Once smiling eyes

He works longer, later and with less appreciation. Sometimes he

feels farther away from us than when he was over seas. War changed

his eyes, but not as much as the cares of affording to live this

life changed his eyes; his once smiling eyes...

this one made me cry... well captured.. my blessings to him

I have to say this picture stood way out compared to the other one.

 

I would have known that Fred had some kind of encouragement in this. I do love the other one for its softness but this one tugged at my heart for its grit under the nails and te stuble on the face. The pout in his lips and the way he pulls at his forehead. Everything about this picture is just as I know him. Down to those eyes. The eyes of my friends husbands. The eyes of my friends. The eyes of my DAD. The eyes of mine when I look at them in the mirror. The feeling of somehow being lost in something and somehow not knowing how to get it back.

 

The horror of something we can't share. He has been somewhere and seen stuff. We, in our personal hell of being alone have been there too. We see everything, all the pain and anguish in the reflection of the eyes.

 

HIS reflection.

 

This is wonderful!

 

~ micki

Perfect portrait!

I like this picture much more than the brighter version (although both are nice in their own way). The brighter one seems a nice portrait, suitable for hanging publicly, but it lacks the depth that this one has. This one communicates the weight of adult responsibility, of sitting still for a moment to get one's bearings, of having worked too hard or stayed up too late just to get everything done. I second Micki's comments.

Amazing B/W. Outstanding rework as well. Great shot and excellent touch, Nicole. Your black and white images are really gaining strength. What powerful images!

Hi Nicole. This one is much better (contrast, tonality) than your previous submission. As I have said before you have an "eye" for this genre; and, again, this photograph supports that opinion. It would be stronger, however, if you had included the full right hand and without the distracting background along the left edge. You would have to be damn good to be able to do a reshoot and get the same look from Ty, so maybe some careful Photoshop would do instead. A little USM would be good, too. Nice portrait. Regards.

Thanks for the constructive comments. I wish this was just a crop I could have experimented with in post, but I shot it exactly this way and the only post processing I did was to improve the contrast and tones. I hadnt really thought about the door frame (the background) but I'll definately go back and play with it a little so see what I can do.

Thanks for taking the time to look and give some suggestions.

 

Also, thanks to everyone who took the time to look and leave a comment, it is MUCH appreciated.

Hi Nicole

 

Between the two photo's of this, I much preffer this one, I would like to see it with the eyes of the other though...

 

The depth and contrast of this photo are nothing short of amazing!

This is a powerful image. Very powerful. I disagree very strongly with the gentleman who suggested that it be different. You transmitted what you wanted to portray. He would do it differently. There is no right or wrong here, but as it is it is a very strong image, and we need see no more than those eyes, the furrowed brow and those massive hands. This is a fine portrait. My congratulations.

I know this feeling. I wish I knew something else... Beautiful portrait, by the way...

Nicole, well congrats on the new development. There is something about this picture that touches me more than all your other pictures. I have commented extensively on the pictures of others, especially those who portray things war with a reverence. This image reminds me so much of a book I read as a child. It is called World War II, and it was written by an American infantryman in WWI, James Jones. I so loved the book, I bought two copies. I can send it to you to give as a gift to your husband. I have a feeling he would appreciate it. It is a collection of paintings from WWII, of the anonymity of death, the isolation of the soldier, and the inability of anyone who has not gone through it to understand what happened to the person who left home. It was written by an infantryman, from the soldier's perspective. There is something about this picture that brings that book to mind. But, cheer up, where there's life, there's well, life.

Thanks for taking the time to look and let me know what you think. I'm glad this image was able to touch you. Micki was right, you can see this look in so many of the faces that have had to endure hardship, but especially in battle. It seems to stay with them, even when everything else is going right.

 

This shot was taken during a particularly hard stretch for us, and I'm happy to let everyone know that those eyes now smile more than they brood and those hands tickle and play more than they worry, even if this look surfaces more often that what either of us would like. We're blessed that he never had to re-deploy and we can go about trying to live the rest of this life together in the best way we know how. If this photo is able to stir emotion and remind others of the burden that all soldiers and their families continue to carry long after the battle is over, it has achieved its purpose.

 

more than a hug.

 

I would say for me but well that would be totally NOT appropriate. BUT well, you know what I mean ;)

 

HUG away!

 

;)

 

yes!!

 

hug hug hug!!

 

 

A fine image and great expression. The exaggerated size of the hands works well here, adding to the boldness of the image. His eyes are playful and mysterious all at once.My condolences to your loss. -David

a great portrait !!!