The Thinker

[BlueRob]

No, not Rodin`s piece of marble...
Experimenting (again) with myself I ended up liking this one from my self portrait series. This probably be the last one that I play with....I`m getting tired of watching my ugly face in the screen as probably you do too

[Shebang]

I read your latest posts on your featured photo and thought "Huh?" Thinker? What Thinker?? I missed this one. Apparently everybody else did, too.

While I think you did achieve greater clarity in this one, and it does really "pop," and I really like your technique here, for me, your expression just doesn't quite work -- and it could be that some of the punch is lost solely because this one follows right on the heels of your first -- that may be why you didn't get responses??

Back to my "expression" issue: I don't see a contemplative, quizzacle (spelling??), searching look in your eye - but rather, I see more of forced or determined or angry or maybe even pained look -- the thought even crossed my mind "Do you have a headache?"

So, though technically (what little I know about it), I do think this one is certainly as good or better than your first, for me the expression you pulled off in the first was the superior...and I like the blue shirt better.

...and your face is not ugly.

[gahspidy]

Hey Rob, I like the look of this one as well as the hand position. The fingers against your head has an odd way about it, almost as if it is anothers hand reaching up, but in an interesting way. I do like the strangeness of it. The one issue about the portrait for me is your head fading away into the background. I think more rim or hair light would have helped. It would not have to be much but just something to set off the rest of you for added dimension.
I also think the blue shirt as in the other photo really set things off and worked nicely. Here, the gray shirt just does not get things going as well.
I like this, but it just doesn't hit like that last portrait does.

[Shebang]

Hey, you should go another round and put it up for the December project or the Selfers thread -- if you haven't already.

[Frog]

If I had such a face, I'd do more self-portraits. I imagine you can portray many human emotions very well. Whether this works as "thinker", I don't know but it doesn't matter as it does portray feeling and thought and is up to the viewer to discern what that his in his/her individual case.
I have no complaints. It might be a little soft but that may be what you wanted.
I can't decide if the finger shadow by your right eye is too distracting or if not but the hand position is great and I'm being really picky to say anything about it at all.

[draymorton]

Agree with frog. T'would be handy to have the appearance for SPs. All the time and aggravation it would save.

I do like the pose and would like to see how all of this works in b/w. I get the sense that it could like a classic portrait of a character acter.

[BlueRob]

I read your latest posts on your featured photo and thought "Huh?" Thinker? What Thinker?? I missed this one. Apparently everybody else did, too.

While I think you did achieve greater clarity in this one, and it does really "pop," and I really like your technique here, for me, your expression just doesn't quite work -- and it could be that some of the punch is lost solely because this one follows right on the heels of your first -- that may be why you didn't get responses??

Back to my "expression" issue: I don't see a contemplative, quizzacle (spelling??), searching look in your eye - but rather, I see more of forced or determined or angry or maybe even pained look -- the thought even crossed my mind "Do you have a headache?"

So, though technically (what little I know about it), I do think this one is certainly as good or better than your first, for me the expression you pulled off in the first was the superior...and I like the blue shirt better.

...and your face is not ugly.

Thanks for taking time a let me know your thoughts about it. I was laughing in pain with you headache comment LOL but I think you hit the nail as you my fellow Americans would say...definitely this type of pics require a strong bold and raw expression which is what this technique is made for, and yes now that you mention it the expression of the other one is much more interesting. On the blue shirts subject I`ll work it out to have it blue again it definitely makes the rest pop out.
Thanks:thumbsup:

[BlueRob]

Hey Rob, I like the look of this one as well as the hand position. The fingers against your head has an odd way about it, almost as if it is anothers hand reaching up, but in an interesting way. I do like the strangeness of it. The one issue about the portrait for me is your head fading away into the background. I think more rim or hair light would have helped. It would not have to be much but just something to set off the rest of you for added dimension.
I also think the blue shirt as in the other photo really set things off and worked nicely. Here, the gray shirt just does not get things going as well.
I like this, but it just doesn't hit like that last portrait does.

Thanks a lot Gahspidy. I`ll work on the blue shirt and will make the shadows less aggressive as suggested. I`ll post a remake with all the pointers and suggestions to see the improvement.:thumbsup:

[BlueRob]

Hey, you should go another round and put it up for the December project or the Selfers thread -- if you haven't already.

Good Idea!

What I`m thinking :idea: is to look for a different shot and start over taking into account all the comments and suggestions from this attempt and the previous in the search for perfection and post it.

[BlueRob]

If I had such a face, I'd do more self-portraits. I imagine you can portray many human emotions very well. Whether this works as "thinker", I don't know but it doesn't matter as it does portray feeling and thought and is up to the viewer to discern what that his in his/her individual case.
I have no complaints. It might be a little soft but that may be what you wanted.
I can't decide if the finger shadow by your right eye is too distracting or if not but the hand position is great and I'm being really picky to say anything about it at all.

LOL! I must say that your are also quite photogenic also Frog.

Regarding the shadow on my eye is one of the trades that I liked from the beginning, having my eye partially covered in shadow and touch light in the near finger, you know a shadow and light play in the same area. Yes, the intent was to make a portrait with a sort of muted tones opposite to my first attempt which was more strong (eye popping) if that applies as a technical photographic term
Thanks for you comments very much appreciated.

[BlueRob]

Agree with frog. T'would be handy to have the appearance for SPs. All the time and aggravation it would save.

I do like the pose and would like to see how all of this works in b/w. I get the sense that it could like a classic portrait of a character acter.

LOL! In a parallel universe I`m a top male supermodel....here I only dare to Draganize myself.

Great idea Dray I will try it in B&W to see how it works, I`ll post it ASAP.
Thanks Dray:thumbsup:

[kisu]

It certainly 'works' for me and I like the placement of your hand with the shadow falling accross the eye. I agree that it might look better in B+W though - maybe giving it a more dramatic look?

[BlueRob]

It certainly 'works' for me and I like the placement of your hand with the shadow falling accross the eye. I agree that it might look better in B+W though - maybe giving it a more dramatic look?

Thanks Kisu I`ll give it a try on B&W and post the result

[BlueRob]

:mad2: I didn`t save the PS file and had to start over to make the corrections
One color and one B&W...you`ll be the judge

[LeeIs]

Lovely work man. love the first one you posted. Great portrait and nice PP

[BlueRob]

Lovely work man. love the first one you posted. Great portrait and nice PP

Thanks Leels!

[GB1]

This image definitely has a powerful draw. The lighting, black background, pose, composition are all very good, and I love the way his hand is placed on the forehead, etc. The only negative I could say, and it's debatable, is that it may seem a tad bit posed. Otherwise, excellent shot.

G

[BlueRob]

This image definitely has a powerful draw. The lighting, black background, pose, composition are all very good, and I love the way his hand is placed on the forehead, etc. The only negative I could say, and it's debatable, is that it may seem a tad bit posed. Otherwise, excellent shot.

G

Thanks very much for your comments GB1, glad you like it.

[Frog]

Congrats on the featured photo! Well deserved!
The b/w has its merits but I do prefer the first version!

[BlueRob]

Congrats on the featured photo! Well deserved!
The b/w has its merits but I do prefer the first version!

Thanks Frog! BTW this pic was Featured ? I haven´t seen it Oh! maybe you are referring to my previous post "draganized"

[Frog]

Oops! yes dragonized but both worthy.

[BlueRob]

Oops! yes dragonized but both worthy.

That´s enough for me