john_a5

Fred, and that's the wonderful thing about all of this. For me, the overall lack of sharpness is what helps this. I think it gives it more of a sense of immediacy rather than being more staid. It has its problems either way, but for me these things end up helping it.

Focus is one of those things that can often be overrated. It is important when it is but its absence can take an image to other places when used effectively--alla Sarah Moon for example. I agree that this image is a pretty ordinary scene but that it does have a "something" about it that is also pretty nice (not the toning, however). Having had two golden retrievers--which are some of the most independently minded dogs--I relate to this scene and I think the less than extraordinary setting and nonchalance of the second dog pulls the image back from where it might have gone. (I realize these aren't Goldens) The magenta appears more to be a vignette gone wrong as it wrap around the outside like a "containment" procedure (edge burn) would. This can often happen if one is working a b/w image in rgb and works above a neutralizing layer. I tend to ignore titles, but I think this one portends what might have been if the setting was a bit more mysterious. Right now, "the unexpected" seems only the when he will need to pull out his doggy waste bag. That said, I still find the image interesting, but maybe just because the treatment (blur) is so unexpected for such an ordinary event.

Sometimes things are just what they are... I guess I see this image as a document of an event that one would document if one were shooting a wedding--or the client would want to know why! Now, some might have chosen to come in tight on the two while here Nicolaie decided to also record the context as well as the event. For me, I think that is more interesting as the spotlight is maybe a bit less common while it also lends to giving less options to the photographer's viewpoint (without getting their shadow into the shot). As such, and having no control on the positioning of the people, you sort of get what you get and you look to make the most of it, which I think was done here. What I like is the fact that the "blacks" aren't blank and we can still make out the man's complete outline, rendering him both a shadow and a presence. I find some of the other interpretations here interesting and might be fun to ponder although I doubt anyone involved here would even go near this....Mrs. Robinson??? I think the image works fine for what it is, a document of a moment with a little creative decision making that makes it a bit more special than some other alternatives may have.

As I read the responses here and looked at the image I think there are a lot of indications that this image was probably recovered from a somewhat underexposed image..maybe more than somewhat. What I see in the face that is being referred to, I believe, as the difference between gritty and dirty are essentially post processing artifacts, what you get when you try to recover tone that isn't there but keep contrast--similar to the posterized look that was mentioned. Technically, I do think there are a lot of issues that have been mentioned and I do feel the image is a bit cramped in the framing as it is--what is the rounded protrusion on the bottom of "her" right side? Anyway, lots of room at the top but seems truncated at the bottom. Not suggesting the image is terrible in the overall attempt, just needed to be better exposed and processing issues would probably be remedied.

Lex, oddly, when I first joined PN about 10 years ago I did it under a pseudonym that could have been thought as female. I didn't post photos and yet got hit on more than a few times when all I ever did was make comments on the POW and images. Not sure it takes any explicit motivation for some......

OK, Fred McMurray in "My Three Sons!"...glad there is soneone out there who cares..... ;))!

addendum to my last post... Just looked at Alfonso's website and it makes me wonder. The work there has much more substance there than what we see in his portfolio here--in fact, it makes you wonder why the difference--is it pandering to the audience on these pages or....?

My first hit from this image is sort of Fred McMurray in "Father knows Best". Although I am not a big fan of highly processed images, this one seems a bit more tame than many I saw in Alfonso's portfolio and think it would probably have more application than many of the more over the top images might. From a technical aspect, the construction of the image, it is actually pretty well done and even the processing holds a certain line that I would see very applicable in today's commercial market. But the inconsistency, from fairly straight forward to fantastical in the portfolio leaves me a bit cold--not a photographer I would be willing to hire nor take too seriously overall. Regardless of style, consistency of presentation is an important factor IMO.