le printemps

This image looks interesting but it is not a great image. For me, it has big problems. The lighting is so blown out on the model's right side that her head looks disembodied from her neck. I find it unsettling to look at. I think more subtle lighting would have been a great improvement.

Very competent image, but does nothing for me emotionally I'm afraid, and I really don't like the makeup - makes her look like a plastic doll. But these are purely my own aestheic reaction and nothing much to do with the competence or othewise of the photo technically speaking. Nitpicks on the technical side: Given that it's a studio shot I wonder if the slight green cast in the shadow areas is a feature of the original or just the combination of jpeg & my monitor, or deliberate with some or other printing process in mind? The white area I presume is for a product shot (perhaps a Vivaldi CD or something for the more elegant Aussie toilet? :-)) or for advertising copy. If the client liked it, then it's successful and competent, but for me I'd say that this photographer has some vastly more striking and interesting images in his portfolio, and the main pleasure I've got from this particular POW is to be reminded of that by being prompted to go and look through them again. The awkwardness of giving seven after seven makes it a chore and a waste of time to rate them, so I haven't - I don't think Stephane really needs me to tell him he's a seriously accomplished studio photographer.

This photo is very different from the ones we've seen in the last few weeks on photo.net and I'm glad it made it to the POW. This is a very, beautiful and vibrant image. It would make a great image for a webpage. Add some text to the lighter areas with some with some underlying hotspots....this is the kind of image Web Developers drool over. Your entire portfolio is great Bourson.

Hello,

Hello, stephane you are a superb Photographer (Light year Ahead Then Me) but when you have everything moving at your command it's very easy to get a well composed shot.

Please don't just judge a picture by only it's technical and composing perfection, please try to find a story.

RGDS

Waving a C-Note above a model's head is not enough motivation - many times, for editorial work, models get paid nothing. The good ones work, the bad ones don't get called. As a model, they are directed by the photographer, and if all it takes to get extra motivation from a model is a C-Note, you are working with some terrible models.

Very nice composition. Very nice combination of the hair and plants.

 

BUT, why this load of makeup on such a beautifull woman? IMO it does not add anything, on the contrary, it just does not fit at all with the 'natural' atmosphere.

I have to admit I never like a lot of makeup, but in this case it really bothers me because of the clash with the subject matter!

 

I'm curious to hear what other have to say about this.

The makeup may be used as a result of trying to push a type of makeup for a professional advertisement. For instance, I said the image looked like it could work as a cosmetic advertisement. If they're trying to push a certain look for a certain season, or for a certain time in life, like "spring youth" then they might use these green and other colors in iridescent shades to show how they're "in" for the season. I buy makeup now and then, and "Windowshop" a lot, so I see what they do in order to push colors of eyeshadow and lipstick.

I'm surprised it took this long for one of his images to make it to POW. Not that the picture is bad but I'd much rather see a discussion on some of his other images. If the foreground flowers were more in focus, the background wasn't so blown out and that lighting on her right side was smoother I'd like it more.

 

It's still a very nice photo but this is one of the photographers I've admired on this site for a very long time and whose work I always come back to. The detail in some of his other photos are incredible. The shadows and highlights so perfect that you'd think they were painted in. Natural poses with a real connection to the viewer. You can tell the photographer and model are working well together. This one just doesn't do it for me. In fact, I've passed by the home page a number of times and just realized who's photo it was.

Stunning, beautiful,excellent but i have seen this done many a times. i am no expert in studio photography so i will not dare to pick on details.

Bravo Stephane,

Une tres belle photo - On the subject of art vs commercial photos, let me just say that a.) I don't see a product. b.) Its very pleasing Esthetically, you can argue about the key on her shoulder till the cows come home, but in the end art must have impact, and this one has impact. As a great frenchman (Maurice Chevalier) once said , its very hard for a man to ignore a beautiful young woman.

C.

"it looks too much like a Loreal advertisement for spring shades of eyeshadow. " ...and comments indicating that this image is not a good choice for POW were the comments I was responding to. I certainly do not - as you say...assume a prejudice regarding 'art' and 'other' photographic 'genres'. I'm simply pointing out that it is fair and good that all types of photography be represented as the POW -- IN ADDITION to the fact that the POW is not "The Best Photo Of the Week - Nor is it The Best Image of a Photographer." I stated it because I'm sure some people don't realize that. Also - Yes, although you may not realize it.. there are some - and I'm saying only some people that do object to commercial, photoshopped, floral, macro etc.. when it is chosen as POW. Just look back at the past POW's.

All I was saying is that we can observe, learn and discuss the merits and flaws of all catagories of photography. Both positive and negative critiques are always encouraged and hopefully not just one liners but critiques with substance.

I was drawn to this picture by it's interesting composition.

Beauty of the model, but demure, eyes downcast. Her face Framed to the upper right with use of light from either side side and shadow beneather her chin.

Use of color - green eyeshadow and Ivy, lipstick/gloss catching the reddish pink of the flowers.

Framing the model within the foreground/background blending the scene is striking.

Focus is softened slightly, not sharp/not soft, just right in my opinion.

Compared/contrasted with portfolio - appears to be a new direction for this Pro. I look forward to seeing where he takes us.

Great photo.

Tom Klingbeil

You won't like me for being critical.. The shine on her forehead should be padded out. The placement of her cut off forehead "in the corner" seems to make her look heavier, not "light Springtime". The lens should have been longer in focal length to compress more. I would hve enjoyed a partially frosty or steamy glass pane in front of her face; this completes the believability issue of her being "cornered" and adds lightness, like a steamroom. The ivy vine seems to use an odd angle to "stretch". The woman is perfect.

The small flowers obsuring her chin is a distraction. If a pane of foggy, steamy glass with clear or wet droplets were present, it would soften and lighten it up. I wish it were "wet".

Why is it everything I say on this server gets bashed? Just because I say it resembles cosmetic ads I see in conventional mainstream drugstores in the United States doesn't mean I dislike it or think it's bad. I think she's pretty, but I think the light used in the photograph is really harsh on her neck and the foliage, and I recognize that color scheme being pushed a few "fashion seasons" ago in the cosmetic industry.

 

It's not like I'm some troll who goes around going "bad. 1/1"

 

 

geez.

Bravo et félicitations pour un travail de très haute qualité enfin reconnu !

Hmmmmmm...the photo alone is realy good, nothing to ad, but...it remindes me WERY STRONG on the comertial wich runs on tv in my country for last 3 - 4 months. I will not here judge Bourson's originality, but thath's wery hard if something is already seen...sorry.

Nice photo..

..BUT, the pointless brightness is really bothering me on the left.

I keep turning away from the picture and when I look at it again,

same is happening every time: I`m trying to find out what`s there.

If the purpose is to achieve off-balance, the bright field is to big

and empty. If its size is intentional, it`s too bright, provocative, too

attractive.. (don`t get me wrong, so is she. But unfortunately my

eyes still keep wandering to the left.)

stephane, you've been on my "people to watch" list on photo.net for as long as i can remember ever since i first saw some of your early uploaded images. you have a wonderful eye for composition and light.

 

this photo is simply beautiful. bravo.

Super, t'es vraiment au top !!!

 

Olivier Siant-Laurans.

The "white area" is likey for gold lettered advertising copy. This picture is of the type that would be used for a shampoo bottle label.

A well composed Picture of a pretty model. Strong white background and out of focus plants in the foreground suggest that it may not be a Shampoo-cover shot, but a Magazine cover / Make-up products advertising shot. Overall, good attention drawing picture.

This is a dime-a-dozen professional photograph. It conveys

nothing but technical ability to manipulate lighting.

 

This is the antithesis of spring. Here we have control,

oppression, and death of sponteneity.

Raj, magazine covers are generally vertical...:-) Make-up/cosmetics poster ad or banner, or a billboard ad anouncing a promotion or the season's new collection is more likely. I wish Stephane could tell us something about that...

Post in French . . .

 

I'm sure Marc would be willing to translate.