Wayang

All opinions are welcome. Thanks for posting.

In short, you wrote this:

"Am I really the only one who finds the match stick-like, emancipated-looking arm to resemble something you'd see on some death-starved child from a famine area?"

I write this:

I see in this slim arm grace, elegance, and fragility. This image, to me is an image of a modern chinese doll in a shadow play.

I am sure we all here are aware that very slim models are hired all over the world for the above characteristics.

Now is this picture "art" or not ? Honestly, I let you all be the judges : my opinion doesn't count on this matter - at all. Photos are to be viewed by a public. I have no "art" label to defend. Regards.

Marc, nice photo, reminds me of the mood of "In The Mood For Love" by Wong Kar Wai. I just have a suggestion for the pantyhoses and the shoes, it would have been much more sensual and natural if she weren't wearing them (or at least not the panyhoses). Just a suggestion and a friendly one of course!

Rick, in my vocabulary kitsch refers to an image of a stereotypical subject, executed with technical polish but possessing no lasting quality or spiritual depth; shallow and lacking in originality. That was the meaning intended in the thread, and I stand by it. If the image had possessed a modicum of originality, I would have been all for it.You would certainly be very mistaken if you were implying that I had never made the top pages, on the contrary, I have done just that on many occasions, but thats irrelevant.

Elvis painting on black velvet? Plastic pink flamingoes in the front yard? A painting of dogs playing poker?

Pardon me for a moment as I display my sycophantic tendencies

and do a little back-slapping :-)

 

Congratulations Marc! You and this photo are both very

disserving of this honor. A look through Marc's portfolio will show

a very high level of professionalism throughout, and this image

is no exception.

 

Approaching a subject such as this with only one light would

seem to offer up a number of challenges, but in this case it was

handled wonderfully. Very dramatic, with beautiful shape and

textures. Coincidentally, I especially like how the models right leg

has acted as a reflector, providing a lovely fill to her left thigh.

 

Compositionally it is also very well thought-out. The positioning

of her right arm within the background highlight, and the manner

in which her hat intersects with the edge of that same highlight

are hardly happy accidents. To me the placement of her right

arm also helps to supply the attitude for this shot. Elegant

confidence is the only description that comes to mind. And while

I'm on the subject, her arm does not strike me as being

abnormally thin since it is after all attached to a very thin person.

And Marc knows from experience, if I thought an arm looked too

thin I'd tell him :-)

 

A very classy shot.

Very traditional and contemporary at the same time. The oval of light is very nice, even though it is lopped off by the crop. This picture is very nearly perfect.

Congratulations on your POW.

 

An excellent set up and photo. I wish I could see her in glitzy colors. I keep trying to imagine the soft background in colors. The lighting is wonderfull. Someone mentioned the position of her hand on the right. It seems to be in an unusual position, but goes with the pose she is holding. Actually the pose makes her look a bit uncomfortable, I think.

 

This is only Monday and the thread is long enough to fill one of those spools on that other photo of yours. This one should prove to be very interesting this week.

Keep the good work and advice going!

Beautiful. I wish there was more of the face =)

POW! BOF! ZOWEE! It's about time I say.

I'm not one to gush ever, but Marc, you've always impressed me, nay inspired me. Not only due to the fact that the images you produce visually are, in my opinion, at the top of the heap on Photo.net, but it's the time you take to offer positive critiques, even when there's just nothing nice to say.

In turn, when offering a negative critique, you offer suggestions as to how the image could be made better, something I very much appreciate about you and others of your kind on Photo.net. You're not interested in slamming an image just because it's not your specific kind of photography, or whatever, you remain objective.

What I can't stand are poopooers and naysayers that have nothing positive to say about anything.

I am by no means as accomplished as most of the posters here I'm sure, but I am a working photographer which is an accomplishment in itself nowadays. I apparently have the skills necessary to discern between the right and wrong way to capture an image and am constantly trying to better myself artistically as well as commercially.

I appreciate the comments and suggestions made by the learned contributors to Photo.net (Doug Burgess, Scott Bulger's, (too many to mention) and of course you Marc.) I have learned quite a lot from posts by everyone (technique, equipment, printing) as well as how malicious photographers can be. At the same time I learned how true students of the art form take the time to teach and nurture others who share the love of photography. I have contacted you directly in the past (you probably don't remember) and you have taken the time to respond to me and have encouraged me to bounce ideas off of you and have offered any help you can give. That shows character as well as a love of the game. Thank you.

I could, but won't, nit pick this image for what I see as faults or flaws, because I really dig this image, always have. I hope someday my work rates up there with yours and I hope someone somewhere on Photo.net just appreciates it for what it is.

Ok, I'm climbing down off of my soapbox, that's enough ranting and ass kissing for now, my apologies. I'm sure it will garner me a large crapstorm and lots of negative responses, but I've got pretty thick skin, I am a photographer after all.

All I really wanted to say is, I love your work Marc, I hope this POW will reaffirm the fact that we need positive influences like you on this site so up and comers will have a resource like you and the other high caliber contributors on Photo.net to look to for inspiration and guidance.

Nice image Marc, good choice Elves, and to all those opposed, have at it.

Best regards

Just wanna know, who's the babe, and where can I meet her?

Marc, congratulations my friend. So well deserved although there are a few additional M. Gouguenheim masterpieces that I think could be POWs too. I think I told you once upon a time that this had a wonderfully retro-fashion feel from one of those classic Vogue shots of the 1940s or 1950s. Still holds true in my mind... :)

 

Told you I'd break my silence on Pnet if you ever got the POW. :) I'm glad Maggie told me about this. Over and out...

I like the pose and lighting set

Marc, there are comments here about the awkward pose and the emancipated (or is that emaciated) arm. I wondered why you called it Wayang, and when I looked at the four Wajang puppets I have on my shelf, all was explained. The long, exaggeratedly thin arms and hands with the loosely jointed elbows and shoulders, enabling them to be moved in any direction, and the shadows cast on the wall, make your photo relevant. It isn't my favourite shot of yours, but it's certainly representative of deserved recognition of your contribution to PN, controversial or otherwise. Congrats!

I liked it in November and I like it today.

Great photo with wonderful mood.

The blur on the left arm IS somewhat apparent but still a wonderful image!

Congratulations on a well deserved POW!

Well, I don't usually comment on the POW, but I'll do an exception now, not only because Marc is a long overdue winner, but also because he's been such a source of inspiration for me since he appeared on Photo.net, in December 2001. This particular picture is not my favourite of his (I tend to prefer his documentary work to his studio production) but it certainsly sums up his current style pretty well and therefore is certainly valid POW material.

 

Some time ago, Marc showed me one of his first pro assigment pictures, a fashion shot with lots of deep and miraculously placed shadows, with only the lips of the model emerging from the hat. I don't want to imply that he hasn't improved as a photographer in the last 15 years, but it's ironic to note the continuity. BTW, the model here is Marc's wife. If yours isn't as pretty, neither me or Marc are to blame. ;-)

 

About the picture. I understand why some people would find it cold, too studio like and somehow "too perfect". I share some of these concerns, but Marc's technical expertise is always serving some odd and difficult to understand idea, often some kind of subtle irony. I think the key here lies in his explanation - recreating the atmosphere of old movies, with their colliding styles and lack of realism, with a strong, invasive shadow reminiscent of traditional shadow play.

 

As an ending note, Marc, I would say that my favourite studio/fashion shot of yours is still "Modern Buddha", but I don't think it is in your portfolio right now which is a shame. Congratulations again... et désolé pour cette réponse plutôt décousue. Au moins on ne pourra pas l'accuser d'être cousue de fil blanc!

Just a few short weeks ago, you were disillusioned with photo.net, totally fed up with the issues you are so passionate about reforming. You hung in there, and can now enjoy this week of recognition as a reward for perseverance. Richly deserved.

 

If I'd change anything, it would be the grey matt board, to white.

 

Cheers,

Oooops... I have to correct something here...

The model IS NOT my wife, Philippe. :-) Never met her before that day... But thanks for the very kind words otherwise...

Congratulations Marc!!

I agree with Andrew, this has a 40s 50s feel to it. I love the tone you created here. It works hand in hand with this image. Its always obvious that you work hard to get the shot your after. I admire that.

Your spot in the POW was reserved a long time ago. Im glad the elves have acknowledged it. Again, congratulations and thank you for all of your contributions.

Congratulations Marc on this excellent image, it has everything: perfect tones, light, composition/pose and interesting camera angle.

Very well deserved POW for the image itself but also for the rest of your work presented here, which I always admired (as you know) and found a very important source of inspiration.

Thanks for sharing!

Marc, I wonder if you or anyone else sees some similarities to

last week's POW. The angle of view is unusual, the lighting is

the photogrpaher's choice rather than what's available,it's a set

up . . . but what is especially interesting for me is the subject's

pose that is not what it appears to be at first glance. I thought

she was standing upright and could not tell that she was leaning

against the floor or some othe prop obscured by the material on

the floor.

 

The ambiguity of the pose bothers me in part because it seems

to be held so effortlessly despite the fact that her entire weight is

supported by one arm . . . assuming I'm reading this right.

 

I don't mind seeing her chin, but is that her lower lip as well?

Not very flattering. I'm also confused by the material on the floor.

There are two different textures, plus this dark thin rectange that I

don't understand. A simple heavy fabric to lean on and fill the

space might have worked better.

 

I like some of your other work better, including the sunrise

carpets, and the large tanks, but I can see why this image was

selected. The impact of the light and shadows and the hat and

dress are presented in an interesting way. But like last week,

the odd pose tends to lead to confusion rather than clarity as you

take a closer look. My own preference is to see something I

don't quite understand, then have all the pieces fall into place

upon closer inspection. Can't say one is right and the other

wrong . . . . just my preference.

 

. . . and congratulations . . . . I wouldn't mind seeing some other

versions, including the original untouched, then maybe your

'final' version . . . . if you have the time, of course. :-)

Very classy and interesting. I like that I can imagine the lady's face. Excellent concept and implementation.

Congrats! Syabas! Marc, this is a wonderful shot! The work of a pro indeed! the tone as well as the mood depicted are simply first class! A well deserved POW!

Cheers!

A beautiful photo - I agree with the positive comments above. I like the diagonal composition, terific lighting, toning, etc. Also appreciate the classic-vogue style. A fine studio shot - and the artificiality is part of its glamour.

As has already been noted in this discussion, you're a real asset to the photo.net discussions, Marc, and your intelligent comments and friendly arguments are much valued by many of us.

Congratulations!

Here is the final version of "Wayang". Almost no Photoshop left at all, besides burning and dodging... And a slightly different crop.

In your final version, I like the added space on the left and the

clarity in the material next to her thigh.