Man at the Table

[gahspidy]

For lack of a better title right now.
Here is an experimental SP.
What do you think?
Thanks

[Lava Lamp]

Made me think of this: http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/i.../sweeney_l.jpg

This is a good enough photo that critiques are more on the level of quibbles and perhaps random observations. Some of mine would be that the hand on the book looks too large. that I would prefer to see the last line of book's title (presumably "death," but I idly wondered if it could be "health"), and the watch facing toward you, not me. Also the table top looks too smooth and modern -- not in keeping with the rest of the details, which show texture and have a vintage feel. Finally, the highlights in your eyes are a little too large -- large enough that I notice them, anyway.

Like I said, quibbles.

[CLKunst]

"Contemplating It All"

I see you got a trim, OK. I don't blame you. Still looks great. These are very interesting tableaus you keep offering up. This one has got some good story to it as well. No technical nags to offer other than I wish there was a background or a dark setting to go with this scene. Everything seems to be happening in a vacuum. Perhaps thats the point. Keep going Gary!

Edit: On second look, I like the background - the texture is good but it still feels a little vacant. I'll have to keep thinking about it. Call me greedy, if you like, I just want it all.

[Frog]

It amazes me when a photo shows up in critique that I have to look at really small details to find anything to critique.
Reading what others have said, I actually think the watch should be facing you as why would someone put a watch there unless it was to check the time.
The book, the glasses, the mouse are all perfect. Their purpose is clear in some cases, but not in others. Glasses..ok to read with, book..ok to read...watch..?, mouse?
Then one starts wondering if the book being read has more meaning and how it relates to the other objects and they to it and to HIM.
Good stuff!

[daq7]

Great shot as usual. The light is really excellent.

[hminx]

Curious about the hand position Gary, is that a masonic thing or something ? Are the ellements a random collection or do they have some relevance to one another ? I feel you are trying to tell me something but I seem to be missing the story here, Its a great picture though.......

[apass]

Man in its thoughts in deep meditation digesting another point of view… it works for me…excellent setting and theme besides its good execution maybe a lower key could work better. If anything, as some one already said the clock could be in the wrong orientation.

[draymorton]

Dude, that's one of my favorite Michael Jackson tunes!

I love the shot, but second hminx's questions and sentiments. I love how you've arranged everything and how all of the elements play off of one another. Now, what does it all mean?

[Shebang]

First I really like the texture/color of the sweater against the backround and the hair and the stubble. I don't like the grain of the table in the mix. I think a tighter grain wood would be more complimentary and the brown of a walnut table would be a better color, I think.

The major thing, though, is I'm getting a confused signal, and I think it's mostly because of the placement of your hand on your face. I look at the title of the book and see love and desire as happy/good things, while death could go either way, depending on one's POV which seems to be the dilemma here. The story I get from this photo is that this guy has been up for days reading and contemplating life, sitting and thinking so long the mouse considers him another fixture and has become comfortable enough to come check things out. I see the eyes as blank with maybe the slightest cock of an eyebrow and the downward distortion of the face as just enough to convey hopelessness - and maybe this is your goal - rather than contemplation. I wonder what more furrowed brow with the look off into space with more upward distortion would be. Either way, I think the face needs more emotion and a more exaggerated distortion by the hand. I hope this makes any sense at all. It's a great photo and as somebody said it's hard to find something wrong, and I don't have the technical know how to even do that. I can only offer two cents of opinion on the emtional aspect of it. One of these days (but not soon) I am going to try a SP.

[draymorton]

Looking at the shot again, I think I may have been seeking answers that aren't there. There is such a thing as over-analyzing an image; not everything is supposed to make sense on a conscious level - or, in some cases, at all. Was the mouse there for a reason? Was the watch facing that way for a reason? Is the hand in that position for a reason? It'd all be cool to know, but, in a way, who cares? It's a great image no matter what.

EDIT: that said, one could ostensibly nitpick that the mouse's tail is cut off. I'm reaching.

[gahspidy]

Hey, really great help and observations here.

Lava, I had to laugh when I opened the Sweeney link. . .I see it I guess its the shape of the hair lol

Actually, there is no deep and deliberate narrative here. I wanted the man at the table to look unsettled, or stressed about something that is eating away at him maybe.. . worried.
Time, referring to the watch is something that can bring about worry or stress to us. We think about having too little time or not being able to meet goals on deadlines, etc. Life is short. . .that sorta thing.
The book and its title are merely another element that we can consider and make of it what we will. the title must read "Love, Desire, Death as there is no "L" before the "T" although we cannot see the "D", we should guess it would be "Death". Is it something in the book that disturbs or worries him? Or is the book being used to try to understand something that is disturbing him in real life events. . .another element just for the mix, to make with as you will.
The mouse is like a witness, or a conscious that is watching over to see that he does the right thing or keeps himself "honest" like his self-conscious perhaps. Again, it is merely fodder for interest.
Really, the elements on the table are there for visual interest as well as a story to be made from it, but we know the subject is unsettled and perhaps worried and we might assume from the title that it has something to do with love and/or death. I agree about comments made on the table.
Paula, your observation of the grain is very good. This is a pine top table and really would not be what I would choose if I had choice. I have an idea for a reshoot that will use an old coffee table that is dark tight grained Teak wood but I will have to makeshift it to fit in and over this table for support somehow, but I think I can have it.
I agree about the comments on the watch, although in the subjects distraught way, it could have been tossed or knocked to spin around. I thought perhaps the viewer was invited into the scene by the watch, book title facing out and the mouse as a viewer like us facing in.
I will try a reshoot with some of these observations adjusted and see how it goes.
I was overall pleased with the shot particularly the lighting, expression and layout as well as the shape of the objects in relation with the subject forming a triangle, but these suggestions/observations are valid and something to consider for a reshoot.
Thanks for your time on this all.

[gahspidy]

Looking at the shot again, I think I may have been seeking answers that aren't there. There is such a thing as over-analyzing an image; not everything is supposed to make sense on a conscious level - or, in some cases, at all. Was the mouse there for a reason? Was the watch facing that way for a reason? Is the hand in that position for a reason? It'd all be cool to know, but, in a way, who cares? It's a great image no matter what.

EDIT: that said, one could ostensibly nitpick that the mouse's tail is cut off. I'm reaching.

lol, thanks Dray. Actually I was wondering if anyone was going to mention that . . an easy fix if it is to be a concern.

[Lava Lamp]

Hey, really great help and observations here.

The title must read "Love, Desire, Death as there is no "L" before the "T" although we cannot see the "D", we should guess it would be "Death".

As Mr. Simpson would say: "Doh!"