'It's A Matter of Perspective: Something for Every Taste'

This photo may appeal to three different categories of viewers

especially -- perhaps four. Those who like girls, those who like unusual

photographic perspective, those who like women's shoes, and those

who like to follow my photography. Your ratings, comments and

observations are invited and most welcome. If you rate harshly or very

critically, please submit a helpful and constructive comment, please

share your photographic knowledge to help improve my photography.

Thanks! Enjoy! John

I like this photo because, there is (to me at least) some ambiguity whether the person and the footwear belong to each other or not. May be it is just a display piece  mounted in a showcase, being looked at. The bright green out of focus points heighten this ambiguity. I wonder whether it could have been a better capture, if you had moved to your right so that the heel and the right arm are closer. Also the footwear is probably too bland to compensate for the other elements. Just my opinion, I hope I didn't waste your time!

John,

The technical merits can not be rated by me because the details are Unknown.

The image has several areas that could be improved, but again, I am not speculating on what was used to make this capture.

It is an interesting perspective, though.

Best Regards,  Mike

You raise several points which I hadn't considered, such as the footwear and the mode possiblyl not being connected -- they are.  The view of the green lights was not planned, and I would have like to have seen that better, but probably would have taken the photo anyway; I had to crouch severely to take the photo-- this is not a Hasselblad, Rollei or other 2-1/4 square photo taken looking down, but with a 35 mm camera.

It is a different perspective, taken with a crop sensor at 23 mm or so on a 12-24 mm zoom for effectively 34 or 35 mm film equivalent - not terribly wide.

Its technicalities were not so important, as the 'look' which I think I captured.

I note already there are plenty of viewers, though not so many critiques -- two so far.  Photoes of shoes and women wearing them have their own audience, and I don't look down at those people.

You are right about the footwear being somewhat 'bland' -- it's 'used' rather than being showroom new.

;~))

thanks for the feedback.

john

John (Crosley)

As you notice, I often obscure 'details' as it's not so helpful I think when one should be looking at the result, not the technicalities.  See the comment next above of mine for some of the pertinent details.  The brand of camera and lens are generally known to those who follow my work but this could have been made with any competent camera/lens combination of proper focal length I think.

Thanks for the compliment on the proper focal perspective; it's something I experiment with constantly, but seldom show my work.

Thanks also for the feedback.

John (Crosley)

Hi John,

I see absolutely nothing in good focus in this image. Even the closest objects, the shoe, or the painted toe , heel,.......nothing. A wide angle lens shot wide open , but unfocused will produce such a result.

If this is what you were after, you have accomplished your goal well.

The lighting is different as the top of her ankle is over exposed, and there are several bright reflections present from the edge of the toe, shoe and heel. The background is intriguing. the woman looks attractive, and the lights add nice color to the scene. The combination of the green lights and red shoes presents  a festive holiday look.

Perhaps the real value in this image is that you present it as an abstract form of art, where most people would delete this type of result from their hard drive.

I an unusual way, this image does appeal to me.  I can always find an ounce of gold from a ton of common stone.

 Good job .

Best Regards,  Mike

As I replied to your private e-mail, I did not dodge, burn or sponge my images until mostly this year, so the overexposure on the ankle did not get fixed as this image is about three years ago, had super minimal processing and was not re-worked up for posting here. I just posted it because I thought it might appeal to a certain (or certain) groups of individuals, as I pointed out in my request for critique.

You noted that you understood my 'gestalt' point of view, without using that word, and maybe you'll have to look it up, I don't know, but it means in this context, overview rather than nit-picky.

I wanted to avoid intensive focus or attention on the quality of her rather used shoe -- not up to the quality of a shoe fetishist's delight, I'm afraid . . . . or something that might show up in a specialty shoe photo.

But then this is a photo with several purposes, and it's a photo for photographers not necessarily for shoe fetishists (though they're sure to have a look, I think, and in years from now the 'view' numbers may be very high, and that may be the reason. . . . ;~))

Some men like shoes, just like some men like legs, breasts, big booties or pretty faces.

There's no explaining or complaining.

I like to take photos, and if it crosses with one or another fetish, that's only a partial coincidence, and the main reason is to take a different photo, not to take a fetish photo, for I can do that much better, I'm sure.

I am grateful that overall you told me you rated this photo highly, though rates overall don't mean so much to me, having had over ten thousand of them over time, but the effort still means something important to me and to tell me, even more, as that requires effort.

I post for the interaction, especially, with raters and critics like you, who may get a different viewpoint from seeing a photo of mine rather than have their prejudices or predilections reinforced and thus be forced to re-think their whole attitude toward photography in general, which I think has happened just a little in your case.

For that I count this a success (as judged by your e-mail).

Thank you for that.

john

John (Crosley)

Hi John,

I am capable of appreciating all levels and subjects presented as imagery, art, the combination or something entirely different.

After you email, I feel that you are going to achieve what you set out to do.

As for preferences, I find that some people like my images straight out, while other do not. Some want more contrast , others do not. Noise or no noise, focus or no focus, more DOF or less DOF and the list goes on......................... I recognize that everyone is entitled to their own thought and I respect that right from everyone (even those that are not so kind in their expression).

In my fields of expertise, the technical demands are constant and unforgiving in what needs to be accomplished. I recognize that sometimes I tend to get too carried away with what should or can be done to improve an image. Again, as I look at myself, I realize that I, too am entitled to that freedom of expression as well .

Best Regards,  Mike

Mike P.

You are very generous.

This is, in a way of speaking (and pun intended I guess, a most pedestrian photo, taken from a slightly unusual angle) just to prove that you don't have to take ordinary photos even in ordinary or extraordinary situations.

I took it to prove to myself that even when there's a beautiful model in front of you, you can 'mix it up' a bit.

That may seem a little strange to some, and for some who photograph beautiful women in their own style that may seem antithetical, but I'm for constant experimentation, as well as taking what some consider my 'trademark' photos.

But it was in the mode of experimenting within my trademark 'street' that earned me the 'Photo of the Week' featured discussion four or five weeks ago, for another unusual view, when I could have just taken one photo and then dismissed the matter - but instead, faced with unusual lighting, unusual angles and a long lineup of people, I just kept experimenting right into unexpected prominence (once again).

I gave no or little thought to Photo of the Week, just as I gave little thought to high or low marks when I put this up for critique.  I just like to experiment . . . . if I had beautiful, stunning models in the finest of clothing all the time, as does John Peri, then I'd be taking different photos, and God Bless John, for he takes wonderful photos in a distinctive fashion/style of some of the world's most beautiful women.

For me, I take what I see, without preplanning and preconception, just walking around with a camera around my neck and somehow I manage to hold my own.

I manage somehow to deliver, though often I am willing as a price to let some photos be exhibited that more fastidious photographers wouldn't let others see for fear of losing their reputations.

I say 'to heck with them' for it's all about being banal and ordinary sometimes then seeing and recognizing and capturing the extraordinary at other times and on a regular basis that sets aside the extraordinary photographer . . . . . 

I am able to take my share of wonderful photos, yet still take a fair share of banal ones . . . and share them just for the joy of sharing. 

I'm not afraid what people will see if the tent flap is lifted on my photography (this is one exhibit).

In fact, I would be delighted to show entire strings of captures -- 16 gigabyte SD or CF cards of them to show the development of this or that capture or my 'yield' but I'm afraid few would be interested, though my 'yields' are getting better and better, and I am getting more productive.

Few who shoot 'street' would be willing I think to allow that, but I have little difficulty now in allowing that; I'm proud of the 'yield' of good ones to bad ones - even if the good ones are still rare enough and some bad ones are horrid.

And thank you again, for kind words and for using my thoughts as a jumping off point for your own thoughts and evaluation of your thought process in photography. 

For me that's a triumph.

Best wishes.

john

John (Crosley)

Do you see a resemblance between this photo and the effects of a 3-D photo?

Does it somehow look 3-D to you?  It almost does to me, on looking at it anew.

Your perception?

john

John (Crosley)

Great idea&result, a true play by a master!

Thanks for letting me know your high estimation of this photo.

john

John (Crosley)

Thank you so much.  It is a little unusual and the shoes a little worn, but what the hey.

john

John (Crosley)