'Want to Know My Thoughts?'

Clenched fists, a piercing stare, but glasses rather far down on the

nose present an interesting task in how to read this man's face and

thoughts. What are your views? Your ratings, critiques and

opinions are invited and most welcome. If you rate or critique

harshly or wish to make a remark, please submit a helpful and

constructive comment; please share your photographic knowledge to

help improve my photography. Thanks! john John (Crosley)

Interesting & strong portrait, John ... the title fits perfect for this scene. The hard tones enhance his personality and his look. Great work !! Kind regards

A top-photograph. (I don't mention the white of the eyes...) Top. Kind regards. hen Ry

Incredible!

This is a guy I've met before, just peacefully reading in a library I frequent sometimes.

I approached him because of his look, asked him if I could take his photo, he willingly assented, helped with various poses and in 15 minutes and numerous poses, it was all over.

A little Photoshop in line with my 'creative vision' for this particularly strong one of the bunch, and this is the result.

Thanks for the high compliment.

john

John (Crosley)

Four '!!!!'s from you is the highest compliment I could ask from you ever.

Thanks so much.

john

John (Crosley)

Two 'top' photo compliments in one critique; my chest is bursting.

I didn't even mess with the eyes, which are the inspiration for this whole photo; compared with his skin color which I darkened and added contrast to somewhat.

Thanks for the high compliment(s).

john

John (Crosley)

Thanks for the high compliment!

john

John (Crosley)

The color version is posted on another (unnamed) service.

I think the colors do well together.  How about you and comparing color and b&w?

http://photocritiq.com/groups/?topic=79852.0;all=1;infoMode=1

If you'd like to have a look and compare.  I think this is one of those photos that looks good but 'different' in color and black and white, but can be posted in both versions.

I seldom post color and black and white on the same service; (it seems to indicate paucity of material, when I have More than enough for several members).

john

John (Crosley)

This acquaintance who became my subject, I have only spoken to previously though at depth to once or twice prior to this encounter.

However, his posing abilities were entirely natural and very gifted.

He is an extremely handsome man, who I think may not be aware of how handsome he is, and he may sell himself short.

The pose was first suggested by a way he held himself; I saw it, then asked him to repeat it, and memorialized it.  I darkened the hands, as Africa-American hands seldom in somewhat mixed blood African-Americans is so dark as shown here, but I needed dark hands to frame his face, so I am responsible for the darkness of his hands.

Also his skin color is much lighter; this is an artist's vision, not a true-to-life view of how he actually looks.  He was told I would darken his skin, heighten contrast and keep the naturalness of his pure white eyes for a set white point for greatest contrast, which is what I did, compared to the NEF/JPEG twins that were what he could see in the initial digital workups on my camera back.

I had a clear view from the outset of how I would work this one up (as well as others). 

He wanted a copy of my photos but I deferred, saying he could copy from the web 'someday' maybe a week to a year or maybe years, but in reality the wait was just a day.  I said it might take three hours photoshop work to make this a good photo, and it took just about that, in part because I lack a full 8 mb working memory and my 'C' and 'C' drives are just about full for storage.

I'm never so speedy as working up a photo 'next day' as here and posting in such speed, but this was a special photo.

I hope he is satisfied.

I owe my acquaintance/model great thanks for his friendship and patience.

john

John (Crosley)

It is a powerful image...very evocative indeed.  One of the things I love most about photography is the ability to communicate stories with my images...and trying to read the story in others work.  I must admit that while I like this portrait...technically very good all-around...the vibe it creates sorta gives me a chill...I can't explain exactly why...maybe it takes me out of my comfort zone and brings me to a place that is unfamiliar.  I think though that you've captured a wonderful image...love the tones and textures...and again excellent technical elements (composition, exposure, pose, expression, etc.)...nicely done.

That's wonderful praise, and if it were on a plaque it would be worth putting on wall.  Thanks so much.

I told my subject that (in order to preserve his eye whites the best, as I figured they were central to the photo I intended to take) I wanted him to give a piercing stare.

First I told him several times to pretend he were Muhammad Ali staring down an opponent, but he's far too gentle for that, so later I told him to pretend I just addressed him rudely by the 'N' word, and he got the idea which he was able to maintain.  I had made the point about an icy stare.

That's why you are 'uncomfortable' or 'not in your comfort zone' with this look, I think, because it was manipulated for a certain look in connection with his pose and body features as a creation, not his true self.

He's actually kind, gentle, intelligent and a nice guy, not the menacing guy depicted.

I'm glad you picked up on that so I could explain.

Thanks again.

john

John (Crosley)

Wow; not sure I want to know his thoughts! He must feel them intensely though and the expression and body language makes me uncomfortable. Sometimes people can be angry or upset about something and still be able to share those thoughts and/or feelings without invading another's "space" (for lack of better word -still early to me, haven't had my morning coffee!), but this photo suggests he is consumed by his thoughts/feelings and would be combative in expressing them. Excellent photo! Thank you for sharing. :)

Thanks for the great overall praise; I know it's one of my finer photo of recent times, at least from a technical standpoint, and part of it was posing and image editing (Photoshopping).

However, this guy is gentle, nice, and cooperative, without a harsh thought.

This pose is my idea, based on how I WANTED him to look, and if you read above, you will see I coached him, much like the actor I made him, to conform to my idea of how I wanted him to look, which is quite contrary to how I usually take my photos, which may account for part of your consternation.

I know I asked the question of his thoughts, and I did so knowing the guy's looks were not consonant with his personality, and I wanted to sere how much the coaching collided with his natural appearance without my coaching.

Apparently the coaching as a sort of 'evil' or 'angry' man worked well, but I emphasize the man is quite nice and not at all angry -- he just looked that way after some extreme coaching on my part.  In that way I was a photonovella director for this little photonovella.

I see it worked, but I won't let my acquaintanceship with this man suffer; he's an 'actor' in this drama, and not to be judged by how he's depicted here.

For all that, and all his reluctance to take direction for looking 'icy' and 'angry', he came through wonderfully; the hands/clenched fists, was his idea, which he showed for a second and I had him repeat when I saw it, as it just looked great.

Trisha, yours was an excellent, insightful critique.  Thanks.

john

John (Crosley)

I didn't read the above comments; I wanted to leave just a quick comment on how this photo affected me based on how it appeared. I am happy he was just "acting". I guess that is why it is important sometimes to not judge a book by its cover! I know photography is subjective and we read what we want to from it but if I were to see this expression on a person present in flesh and blood before me, I wouldn't dare ask his thoughts! Good to know he is a kind person! Thank you for telling me that! Excellent photo. :)

Thanks for the follow-up...you nailed it with this shot.

This image screams "Drama!"  The subject's head position and his hands supporting his head tell me that he was intently concentrating on something.  If I had not read your synopsis, I would have surmised that his piercing stare conveys a warning for you to leave him alone, or anger, or mild annoyance at the very least. 

The tonal range in this image is spot on, and the detail couldn't be more precise.  I love how you darkened (or lightened) the highlights in the shirt.

My best,

michael

PS You may not remember, but you significantly contributed to a forum discussion I had posted some time ago concerning the ethics of taking street shots without a subject's consent.  If your comments had not been as valuable, I would never have remembered this.

I don't have any pact with those who pose for me, but out of good sense, for good will and just from fairness, those who are portrayed as less than their best, and I know they are better than portrayed, I try to ameliorate that through comments below.

It's just fair, and I'm glad you realized that and agree.  He was wonderfully cooperative, helped set up the pose, re-enacted it on command, and I am most indebted to him, so it would be totally unfair for hundreds or eventually possibly thousands of viewers to come away with an impression that this guy is 'irritable' at the least or 'menacing' or more as portrayed when it is contrafactual.

Fair's fair.  If this were a drama, you'd know, but this is John Crosley taking what usually are 'true-to-life-photos', and when I break the mold, I want to be fair to my cooperative subject to ensure he is treated as a temporary and willing model and suffers no ill consequence.

Fair's fair.

Thanks for the followup.

john

John (Crosley)

I knew when I took this I had 'nailed it' though I seldom shoot 'setups' or give stage directions to models, but when I do they are often very, very successful if my model is adept and listens as did this fine fellow.

Thanks for the thumbs up.

john

John (Crosley)

I'm probably the master of the 3 to 10-second posed shot and the 1-second (or far less) unposed shot.

When I have a willing friend or acquaintance who has deft model-like abilities like this fellow, then in 10 or so minutes, I can produce a couple of dozen shots and zero in on one particularly good shot, as here.

Others also were good, but this one was so close to his face, across a library table, I was unable to place my eye to the viewfinder because the table interfered with getting my body close enough.  I could see something through the viewfinder, and it comported with earlier, slightly more distant shots and filled the frame, which I like for a shot like this.

I've already decided this belongs in my top 200 shots of all time and placed it in places where its 'magic' shows.

I remember the discussion on 'street' and disclosure and/or nondisclosure - an issue on which I have many well-formed thoughts.

You have to shoot clandestinely some times -- Henri Cartier with his Leica under a handkerchief was one who did just that, but when he took portraits, he was quite open in his shooting.

It just depends.

Sometimes, subjects can be aware you're shooting and completely disregard you and you'd annoy them by asking -- they imply consent by failing to object when they see you shooting away as they horse around.

In some cases -- many in fact -- subjects particularly play to the camera, even if you aren't specifically aware they're doing it 'at first', though when they keep doing outrageous behavior, you get a definite inkling.

It just all depends.

That's what makes the art of 'street' so exciting and requires so much ability to read 'people'.    In the process there are bound to be misunderstandings, which is just part of the territory, and explaining out of those situations is part of the grab bag of a street photographer's skills.

You can quote me on all that ;~))

To add to the former discussion.

Thanks for the kind words (and the reminder).

john

John (Crosley)

Tell me about Photorankr; I'm unfamiliar.

And I'm interested.

Thanks for the wonderful compliment.

I hope to hear more from you here or by my e-mail (details in my bio, but put your name and Photo.net member in subject so it doesn't get washed away as SPAM if you write;~))

I'm blown away by your comment.  At the same time it's only one of 100 to 200 photos of such strength scattered here and there, some of which are seen on my FLICKR photostream. (104 of the best).

john

John (Crosley)

The comment by Joe Gonzalez apparently has been deleted by Administration, as it was pushing a certain rival site and was apparently involved in a little hucksterism, though he made wonderful comments about this shot.

E-mailed member advisories, however, warned me that flattery plus hucksterism for that rival site were common currency in that man's comments, so I guess that explains the comment's removal.  I don't like comments that aren't made in good faith but for secondary gain, so I endorse its removal if it was removed for that reason.

john

John (Crosley)