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Interesting. There is a lot going on. If you subscribe to the conventional theory that the viewer is drawn to the lightest areas of the photo, you run the risk of having everyone focus on the window, when you want people to focus on the people. That kinda happened for me when I looked at it -- window first, then nicely lit woman at left, then wondering what was on her shirt and if someone wrote that in after shooting the photo. Then I wondered about the woman on the right and gave up on her a bit, since I couldn't see her very well. Then I looked around the room and spent a little time on the jocky photo, coming back to the table and thinking the glare of the tablecloth is too much, but looking at the bottles.
I think what I'm trying to say here is that you have the chance to tell the story the way you want and selectively darken or lighten areas of the picture to support your storytelling. I'd think about how you want to do that -- or maybe you like it "as is" -- after, all it is your picture.
I can partly relate to LavaLamp opinion but my first impression was that these two women were conversing while a nuclear war was going on outside. Why? I can't quite explain the feeling (it must have something to do with the strong light coming from the window vs the relatively soft tones inside). The effect is strange and it draws my attention.
The window is a bit of a distraction, but it was not the first area I was drawn to. The older woman grabbed my attention first and held it, and the shirt is strange because of the look of writing on it that seems to be done after the print was processed...I like that.
I like the individuals being split, causing tension with the bottles and smoke being a good go between.
This photo may turn out a bit better with less contrast (just a bit). Have you ever done split filtration on a print? I had a print similiar and by using a #.5 or 1 filter for 1/4 to 1/3 of your total print time (remaining amount of time you use your normal filter) you could pull some detail out of table cloth and window. This method takes a bit out of your highlights.
Cheers.
I'm always mentally photographing everything as practice.
Minor White
The thought of a nuclear war going on outside while looking at the picture makes me think it's more interesting than it actually is .
When I was in the darkroom looking at this in the developer, I was wondering what was all over Sue's (the older woman) shirt. I had been developing several pictures of her at different stages of her life and it seemed like every one of them had that same blob of light. It took me awhile to realize that it was smoke. Her sweatshirt reads "Field of Dreams". Aside from a few minor details (the old scanner likes to throw in white dots in the black areas sometimes and they're a pain in the ass to try to fix) , there was no post processing used. I do have another print of this where the window is much more muted, but it's still stuck to a picture board at my father's house. It seems windows and I don't get along very well.
You know, I've never tried splitting the exposure time with two different filters.I'll have to try that when I'm in the darkroom tonight.
That's fun! Dig it! Although it seems a little funny that the expolsion is so small it fits the bottom window frame only, maybe it's just a nuclear skirmish, those get pretty bright too I hear! :lol: Just Kidding!
I liked the homeyness of your original image and I like that you are not so respectful of these dear ladies that you could put a small A-bomb between them. I think you were dealing with the realities of the scene for putting them both in the frame so that the conversation can be even. The window light is a necessary evil to light their faces and because that is the set of the scene. From what I've seen of your B/W work that's been posted here you tend to lean toward glowing ghostly whites in otherwise dark places so this also seems in step with your style. I think it works. With or without the bomb.
[QUOTE=CLKunst] it seems a little funny that the expolsion is so small it fits the bottom window frame only, maybe it's just a nuclear skirmish, those get pretty bright too I hear! :lol: Just Kidding!
QUOTE]
Ha! Yeah, that was just some fun I had because I was wondering what that would look like after Seb's comment. And hey, it could be a slightly far off skirmish, damnit!
I have a total lack of respect for anything connected with society, except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper, and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer. Brendan Behan
I like the mood of the shot (with and without the bomb). There is an intensity to the expressions that makes it work. I too felt that the older woman was the main focus of the image when I first opened it.
Marty in Central Illinois - The Land of Corn and Flatness!
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Originally Posted by molaselake
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Now that's art! 
