Violin 2

i am glad to be one of the first to congratulate to your pow. you really deserved for this picture because it is perfect in lightning, mood, depth of field - everything. best regards!

1st congrats on POW.

 

Second, congrats on being a natural talent! Just browsed your portofolio, and the images presented in it are up to par with a lot of big names imho.

 

I make from your presentation that you just started out, well if you are just starting out, I expect (and would like) to see some books and/or galleries with your work within notime!

 

As for this image, I think the 'black line' top-to-bottom on the left of this image makes it as good as it is somehow. Along with everything else that is also perfect of course! Light, expression, composition, detail, you name it.

 

Keep it up, enjoy making photo's, and please keep on posting, you're images are up there with the best IMHO.

 

Greetings,

Bart

Mark your calendars folks. This is the first time in a long time I've seen so many positive comments - I actually haven't read a negative or critical one yet. Could this POW make it to Sunday unscathed? I wait with bated breath! Nice shot Bridget.

Bridget, Just wanted to say Congratulations on a very WELL DESERVING photo of the week. Great job. I am really glad you have gotten the recognition this photo deserves. A wonderfully executed photograph.

This is wonderful. I really can only echo the great comments before mine, and say Congratulations. This is a suprbally done photograph, it speaks in volumes. You've captured the essence and spirit of classical music, the effect it has... Wonderful job.

Outstanding photo. I'm not sure I can add to what has already been said, but I echo all of the above glowing comments. I can only say that the musician's passion is well presented here; I don't think you could have set up a better shot if you tried. Great work!

I love both shots thanks for helping me on my journey of photography. Well done and thanks I love both shots.

I like the contrast better in the other shot, and I like the extra sharpness. Desaturated slide film looks better for that kind of situation than T-Max (a bit too flat, was it outside and overcast, by any chance?).

 

This one is good, make no mistake, but I like the other better, with the very strong diagonal of the bow, the inclined head of the player and the violin pointed slightly toward the camera. It has more liveliness to it and stronger emotion. This one is more subtle, maybe the lower contrast and softer focus suits it better in fact.

This photo is phenomenal - so much so that this is the first time I've ever been prompted to write about a photograph. You've only been shooting for a year? Puts me to shame! This is truly a beautiful picture Bridget.

My wife is taking violin lessons from the concertmaster of the Syracuse Symphony. I've tried in the past to take pictures of her former violin teacher in Toronto (we've moved), and I've never had good success. The trick is to get them to play outdoors I suppose!

Now with respect to the guy that complained about the bow. Realize that good players actually twist the bow as they go from the frog (near where you hold it) to the tip. It evens out the sound, especially with pianissimo phrases. You are actually playing on the edge of the bow hairs. That is exactly what this gentleman is doing. You would play flat on the bow if doing chords or playing forte. So, she has captured the man's playing accurately.

I like picture #2 better, as #1 has rather distracting highlights in the background. #1 does show his bow hold very nicely though. My wife could tell you if he is holding it according to the Franco-Belgian school, or the modified Russian school. I think the former, although I realize that this opens me up to more criticism from violinists.

Bridget, you were able to capture the light Rembrandt got famous for...simply wonderful!

Well done Bridget, a fantastic shot.

Now I'll probably upset everybody here, but what the heck here goes.

It's far too soft. It almost looks out of focus, but I suspect it just has not been sharpened. All digital images need a certain amount of sharpening. Also I'd play around with the high lights a wee bit, there could be a bit more punch and detail lurking there.

At the end of the day though, if the focus is spot on and the neg is good this has the potential to be absolutely perfect. Another stunning picture Bridget.

The passion and concentration is well conveyed to the viewer. Wonderful composition as well, starting with the dark space on the left and leading across the image to the end of the violin.

This is really quite masterful. On a technical level, you've composed this beautifully and isolated him perfectly on a busy street. On an artistic level, it's extremely powerful. Congrats.

 

RE: #1 or #2 - I much prefer this one, I find the mood and composition far superior.

A very fine image.

 

I agree with Pierre that it could use a little sharpening, especially the fine hair of his beard and the skin of his face and hands. The only other things that I would mention are the hotspot on the violin could be burned in a little, and maybe the negative has a bit more detail in his shirt, which could be brought out a touch more (not sure about this last point, though). But these are all very small points.

Great shot, but the p/scrint, from what i see on my monitor, looks soft -- typical of tmax 400, in addition to the muddy midtones and a flat contrast. but then, this is all easily rectified with a few tweaks. Ii also feel something, though minor, is amiss about the composition. The right shoulder and arm, though lost in darkness, can't be not missed when looking at this, as if the camera has panned to the right a tiny bit too far. And the blur in the background isn't too pleasing aesthetically and a bit detractive. I personally would prefer to see more of the musician too, here, more shadow details that is.

As for the emotional involvement and intensity of the facial expression, this goes for pretty much any photo of any musician playing any instrument. The beard and the old age adds to the shot, but let's not get carried away by that. Ii've witnessed equal, if not more, intensity on the face of a fiddler who plays for a living, at the town square in our city. While capturing this attribute could be seen as key to this kind of shot and can also be used a key criterion for assessment, all I'm saying is that this is not something uncommon and there's nothing new that I see here to be really excited about.

On a side note, I'm not sure how I should regard the 'why this was chosen' column. i think it would be best if the cited reasons were more objective in terms of technical and artisitc merits of a shot rather than the subjective personal interpretations of the person picking the shot alone. I'm not noble enough to see God in everyone and everything, but the last thing that would come to my mind is to think of this musician resembling God. i'll leave it at that.

just my humble opinion, so don't go ballistic on me. Offending anyone is not the intent here, please. I personally like "hear her play" shot by the same photographer better.

Moderator - small portion of off-topic content edited as the choice of the image is not the object of discussion in the POW - but the image itself according to the guidelines for posting in the "About" section above the thumbnail on the home page.

Beautiful composition and balance,subject is great as well ,I really like this image,it has such classic appeal!!!

Very nice. I personally would have liked some more space around the man and violinst or atleast some more to the right. As it is it is a bit too centered for my taste.

Well done and congrats.

I was waiting for somebody to jump on that, and then Pierre took the first bullet for me. Thanks Pierre, I owe you one. Yes, gorgeous shot, and I can only repeat in extent what has already been said about it's virtues.

 

However, when I first looked at this POW before looking at the details I made a big sigh and said "oh please, tell me this is just my monitor and not another great shot weakened by TMY 400".

Bravo Bridget, Im very happy that you and your photography are being recognized this week. In my opinion this image is among the top five percent of the photos on this site. Others may disagree and they have a right to state their own opinions. If this were any better Im sure several people would accuse you of staging it. The upside-down bow is interesting and in a way, adds to the shot by illustrating that the music is being performed within his memory and that he is so totally focused that he does not notice anything else including the position of the bow.

 

Since this is one of the most difficult types of photography to master, you should be very proud of your accomplishments. Advise from others can be helpful in mastering the technical skills needed for photography but you must have instincts and curiosity as well. Thats the part you supply and what make you different from everyone else.

 

This is a moment of perfection, nothing else matters. It shows a world within a world and that is not an easy thing to do. I admire you and salute you. Have a great week!

Hi, i like both the images you posted....the second one is maybe stronger, but i like the harmony in the action in the chosen one...

The lights and details are perfectly taken, is a really simple and intense shot!

 

ciao!

"I'm not noble enough to see God in everyone and everything, but the last thing that would come to my mind is to think of this musician resembling God."

If you read the elf description again - It says " . . God, AS IMAGINED BY MICHELANGELO. . . ." Big difference.

. . . and the elf who wrote this is right. If everything about this image was the same except it was your ten-year-old daughter, I think you'd barely notice. Sorry, but the aesthetically pleasing subject is a powerful draw.

I like the image, but it has as much to do with the perfect background that's dark except where it serves to focus attention on various elements in the middle of the picture. There's a reason this image has received far more attention than #1 despite the stronger pose.

you're right, i missed it. my mistake.

Excellent work. Reminds me of Caravaggio's light. Congratulations.

I like it a lot. What's the background? Is this taken in his home? A studio? During a concert? Is this a speckled backdrop? I am curious!

If ever there was a photo on this entire site so deserving of POW, this is it. I can't find words to convey what this image is- not only to me but to the entire amateur photography community. I truly beleive that with your eye for beauty and composition paired with your great technical skill, "amateur" will be a thing a thing of the past for you...probably sooner than later. Thanks for sharing it.