recent week end in Manhattan with friends, soon after we entered our hotel room. I saw them standing as they were and felt that I should capture the scene, without them being aware of it. The luggage on the bed does bother me but I can't recall having noticed it at the first place and couldn't have moved it without loosing the moment.

Jurgen: Thank you for your suggestion.

Molaselake: Thanks a lot! Your comment is most flattering. I can't take credit for the set up as I have said to Tom.

Ronnoco: Thanks for sharing your view. I'd like to discuss the points you have brought considering your professional background. First of all, the darkness on my two friends and in the area of the desk near the window is the result of a deliberate post processing as the original RAW file was slightly overexposed. I experimented few different approachs and decided to go for that kind of luminosity as I was concerned to set a mood and definately wanted to silhouette my subjects. Michael Reichmann once discussed the concerns usually related to shadow areas in the course of a workshop and mentioned that it worths to learn to embrace shadows rather than systematically trying to retrieve details as it can be moody but also because it reflects how the human eye perceive things in reality. I may have pushed things a little too far in this specific photograph but I don't know if the missing information in the shadow is relevant.
Also, considering your view on the angle used, I was drawn by the distance and relative mystery arround my subjects. Shooting them at angle to reveal their face would have lead to a totally different photograph as I see it. Better or worse? That's a matter of personal perceptions.

LavaLamp: Thank you for your suggestion.

best regards to all

Seb

[Yoyo Szeto]

Hi Seb,
The shot has a mysterious atmosphere. The fixture on the left suggests that the couple were secretly peeped by someone. I wish the dark object on the bed were not there and the protruding object on the left were removed. Otherwise, it is a neat pic to me.
yoyo

[natatbeach]

not much by the form of a critique except ---great deviation from your usual style---I likie!!!

[Seb]

Yoyo: Thank you for your suggestions. I definately agree about the protruding lamp on the left and the luggage on the bed. These are items that I would remove if I could reshoot this.

Nat: Thanks!

Ronnoco: So, what about my take on shadows and my compositional goals? I am truly interested to pursue the discussion on the topic to a constructive level.

Seb

[McMadCow]

Ronnoco: So, what about my take on shadows and my compositional goals? I am truly interested to pursue the discussion on the topic to a constructive level.
Seb

I like where you're going with this shot, Seb, but I do agree that too much is lost in all the black. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for a 99% black shot, but what DOES show has to be all the more important so that it has an impact. I think that "something" is missing here. There's just no moment or story that I'm seeing. What I will say, however, is that I can forgive that because I see this shot exploring a creative avenue that doesn't really get seen very often on this board. Keep it up and you'll come up with a winner.

[yogestee]

I agree with Tom,,,,the lack of detail in the faces adds to the mysterious nature of the image..

Jurgen
Australia

[gahspidy]

Seb, I like the mood alot in this scene, and the dark areas with no detail helps convey that mood to me. I would like to feel more of a scenario, or story going on here, and showing their faces or not may not be the answer. But the mood that is brought out by the lighting and dark shadows keeps this photograph interesting for me. I would have to say that I feel this shot would work well in a series of shots that may help define the subject, but this does not work as strong as a stand alone piece. I like where your going . . .

[Seb]

McMadCow: Thanks a lot. I think that I see what you mean. Your comment is very inspirational. I'll keep this in mind the next time I face such a situation.

Jurgen: Thanks!

Gary: I am glad to see you back! I understand your point. I guess that there is no real story here. I was essentially drawn by the "graphic" nature of the scene and the questions that I have thought viewers might ask themselves while looking at the photograph.

best regards to all, I will be out for the next two weeks.

later!

Seb

[Tuna]

You've successfully drawn us in to the room where we find our interpretations fuelled and many of them fulfilled. I believe for many and certainly for me, this one is a treasure for the imagination.

Tuna

[yogestee]

You've successfully drawn us in to the room where we find our interpretations fuelled and many of them fulfilled. I believe for many and certainly for me, this one is a treasure for the imagination.

Tuna

I agree Tuna....If an image can promote debate it has done its job as this one has done...Thanx Seb for posting Manhattan no.2..

Jurgen
Australia