few for two

What we need is someone to film you while you're doing one of those extraordinary photographs. A kind of video tutorial for all those who would love to see exactly how you work, from setting up the lights to the final step in photoshop.

....and above all.....perfect. The contrast between the big man and the small dog is great and so is the facial expression of the mand and the way the dog does take a look at the plate with food. The way the man does look at the dog and holds the fork and knife in his hands tells something like he wants to say to the dog, dare to take some food of my plate and you will end upthere yourself....lol..... Fantastic story you did put in to this single shot Rasto. Splendid....Best regards, Harry

I'm glad to see this gathering mostly positive comments. I'm no exception - this is hilarious and very original. The colors and tones are pleasing and it's interesting to look at.

I love the light, the mood, etc.. The only problem I saw was the table looks new under the top. I'd probably of done something to it as it grabs my eye in the end. Also, the guy seems to be looking through the dog, and that is why someone may have thought it was a composite. I wondered myself. Love the simplicity and the even lighting may make for a more 'cartoonish' feel. Blessings, MS

What a great image! Perfect execution! Must have been very difficult to get the dog into such a position :-) !

- steve -

www.stevechong.com

I have almost never seen a picture that is a 7 for creativity, but I think this one gets it. Very, very good image.

I too had the impression that the dog looks pasted on. And like the previous member, I too thought the man was looking ?past the dog? as if the set up failed a little bit in the placement of the dog as compared to the gaze of the man. In any case this is not enough to deter my appreciation of this fantastic photo and the complete series for that matter.

I believe I have commented on this whole folder just a few days ago. Congratulations Rasto on your day in the spot light.

Poor doggie...such different weight categories:)

Rasto,

 

je to super :)

 

 

keep shootin'

i like the shot, i just got to say that i don't see how the man is looking at the dog. he has an empty gaze, like is thinking about something, looking right past the dog... so i don't get the triangular flough, but i don't mind :)

I like the image for it's originality,simplicity,colour, and wit. This picture is symbolic of the attitude of Big Nations towards Underdeveloped Nations.

To quote myself, "I suggest you turn down your second (fill) light"... not "off" it. Perhaps a reflector judiciously applied would work.

All these comments about digital manipulating aand the dog looking "pasted on" are a result of the fill light being too high. The dog's side that is towards us should be a little darker if you want to avoid those perceptions. Imagine the light coming from real world sources, ie: a nearby window on the south side of the room supplies the "main" and a doorway on the north or western wall would supply the fill. Make your lights in the studio like these examples and people will stop whining about artificiality.As it is, the man looks like he's illuminated from inside (both shoulders are evenly lit) and there are almost no shadows to help us understand the origins of the light on them both. Therefore, it has the feel of artificiality... t

Although catching the expression of the dog would have enhanced the picture.

I am, as many others here, very impressed by this photo and the entire folder. From both points of view, form and content, it is an exceptional image. It shows an intense emotional situation: the man has a contradiction between his own gratification and care to his dog, he must decide between himself and his pet (it must be his pet since he is on his table). The image conveys all complex feelings that carry such a situation. Both are used to eat, and eat well, none of them look undernourished. He is hungry, feels guilty because dont want to share his food, and angry for being in such a situation. It is amazing that such feeling can be expressed in an image with humor at the same time. The photographer took distance from the scene and watches it with detachment. So he can be interested and ironical but distant.

 

Form is very appropriated for this content, composition is simple, without distracting elements, pointing to the main issue. Colors, lightning and tones support the whole scene. Technically is impressing too, so much that many have asked how was done. The technical solutions you have found are not a minor point. People are asking you to share them, would be nice, but you dont have to. As Marc pointed perhaps a different lightning would produce a more dramatic mood, he is in doubt about, I think it is a good point, IMO, without seeing it in a different lightning, it is better so (my judgment is very shaky being without empirical support), I think that this cartoon look make it humorous which is one of the strong points of this image.

 

Thank to the elves for showing a worth photographer that I did not know.

An otherwise pleasant photo appearing from another time is ruined by the lack of attention to covering the modern table support.

This is so darn piquant it hurts. Which I assume is the intention, and a good thing -- it certainly caught my eye and moved me to comment.

 

The table doesn't bother me so much, it lends that same feeling of "Ha! It's okay!" that the health of the man and dog provide; however, my display cropped all but a mm of it at first, and the tone does change without. The subtle halo of dark around one and light around the other (and the way the background seems to follow his outline in the darkness) make me think of "manipulation," whether warranted or not.

 

But what really drew me in, and what nobody's mentioned, is the food -- at this resolution, I'm squinting to guess bread or cheese, and neither seem quite 'appropriate' for the dog (bread would be symbolic, of course, and I assume it's that)... For some reason, I really want to see a little more color on the plate (some garnish, a hot pepper, a hint of the steak the dog's 'really' looking at?), or less (removing that distracting splash beneath the knife, which.. I.. now.. realize.. the dog.. is.. pointing.. me.. right.. to, and I want to know what it is and if it's any good, too!)...

 

...but that'd increase the cliche and ruin the 'postmodern' candidness of it (guy's not too hungry, dog's not too skinny, table's not too old, and how'd we all get into this mess, anyway?), not to mention the triangle between dog, garnish, and knife!

It's certainly in the "Dragan" style, but it's got it's own flavour. I am with the rest, being drawn to it, wondering about the dog, the food and the dude sitting there eating bare chested.

 

 

Cheers, Rob

What happened to just taking color or b/w photos without any manipulation? Have those of you whom I try and learn from and better myself in this craft sold yourselves to Photoshop and computer enhancements?

What a great take on an Old Masters! Very original.

I don't find this shot particularly interesting. It's cute but reminds me of of a sitcom advertisement in TV Guide. I guess what I am saying is that it looks too posed or contrived and not spontaneous.

 

Just My Worthless Opinion

Humour is one of the single hardest things to achieve in visual art.

Early Wegman will always work for me. If a visual artist can successfully introduce a fine line of humour into a body of work, of the quality of this piece, it is a sure strategy to success as an artist.

I believe M. Cambal has done it. Bravo! I would love to see more.

-RT Simon (www.fineprintphoto.com)

With 3/4 front/side lighting, to give some dimension contrast and balance, it would have been a much higher level photograph.

Composition is interesting but I don't like it. Colors are absolutely artificial and it remembers to me more like a painting that a photography.

Just curious...several have commented that the "modern table base" gives this image away. When viewing this, I didn't get the impression it was supposed to make us think it was from a different era. If so, I surely think the dog's modern collar would have been removed. From a technical standpoint, I'm reluctant to comment on this image. My PS skills are very basic. I can relate to both sides of the manipulation arguement as well. All I can really say is that this image made me smile.

As few of you already mentioned we are in fact asked to make judgment on a borderline visual representation. I have a problem with painting over a picture. I have to admit the artist managed to create a very interesting piece of art but it seams like we took all the good pictures one can take and now what is left is to start painting over b/w for a change. As far as I'm concerned I still love traditional photography, I still think there is a wealth of knowledge and beauty to be discovered.