high key Veny

Wonderful portfolio, this IMO is not one of the best. I am sure the lack of contrast was your vision but it just is not my cup of tea.

 

With respect ,Grinder

Marketa, you do a wonderful job of posing your subjects. This one in particular, attracts me, however in this one I don't like the tinge of background material showing along the subjects back and above and to the left of the head and hair. In your other high key photos, this background shows, but is extensive enough to not mistake for an error on the part of the photographer. In this one it looks as if you were trying to eliminate it but were not successful. Just my opinion. Otherwise I like the pose and the high key effect just fine. I enjoyed looking at your other photos. Very interesting with lots of experimentation in effects. Nice!

I am back at life drawing class at art school. I've seen this pose countless times by

countless

models. I believe that there is more line than form here. Lets get out our graphite or conte

and learn about Cadmus or Watteau. The idea is to understand thick and thin lines by

pushing and pulling the form in a linear way. We learn to define space with line. We learn

about sublety and the essence of things. When drawing like this we are in the sonata form

musically. This weeks POW, of course, is not a drawing but a photograph, so what I said

previously may not apply. Marketa is trying out a new effect in her portfolio but is

achieving a similar result with the rest of her work. Although she does seem talented, her

work is unable to break the surface visually. Most of the pictures of people suffer from

forced poses and uninteresting compositions which leave ,at least this viewer, feeling

empty and wanting more content. I respect her artistic decision to alter her pictures

however she wants, especially if it enhances our experience with her work. In this case I

am really feeling detached from the subject, but at the same time appreciate the

pyramidical structure in the pose ( symbolizing strength) and the pure light and shadow

effect on the form. The face and hair confuse the image slightly and the shadow on the

floor seems a little weak. We might check out some of Jim Adams work with yoga poses as

an interesting comparison. Hips

I think this is a delightful presentation of form and composition using the best control medium available today,i.e., Adobe Photoshop. To make this image in a darkroom with chemicals would take a day, two boxes of paper, and countless chemical dips. Pay no attention to the "artists" who say you copped out to your computer. I see that none of them have posted anything as good as your image.

This photo shows us the softness and beauty of the woman. Some people think that you have to shoot and then keep it like it is, they dont that the world is improving, I think shooting is just 30% of the job and developing or photoshoping is 70%. So you did a good job at last you want to show us a visual art and now we are seeing it, It's beautiful, full of meaning and give messages.

I think people dont have to judge somthing like this, they can say I like it or I dont, or I like this style or I dont.

By the way even without wings she look like an angel. Congratulations.

Well... I didn't know marketa at all before facing this POW. First thing I did, since it was recommended by someone in this thread was to have a look at her other works. Admittedly, I saw a couple of pretty good pictures in her folders, but to be very straight for words, I do not share the enthusiasm about this POW, and I do not share the enthusiasm some have shown about Marketa's portfolio as a whole either.

 

The portfolio, imo, shows both strengths and weaknesses of equal magnitude, and mostly, I feel Marketa spoilt quite a number of her uploads with sloppy or distasteful Photoshop work. So where does this POW stand within this portfolio ? Imo, it is neither here nor there, but probably quite good in terms of aesthetics.

 

I will make no comments about the tones, because they'd really need to be judged on a print. Tones are harsh, but this may be due to imperfect PS work or could just be the result of jpeg compression on borderline tones - which always need fine nuances.

 

My first comment will be very subjective: this picture is, for me, as boring and unoriginal as it gets. There is some grace in this pose, but this pose has been known and done hundreds of times, exactly the same way, and generally in high key mode as well. See M. Mezra's work for example, which is the same kind, but much more original in terms of poses, and done with more finesse imo. I feel there are really quite a few nudes - even on PNet -, that deserve credit for being different and for expressing strongly the photographer's personal and original vision. This POW, on the other hand, is just, to me, a well done but typical school training photo. I wish we could find on the site more original POWs than this.

 

Then, second point, I agree with Paulo P.'s previous post. This is not a high key, but became a high key using photoshop, which left the hair darker than it should be compared to the skin. Do I object to that ? Not really, and certainly not because I dislike PS work. I feel it's a much easier task to achieve a high key with PS - and can even be a way to save a poorly exposed shot. On the other hand, whether it'seasier or not is no major concern to me either. But in the end, I would at least wish for a very tasteful and less stereotyped outcome, at least. I mean: what's the point of using PS to produce something that was done already a thousand times, and better, by photographers using only film and wet lab mastery ?

 

Now, one thing truly bothers me here: her lips on her knee... This single detail, for me, damages greatly the elegance of this pose. What's the model doing ? Answers may vary from "kissing her knee" to "posing for the photographer", but I'd say that none of these 2 hypothesis sounds very attractive to me. Wouldn't this picture be much nicer if the face would be completely hidden, with the hair falling with elegance on the leg ? Or perhaps just the opposite, with the model looking somewhere in front or on the ground by her side, her eyes visible, and an interesting expression on her face ? Here, the face is neither here nor there, the chin and lips position don't make sense to me, and they were, in my view, the only original bit in this photo.

 

In short, I apologize for a comment that may sound very harsh, but I don't like this picture, although I'd probably rate it good or quite good in aesthetics. It is technically ok - at least till we see a print and can really discuss tones -, and it is not unpleasant to look at, but it bores me, and shows that the photographer was this time only able to produce a fairly poor variation on a boring text book example. (Just my honest opinion, nothing more.) Regards.

Wow, Marc .... that is a thorough and well-written critique. Well done. Whether she agrees or not, Marketa can learn from that. When I read a critique like that written by someone who's opinion I respect as I do yours, it confuses me. It changes how I look at the photograph and I have to wonder if I am changing my opinion only because I am easily influenced or if I am just recognizing that I didn't think about the picture enough. However, in this case, I can't completely agree. The pose may be somewhat unoriginal and I have certainly seen varients of it, but it still seems fresh enough to me. Perhaps I just haven't seen enough of the history of photography to judge this, like the picture of the race track (the rock) that seemed so original until I realized that there were at least 20 other shots on PN just like it. All the same, I like the the pose and I like the lips on the knee. I can recall women curled up in a similar pose and resting their lips on their knees for a pensive moment. To me, it seems a bit wistful and completely natural. I do see your point, but I think this works also. As for the PS work, that's what I find most attractive here. I agree that high key work has been done by other artists in wet labs to a higher standard. Yet, there is something about the skin tone (if that is the right term) and the drawing look that really attracts me. If it were just an imitation of high-key, I would agree with you. But, I see something similar to high key but taken in a slightly different direction. That's what I like about it.

This is indeed a nice photograph, well executed. But it is too "perfect", too soft for me. A bit

kitsch. But this is a question of taste.

My taste says Yes, I like the softness of it all. It does look like a drawing and that is why I do like it. Executed perfectly.

As David Blair mentions, the shadows don't concur with what I would expect from real high key lighting techniques. Also like others here, I do not find any originality in the pose or treatment.

 

The portfolio does have several 'pretty pictures' but for me they lack depth, originality, but most of all a sense of naturalness.

 

For my taste Marketa's work is more 'artificial' than 'art'. I would like to see Marketa experiment with different ideas, and interact more with the models, perhaps capturing some photos outside of the posing session when the models are more relaxed, revealing true aspects of their personality.

original :-)

Sorry for the above nonsensical comment. I wanted to post the original photo before retouch, but it did not work. This is another attempt to post the original photo.

As stated in my previous comment, using PS to produce a high key "can even be a way to save a poorly exposed shot". Since Marketa was kind and honest enough to post the original in this thread, and seeing now these badly over-exposed legs, I'd say we are indeed looking this week at a rescue job...

The old "Photoshop" issue again, humm. This reminds me of the old "white on white" images of the 50's-60's. I happen to be very fond of them. Thus, one reason I like this image, very nice hi-key effect. It is most certainly possible to create this image without the use of any unacceptable use of PS & with the use of a digital camera. In camera over-exposure is the key. I speak from experience. I tend to believe this image was created this way, then the background shadows were enhanced further in PS (what many consider-unacceptable use of PS). It's neither simple nor extremely difficult. The key is to use the digital camera's RAW format, a lighting setup with the correct ratio between lights & then over-expose of the shot in the camera. Thus, resulting in a pencil-like drawing with wonderful detail in the hair & nice white, smooth skin, while retaining the deep shadows needed to keep the subject from floating off the background.

 

With this said, I'll move onto the actual image. The triangular form created by the woman's body creates an eye pleasing continuous movement. Up one arm, to the head, down the other & across the leg, assisted by the leg shadow. Some what like reading, left to right. My eyes stop for a second on the hair, which seems to have been captured as the woman moved (otherwise it would be hanging straight down, unless of course it was glued that way. Doubtful). The flowing position of the hair assists & guides the movements gentle flow of the eyes. Together, when taken in context with the soft exposure, gentle positioning & the eye movement they create, the image emits a soft, feminine feel, nicely appropriate.I like that.

 

Old pose, yes. So? With that in mind, I can see where this could be considered "old " or "boring". Especially for those that have seen this pose used many times in the past. However, it looks to me as though the photographer had just told the woman to rest her neck. (I'm sure this position with the head extended is not easy to hold). For me, she is not "kissing" her knee, but gently resting her chin & mouth on her knee. So with my theory in mind, it makes the image a more natural pose.

 

I love the slight violet toning, much less harsh then true B&W. The only real problems I see is the blotchy shading around the form, the lack of detail in the falling hair (this hair seems a little blurry) & a little dark outline at the bend of the top knee, it also appears added in PS. I don't find the shading displeasing, but I do see that it looks added or enhanced in PS. But, again, because this image looks & feels like a pencil drawing, the shading looks as though the flat of the pencil was used to create the shading of the background. In my opinion, it becomes appropriate. I agree, the right-sided arm & hand are a little over-exposed, but this also encourages eye movement, making me more likely to "read" the image from right to left. Possibly making it more interesting :) Especially for lefties. Correcting this over-exposure does enhance the image detail, but I think it slows down the eye flow, making the viewer have to choose which way to read, right to left?, Left to right?. I prefer it over-exposed.

 

Basically, I find the image aesthetically pleasing to look at & technically interesting. I would be interested to see the original image for comparison.

Boy was that fast :) As I was writing, the original was posted. Thanks Marketa :)

Good tone, this is art. DDD

i love this. much kudos goes to the model for the perfect tiangle!

This does not look like a "rescue job" to me. Some photographers intentionally overexpose or underexpose while maintaining a vision of the final result that they want to achieve. Unless Marketa says otherwise, I'd like to think she planned the look in the POW we are viewing. I've often blown highlights intentionally, or overexposed an entire frame with the end vision in mind.

 

I found the background texture around the model's back and hair to be a bit distracting. You have to view a larger version of the image to see it.

 

I like the form and pose. Very classic, but some models pull it off better than others. This model was definitely the right choice.

i love it!nice tone and line. if the model is off center,that will be better.

I have to agree with Marc G's impressions. This is a competently done photo and certainly fitting for a commercial portfolio. Having seen so many similar shots like this though, I don't find myself being highly interested by it. Sorry. I'm finding more of the amateur photos of nudes posted here on pnet much more interesting because of their more natural and "non-commercial" look. As soon as I see a seamless backdrop and evidence of studio lighting my brain turns off and I move on.

I love this photo and composition, still when compared to work done by Maxim Kalmykov http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=3539487

and by Igor Amelkovich http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=1411756 (same pose) my preference rests with them. To me this image reminds of a drawing more than of a photograph and it is a matter of personal preference which one likes most. Beautiful work nonetheless!

It is interesting to me that today we find the original posted, as I thought this might be the

case as to the original exposure. There is a difference, and i may not articulate it well,

between a high key printing and a photo shot high key. Generally the high key printing

requires a robust mid-tone photograph without a lot of very high or low values. So that

contrast can be matched to move everything up without losing detail and yet allowing

some stronger lines to remain. A high key photograph(shot) will lose the values in the

highs as we see here, in the POW and more pronounced in some of the others in the

folder--particularly on the buttocks of some of the seated models. This one benefits from

the larger area of the entire side being overlit rather than just the limited area of the

others, but the tones are still a bit too overexposed to maintain a more desired effect from

this technique.

 

Overall, as i said yesterday, I do like the form and treatment, even if they are not that

original. But as i kept coming back, and having read Marketa's background, I do think that

the way the hair is so haphazard really ruins what could have been a nice form and line

study. I think that is why so many of the classics in this genre have the hair rolled tight to

the head, so it is not an issue. That is not to say that flowing hair could not work, but it

does inhibit the flow and spontaneity of a shoot to having to be constantly restyling the

hair with every movement of the model, and that, obviously, was not done here.

 

As I mentioned yesterday, and others have said in other words, there is some artiface in

much of Marketa's work, but I also think there is some latent talent that just needs to

mature and push through the predictable and safe.

Great critique Mona! Both positive and contructive. I especially liked your explanation on 'high key', a term we often use but don't really understand what is meant or how it is achieved. Interesting reading and insights.

I have to agree with Anders Hinga about the pose. It is a little stiff and not at all sensual to me. I am not sure what the intention of this photo was: to portray an emotion, or to use the human form in a more abstract manner. The gentle, yet bright presentation seems to indicate the former, while the deliberately sculpted pose seems to indicate the latter. Somehow the message is getting a little crossed. Anyway, I plan to take the advice of several of you and visit this portfolio; it really isn't possible to judge Marketa's work by one photo.