single photos Tia Maria

My eye is drawn to the room behind the lady, the lighting  IMHO isn't balanced enough to make her be the primary focus. The harsh highlights on the left side of her body and wall. I like how the photo tells a bit about her the religious Icons on the wall and flowers on the table. I think if the door was closed it may have put more focus on her. That's just my observations in a nut shell for all its worth. Still a good photo I like it.

Thanks Greg. I have loved this photo since I first worked on it shortly after taking it in Mexico with my 4x5 in 2000. She is my wife's great aunt (she has since died, Maria, not my wife). I posted it, because it never seems to get noticed when I show it with other environmental portraits and I can't seem to figure out why. I will seriously consider your comments, but I can't close the door.

I would agree with Greg on this.  In digital you may be able to do some selective curves work and darken that door opening - it will give a quick idea on whether darkening will bring the attention back to your Aunt.  If it's film I guess some burning in may help - but there is signficant detail in the background there to pull the eye.  Don't get me wrong, I think the doorway is an essential part of your composition - it's just too bright and that brightness pulls the eye away from your main subject.

Maybe thats the issue. People just assume she is the main subject, but I don't completely feel that way. Yes, she is important, but where she lives is just as important to me. I have always felt the door open to the kitchen with visable details has added to the experience of Tia Maria, but maybe just for me.  I will visit reducing the harshness of the light on her left and darkening the kitchen in PS. Thanks again to you both.

Very touching portrait!

yes, the light from the kitchen does pull the eye a little but to me it gives the photo a more spiritual meaning....the old woman in dark clothing before the theshhold, her beliefs above and leading to the open door, then into the light.....works for me Paul, excellent photo

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Paul, I actually like the image and don't necessarily agree with some of the comments you got before--at least not totally. It is, in fact, the environment that makes the image more interesting to an "outsider". It has a nice intimate sense and one gets a nice sense of how this woman lives and what is important to her.

In general, I do think the image has a nice balance of light but I do think that the woman is just a tad dark. It isn't a fatal flaw by any means and I wouldn't suggest a huge move, just enough to give a bit more presence. I actually love the composition and the tones/atmosphere you have generated throughout otherwise and only offer this suggestion based on your comments above. Personally, I probably do brighten up my people, even in these sort of environmental portraits, in most cases. It isn't a matter of making it obvious or having the person jump out, just allowing a bit more of a presence.

Nice image.

Putting it simply, I love 90% of this. It's beautiful black and white, with crisp tones and excellent detail. Outstanding depth of field, too. I love her hands and I like it that she's not looking directly into the lens. I wish the image were larger, the better to see hand detail.

Two things, though. I don't like the black and white border. At all. Or at least not such a wide white border. Compared to the tones in the image itself, the white just sort of assaults my eyes with it's brightness. If a border is needed, the black would have done nicely by itself.

The other thing I don't care for takes me into that "If I had shot this" area of photo critique. It isn't an area I like to get into, but I will, anyway. I want to see all of Tia Maria, rather than having her legs cut off. I want to see the chair legs, and I want to see what kind of shoes she's wearing. I would have pulled back to include all of her in the shot.

I still like it, though. I just think it could have been better than it is as far as overall composition goes.

Hi,
IMO the woman´s left eye is very much underexposed, horizon is not leveled and the overall look and feel of the black and white conversion is not my cup of tea. The value of the image relies on its capacity to document but it has not much aesthetic value, at least not now.

As I look at this shot, I don't completely agree with some of the remarks. Lighting, perhaps could have been improved, but what I see is the over-all ambience of the room. I'm drawn first to the religious wall icon, then to a subject whose wrinkles, and stare speak volumes to her faith, wisdom, and simplicity. Then I was drawn to the back room, which I imagined was a kitchen where this woman has probably prepared thousands of meals for family and loved ones. The crispness, field of view, and the choice of black & white is excellent. Mattes and/or borders, or frames is generally the last thing I look at! I like the capture! Best regards for the New Year!

I can see and appreciate the technical details that have been previously noted, but for me Mickey has nailed it. This is all about feeling

and emotion... A photograph that can be enjoyed by family and understood by others... Mike

I'd be very interested in knowing what Paul said to this lady before taking the image. Did you set the emotional tone? She is not smiling (at least on the outside).

Hi Paul,

It is hard for me to wrap my head around some of the critiques. It is easy for my eye to wander around this frame and connect the woman

to the environment. She is clearly the anchor for the photo. The tones and details are pleasing. I like it.

I like it. It has an intimate feeling to it. I agree that she could be lightened up, and less sharpened than she is, and the kitchen area brought down some, but lighting in homes is not perfect and that lends a sense of genuine place, a real person in a real home. Showing the doorway through to the kitchen area adds a sense of depth to the scene. The overall composition is very balanced. The picture has a lot of visual appeal and with a few post processing moves, would sit proudly in any portrait or artistic portfolio. Nice work, Paul!

This is a photograph that tells a complete story--what is happening with Tia Maria in 2000. We see her quite old and frail bur with a certain vigor in her face. We know she is in a nursing home that is not posh but also not poor. The calendar and the icon tells us this is a Catholic nursing home. The flowers in the vases suggests the simplicity of her material needs. The story in the photograph is simple and allows the viewer to draw his or her own conclusions. I find the photograph comforting. Here is very old age and I do not find it as frightening as before. Tia Maria's life is clean and in order. She seems content.

There may be technical tweaks that might improve the image. Yet, if it were left alone it would still be an excellent image.

Thumbs up for this week Photo of the Week.

I might add that a large formate camera was perfect for this shot.

I join those who wonder about the comments originally given on this photo about the open door - the image is great as it is, also because that door is open.
The room behind open up questions, add an 'uncertainty' to the image which to me make it more fascinating, more inviting to study in detail and more inviting to 'get lost in'. It makes me wonder and consider more what is in this image that a 'straight' portrait would have done; the inclusion of the surrounding makes the story here.
Also, the clean kitchen behind changes quite a bit, I think. Imagining the room with a closed door would have made a sad image: old, frail, poverty with Mary and a few flowers to 'save the day'; instead now, there is room, clean, space and light. It gives a different perspective in all ways.

I like the photographer's response on these earlier given comments - "People just assume she is the main subject, but I don't completely feel that way. Yes, she is important, but where she lives is just as important to me." It shows clear what the intent of this photo was, and in my view it's done very well and succeeds at this intent. Impressive image, I like it a lot.

A fine image that is well composed and with good light too.
Reflect the state of humans at his or her last few steps and what he really needs to stay in a calm and peaceful state with self and with others.
Though it is not her real living home,but even though she looks satisfied with some iconic beliefs that hanged in the walls ,but more important than that ,is the iconic imprints over her heart and mind over the years that the image tells by her peaceful state.
The image tells impressively how much merchandise we should supply for our ultimate journey ,and of what type .
An image of fine subject to watch and to think about ,.

I think it's very crisp with very good detail and B&W toning. It's somewhere between a portrait & an environmental portrait. The old woman makes for an excellent subject. You just get the feeling she's invited you into her home.
If I had to nit, I find the vases next to her head compete for the viewer's attention. Still a very fine photo

Pic nicely captures the apparent simplicity of this woman's wants and needs, including her religious faith. Everything seems in its proper place.

Qué guapa es tía María...su habitación magnífica.

I love the shot as an environmental portrait. One thing I would try is to replace the frame elements with a simple vignette, ala Silver Efex Pro versions. Not one of those trite, neat oval vignettes but a darkening of the edges that bring the eye to the subject but allowing it to explore as well.

I like this photo a lot too. Trying to figure out why, I came up with the following:
- a great sense of depth in the background emphasized by the angle/line of the door, by the leading line of the images of the Madonna on the wall into one of the rectangles in the background and the leading line of tables (perhaps with the lady's lap in this same line). My eyes are quickly drawn through the door into the background.
- For the photo as a whole, my eye is drawn back and forth between the background and the lady - Tia Maria - in the foreground. This is the dynamic element in the photo which gives the photo a sense of unresolved "tension" or "movement".
- This dynamic element is balanced by more harmonious, restful elements. For example, the harmony in the patterns of the 2 tablecloths and the harmony in the group of three flower vases. There is the quiet, restful expression and body language of the lady and the lady's dark coat against the light background is echoed in the images of the Madonna, also providing harmony.
In addition to other comments that have been made, I think it is probably this balance between the harmonic and dynamic elements in the photo that make it so interesting for me.