Wisdom (Please read the photo's story <i<instead</i< of rating.)

OK, this is harder than I thought it would be. I'm probably going to delete it.

Very nice. Reminds me of my Mammaw. :)

Please James, PLEASE! Don't delete it!! It's a beautiful story and tribute. It's something that you really don't get see much of on PN. Something that touches the heart can go along way for the rest of us. Please, don't do it.

Touching story, great photo. I, like most people, can readily identify with it, and it brought back a few happy memories of my past that I'd been too long in getting back to. Thanks.

...as you asked...

 

But, I did want to comment that I think you did a very nice job with this shot - even without the accompanying story. She has a compelling expression, and the picture makes me want to know more about it.

 

My grandmother passed this April - I wish I'd been a photographer earlier in my life, when she would've sat still for a nice portrait! :)

 

Take care, and thanks for sharing...

 

Dave

Thanks guys. I guess I'll keep it up then. Even though I feel a little disrespected by the "fly-by-raters" you have made up for that with your kind words. I just wanted people to know that there's a nice story behind it. Something that I thought photo.net was about. Meaning, enjoying the thought process, emotion, and technical aspects of things. Unfortunately, I also have not seen much of that. Just little weird games.

I can handle the critiquing. But it bugs me that no one actually takes the time to get to know what's behind a photo. Everything seems to be knee-jerk reactions. Which I understand is part of the eye-grabbing aspect. But to really understand you have to get behind it. I do that with every photo I rate. If there's no story given then I will rate by impact only. But I prefer to know their story and reasoning.

For example, I personally don't think that Ansel Adams has the most absolutely fantastic landscape photographs ever taken by visual impact alone. I think they're pretty darn damn good. But what I really appreciate is how he painstakingly controlled the contrast by dodging and burning in the darkroom. I know how hard that crap is and I personally hate it to death. So, when you know that it means more. And you have respect for it. I think I'm babbling...

James, wonderful photo and story.....I dont think you were babbling at all... one odd angle for the fly by raters is how depressingly high speed we are all trained these days. MTV et al. Jump cut commercials, all of that high speed visual noise.

 

On the name front, my older sister's name is Mary Ellen which was beyond me when I was first talking, so I shortened it to Dun, which mercifully never stuck.

 

Your portrait here makes people, maybe not all but many, stop and think and feel and that is a good thing.

 

regards

Bill

The funny part behind this portrait is that she was always late. Even for this session. She had to look nice. Bless her heart.

This lady certainly has strength of character,it declares itself in her features, but wisdom we have to take on trust because there is little in your capture that suggests this as a particular quality. Certainly, age does not equal wisdom. I don't say the lady lacks wisdom, it's just that tenacity and forthrightness seem to speak more loudly here.The lady doesn't look ideally at ease here, indeed she is a little guarded. I wonder whether the right hand side of the photo is underlit, it seems a bit empty and dead - it's not like the falling-off of natural light, it looks more as if you had forgotten to light the right side - I take it this artificial light?

(I'm saying this with a pleasant tone) If you read the story you may have worded it differently. If you read it now then you may realize how your choice of words may be slightly inappropriate. (Although it is a good critique and definitely well thought out)

The right side was not lit. It was intentional. I instead used a grey reflector card on the right side. The intent was an exercise to mimic the lighting styles of Yosef Karsh. Of course, Karsh most always had the hands included.

Karsh also used spotlights rather than reflectors on lamps or umbrellas, etc. Thus he was able to illuminate small areas with exactly the amount of light intensity he needed. Since spotlights have a more collimated set of light rays they have a sharp quality that is impossible to imitate with other light sources.

You know. I could be wrong. It's happened. :) I might be thinking of the split gray/black backdrop on another photo. It's been almost 10 years since I took this. If I could find my notes from school, I could give a real answer. :) I do know that this was a technical exercise and I was given specific instructions on where to place what. And that it was Karsh related.

In defense of the fly-by raters, if you surf the random uploads, you'll see the photo with a comment box and the ratings controls, but not the tech details or associated comments. The photo title is visible, but it's not prominent and is quite easy to overlook. Many of the raters may have come by the photo that way.

 

As for the photo, I'll say only that I'm glad you posted it and the story.

Thanks Joe! :) Yes, I understand that. In a way that was actually the point.

There should be a lot of happy moments and everlasting memories behind the photo,I like it.it is good and well done.