Ella, by Northern Light (B&W version)

This is Ella, sitting at a northern window in a high rise.

The 'contast' effect was achieved by using 'easy adjustment' on a

Nikon camera, and under-exposing somewhat to reveal contrasts and

not particularly manipulated in digital darkroom; hints of color

remaining were removed using channel mixer with monochrome box

checked (ticked). Your ratings and critiques are invited and most

welcome. If you rate harshly or very critically, please submit a

helpful and constructive comment/Please share your superior

knowledge to help improve my photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John

This effect was the desired effect -- exposing for a few highlights on the woman, leaving much of her in shadow. The capture was in color and it looks much like this.

 

Other, previous captures, and later captures were made to show her full face and skin tones, but she's really no stunner but with attractive body features, and this was really the best way to portray her, I felt.

 

She wasn't truly so 'perky' but somehow during the shooting, she rose to the occasion; I think she liked the idea of being a model; she was an amateur who never had posed before and had intended to have her face photographed only, or maybe only with her bra on, but I prevailed on her, and showed her other photographs, and she agreed to pose semi-nude.

 

To me, the result is pleasing, and if you saw the model, I think you would be more than pleased and might say I committed 'legerdemain' with this and some other photos.

 

I start out, with amateur models (I have a long list of potential Ukrainian amateur models), and just take 'snapshots' of them, circling them, looking to 'hide' their often numerous flaws and less than perfect looks, and try to come up with something attractive that will please them -- because they really are looking for affirmation about their beauty, and if a foreign photographer hires them as a non-porno model AND make them look sexually desirable, that's greater compensation than any fee I ever could pay them.

 

So, my job is when they want to model for me, to make them come away looking like the beauties who roam the streets of Ukraine they compete with and often feel inferior to.

 

(There are exceptions -- a few truly beautiful women who come to me).

 

Please take that into account in your feedback.

 

John (Crosley)

Her eye looks totally weird, as though it were radioactive.

She's looking out of the window.

 

Any constructive suggestions?

 

John (Crosley)

the window is burned i think.... the rest is very good.

The window is 'burned' on purpose -- intentionally 'overexposed'. Its purpose is to be 'blown'.

 

Photography is literally 'writing with light' and my writing here was to create a large 'negative' space of light at the upper left corner with traces of that washing over her upper body, outlining what, for her, was her best (and most erotic) feature, her breasts and attractive figure. Her face was allowed to be in profile and shadow, and the light play across her body was the goal.

 

Literally this is a battle of light and dark; light in the upper left, dark in the right and lower right, and competition between the two across her face/upper torso. At least that's the idea behind this photo.

 

Thanks for noticing and commenting.

 

John (Crosley)

i like the eyes and the breast. i like that there are no pubils shown in her eyes.

Greetings John. I sure appreciate you explaination on tech and background of your model. First of all I think she's very pretty and she needs to know this. The only thing I find distracting was the left eye. I like the contrast with the rest of her body. However her eye is distracting and it keeps drawing me awy from the rest of her body. Thanks for your post and I hope to see more.

 

Gmww

Your comment is succinct. I'm glad you like the photo.

 

It's exactly as I planned it.

 

The model had her doubts; she has he Russian/Ukrainian idea of nude photography which is more the Playboy/pinup paradigm.

 

But when she sees this, I think she'll be happy.

 

I have a color version where the window is not blown, nor her skin so much/not so contrasty -- it was a tossup which to post.

 

John (Crosley)

The 'eye' thing is a happenstance, and a little work in Photoshop would have 'cured' it, but this is a learning/teaching forum, and feedback is what it's all about, not posting absolutely perfect images.

 

I need to get the feedback.

 

The truth is you'd pass this young woman by if you saw her on the street; I would have; that's why I write of 'legerdemain' (sleight of hand -- or camera) above.

 

I did a very good job in 'transforming' her and capturing the very best part of her.

 

She was good and 'humored me'.

 

If I were to try to sell this photo, I'd have a Photohop fix for the eye, if it's so distracting -- it wouldn't be hard.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

 

John (Crosley)

John this image does not work for me not only because of the eye is so distracting but the lack of definition between the forehead and the partial eyelash of the other eye,and from from the blown out window...(which does not bother me) I am not so sure the eye can be "fixed" Photoshop...I feel the contrast is a tad harsh for this portrait of a such beautiful woman...Perhaps a little fill would compliment your efforts here. Keep up the good work! Juan

 

any chance the color version could be posted? J.

In addition to the color version, I'd like to see the contrast of the model in her looks. You've peaked my curiousity.

 

Gmww

The color version someday -- I am not sure when; it's pretty close and quite nice with more detail in the window (less contrast there) with traces of blue for the sofa.

 

As to the model, she has a very wide face; I'm not sure I'll ever post a photo of her as shown straight on. I'll think on it, even as a comment addition I'm reluctant as this shows her to best advantage. That's how I want you to know her -- to best advantage. But she's no headturner, though she had a nice body; but I wasn't taking full figure shot of her.

 

This is a case where the 'parts' (or the angle/or the combination) is better than the overall look.

 

Generally, unless a shot's an absolute 'best of career' I don't post color and B&W versions, FYI.

 

I took over 600 photos today and I'm about 4 months behind on just reviewing my captures.

 

I have precious little time for Photoshopping or even finding images let alone finding images to add to comments.

 

(images today were whole groups (pods?) of sea otter, flying sea birds, walking sea birds, fishermen, otter/boat scenes, all in less than 90 minutes and some were stunning. Last night I took a photo of a guy using his Apple computer perched on a wrought iron fence in front of a downtown Santa Cruz business at night, glow of computer screen illuminating his face, a cell phone to his ear. Good images just fly to my cameras (which is why I take them everywhere, as I almost never 'set out to take photos; I just stop when I 'see something''.

 

John (Crosley)

I also consider this probably the most erotic shot I've ever taken.

 

Sometimes 'explicitness' detracts, but a 'hint' of sexuality can have enormous potential.

 

Do you see why and agree or disagree?

 

Others on the subject?

 

John (Crosley)

Hey John, I know what your saying about how sometimes less is good. For instance, it will be rare to see a full vaginal shot from me. Since I have only one subject that I take nudes of I am very careful to present photos that would not upset her.

 

Gmww

Juan, what you may not have noticed is that this is a photo of a young woman's more than perky breasts -- let's be more explicit -- it's the size, shape and angle of her nipples -- and how her face and frontal torso is photographed to emphasize those particular attributes.

 

And, I want to tell you, they did not look like that when she walked in the front door or first took off her clothes; it was first a result of some 'manipulation' on her part, which I was not allowed to see, but by the time this photo was taken that was more than an hour ago and had no residual effect, so this is a result of her being more than a little 'happy' (euphemism) to have her photo taken like this. I told her it was ochin sexy (very sexy) and it appears she certainly believed me. (and it was, as I see it, whether or not it 'works' for you).

 

My feeling is that you don't have a shot in mind then find a model for the shot (that's ad agency stuff), instead when you see a model, you take a shot of her, find out how she looks through the viewfinder (not well at first here), then you work your way around her compressing this vision, looking for another view of this, until something 'works' and even a not-so-wonderful looking woman who has a figure and some attractive looks can look very, very beautiful, even if only from a certain angle.

 

This is Ella's angle.

 

She's OK from other angles, and not a bad looking young woman, though not to my taste, but this photo captures her feminine youthfulness and to me is very erotic.

 

I forgot her age, but I have a shot of her holding her passport showing her date of birth -- 19 or so, I think, maybe 20 -- I'm too lazy to open my 1/2 terrabyte hard drive from this year to look up that photo which is not indexed.

 

In short, I work to a model's strength, and while this photo could NOT have been taken when she entered my apartment, it later could be and I worked to that strength, and I am happy with this photo, even if it is somewhat oddball or unusual.

 

Sure I could improve it if I reshot it, but that's what this forum is all about. Remember, I never saw Ella before, never saw a women who looked like her, and seldom shoot nudes; hardly ever, and also this is my first time using strong side-lighting for a major shadow effect.

 

John (Crosley)

John, I really like the stark contrast in this, there's a definite 'notan' feel to it.

very excellent pic, little burned, yes but can be good, is here. story interests jc, but pic is good nothing else must say for it. shadow. light, angle, curves face

What's a 'notan' feel?

 

John (Crosley)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notan

 

;)

Thanks for the Wikipedia explanation: Dark and light -- Japanese style word.

 

I just do it. Others often have a name for it already.

 

I'm very inchoate and follow my nose down paths others have explored extensively - sometimes have devoted entire careers or at least portfolios to.

 

I just keep trying to expand my repertoire.

 

Thanks again.

 

John (Crosley)

Thanks for the nice comment.

 

I agree that ultimately the photographs stand on their own.

 

There is a dearth on Photo.net of photographers who write about their work and how it was achieved.

 

I am the one who believes that that is one of the greatest parts of sharing, plus I am a capable writer, and I find I attract a great number of viewers/readers who are interested in how/why/the reasons for taking and posting a particular photo -- in other words, the process, as explained.

 

These are things that seldom are written about on this forum, especially where it's easily accessible (comments under photographs), and that's too bad.

 

Too often I've wondered 'how did that photographer achieve that interesting/beautiful photograph?' and even sometimes asked, only to be met by silence. I am a one-person revolt against that silence, and it appears that my writings are popular with some.

 

I am glad this photo, my first of this genre, pleased you.

 

John (Crosley)

Hi John,

 

I'll try to explain why this doesn't work for me: The window is blown out. Since that was intentional, it is alright. But when it becomes a background to the woman's profile, it blends-in with the highlights on the face. We don't actually see her profile, but somehow a distorted version of it. If the window were narrower and a wall (or maybe a curtain) extended to the left, behind her, then we would be able to see the outer line of the highlight on the face against it and get a very nice silhouette. Same would apply to the shoulder too. Actually look at her neckline, see how nice it looks against her necklace.

 

Or, with this setup, she could turn her face away a little bit more to give us a complete profile. Then the highlights on the face wouldn't be visible and result a better silhouette.

 

I like the rest.

 

Regards.

Well written critique.

 

In fact, another treatment of this photo may have resolved your criticisms - everything is a decision, and a different decision in adjusting contrast may well have resolve the parts you didn't like, but may have resulted in destroying the parts you did.

 

Of course, I could have Photoshpped this to death (and may yet) selecting one part, manipulating it, holding back another, manipulating that, and so forth, until it is exactly as you suggest, or another capture may meet the bill.

 

But no matter what, your manner and style of critiqie is well-received here.

 

Thanks for stopping by and commenting; you're always welcome here.

 

John (Crosley)

At this time 9-17-06, the rates on this photo, 23, equal the number of comments, also 23, an unusual situation for any photo on Photo.net. (this is the 24th)

 

Nudes often attract an unusual number of rates, and a few attract some comments, though not all, but my photos seem to attract a very large number of comments; largely because I don't take photos generally 'like from the book' -- I don't follow the 'rule of thirds' unless it 'looks good' and I will run a horizon directly across a framed subject, contrary to the best rules of composition, but somehow when I do it, it may seem excusable, because I posted it because it 'looked good' or 'looked OK' to me, and that is the ultimate goal -- to have something look agreeable to the viewer, or at least to fulfill the photo's intended function whether to outrage, as some photographers appear wont to do (or as some accuse them of doing), to please aesthetically, to capture a moment in a pleasing fashion, to capture drama, (see Ben A's photo of a jumper between two parts of a Car Park in Leeds, not much aesthetically, but graphically, very stunning), and so forth.

 

Photos do a number of things; this one is designed to be aesthetically pleasing and hopefully it is somewhat erotic in the process, for it was designed to be that, and for those for whom it cannot be 'erotic' at least i hope they recognize that for some it has 'erotic' content, but is NOT smut -- far from it.

 

In my world, there is room for the 'erotic' photograph, without 'smutty' content (without making a statement on the reverse of that phrase). Much of the world's great art from the Renaissance involved themes of art and eroticism; many of the great Renaissance paintings and other art works involved art themes that, despite Church suppression, were attempts to encompass 'eroticism' within the larger compass of the world as a whole, and not to 'segregate' eroticism into something that had to be 'shoved under a mattress or into the back of a drawer'.

 

I hope that this is not something that has to be hidden from anyone (of age), and does not make anyone particularly uncomfortable, for that was certainly not its intention (though there certainly are a large number of persons about who are begging to be offended, and who, almost as a profession, make 'being offended' part of their personae, particularly in the U.S., and not nearly so much in other industrialized Western Countries, such as European countries where eroticism and nudity (separate things, largely) are taken as part of the human condition and dealt with much more maturely than in the United States).

 

John (Crosley)