rose Night

Experimenting with fill flash and slow shutter speeds, also pushing in

development, in trying to capture the 'feeling' of dementia.

I find the dark window on the left abrasive, but it might work for

same, a feeling of darkness encroaching. But still, might have been

better with all white pillows surrounding the subject, who has

dementia. Maybe there is a way I can simulate that in PS?

Thoughts welcomed. I am thinking of entering a contest with a series

on this subject, so don't be gentle. I can take it.

Hi,

I do not have any in depth experience with demented people. I have however met some, and they did not remind me of death as this image does. The first feeling I get when I see this image is a person in terminal state, waiting for his or her death. This is as the picture stands here on its own. In a series the interpretation might change dramatically.

I don't have any specific opinion on whether the dark triangle should be there or not, but think that if that area had been filled with pillows to the person would have been completely locked in, like in a small closet. The dark triangle opens up the room. I don't feel it "creeps on" like death as much as the shadows in and around the persons face does.

I like the double exposure-like appearance, as well as the harsh light. It amplifies the feeling of "change" from life to death. The double exposure injects "life" (movement=life) into the image, the strong light and the environment makes me feel like being in a hospital, and the dark shadows, especially in the persons eyes hints about death creeping into the body of the person.

Hope this was of any help. Good luck with the contest. And yes, I like the image. It makes me think.

Cheers,

You should have tried this with a normal shutter speed as well to compare if you have one, great.. I'd really like to see her eyes.  There's nothing wrong with the composition I can see. I'm just wondering if the blur is such a good effect here. My eyes want detail...but its just my 2 cents. You have a truly great concept.  I am wanting to see more. 

Lisa, I find this image disturbing and unsettling, which probably means it is successful. From an aesthetic standpoint, I could wish that at least one element was in focus, perhaps her eyes as suggested by Marie. You might obtain a useful selective focus by using a long exposure combined with zoom. Otherwise, excellent composition and exposure. I'm going to look at the rest of this series and see how they fit together.

Gesus Krist! I have no comment, except that something about this attracts me.

Thanks for the most excellent comments. Frode, that was great advice. It is more like death than like dementia. I am going to try to take some pictures that convey dementia, more, especially sundowning, in which people with dementia get very agitated when the sun goes down. I think the slow shutter speed will be useful.

Marie, yes I should have taken different kinds of shots. New cameritis, I think.

David, You're right also. The eye needs something to settle on it's stressful.  I am going to look again at photographers who specialize in this techniques and see if they give you a focal point, along with the blur.

Actually what I think I will do is burn in the eye pits so they are black, and no blur. More unsettling, but conveys what I want. I can try some attempts at sharpening too.

Tony, welcome to the dark side, lol.

If this is someone you know, I'd remember to capture the individual as much as or in addition to the dementia. Dementia affects different people differently and, for me, it's ultimately about the person who falls prey to it. I worry that if we just try to "capture dementia" we are missing a bigger opportunity to personalize it. The last thing we want to do is objectify something like dementia for photographic purposes. Can the camera and lens and photographer be with the person as well as looking at and seeing the disease? Perhaps thinking about other angles besides looking down at her would be one thing to consider. Share these photographic moments with the person, through your own angles, perspective, and photographic gestures.