Contemplating...

This is a scanned photo from my first series of B&W in film photography about two years ago. One of my very favorite images from the good memories of "Wow! I can make photos!". Still a long way to learn, but "life is journey, not a destination."

love the B&W and the mood. Nice photo Tanya

The mood is good...slightly ambiguous. It could be either questioning or introspective, or a bit of both. I like the detail of the reflected brush on the countertop.

 

It's very good early work. The only suggestion I would make concerns making photographs with a mirror. I would choose one "person" in the shot to focus on...either the reflection or the real person in the foreground. But in this case, even both being slightly out of focus sort of works for me. Again, I think the mood is the important thing here, not the technical aspects.

I quite like the "play of halves" and the ambiguity of the photo. Could be deep introspection, could be a touch of narcisism.

 

The fact that both images - the real and the reflection - are slighty out of focus provides, in my opinion, the right balance to the photo.

 

Great work, as usual.

 

Congrats

...a photo from my earlier work with B & W film. Thanks for viewing.

Warm regards, Tanya.

Who am I to argue with Jim, but I've also tried to make it work with both in focus. Yes, I remember this one Tanya, you removed it quite soon after. I think the look adds a lot to this picture, because the impression is that that model is really looking at herself enquiringly. Time you took some more Tanya. There are so many beautiful people inSan Francisco and then, of what use is a mirror, if you don't use it to see yourself in ... :-)

I find the most interesting thing about this photo is not the expression - which seems to me to be mainly "I wonder how this will turn out..." but the body language and the frame of mind that led to it being taken. Like another of your earlier shots there is the reveal / conceal dichotomy, at one level about the body but at a deeper level about sexuality and the inner person - "I want to be known ... but only by someone who will love what they find"

 

Your photos are always special.

 

Best wishes, Jonathan

I would reflect(excuse the pun) on Jim's comments although I feel that in this particular images, being one of your earlier works, that perhaps you were a little reluctant to want to show you full facial expression and hence the softness of the image overall.

 

In general I think this is a good shot and can see why you have embarked on such a life journey. Keep trying and I have added you to my list of interesting people...apart from the fact that you like sushi!!!!

 

Artur

Excuse the typos....yuk............

Very intimate feeling , I like it

Ramsey:

Thank you for being so supportive of my work. As i remember, you were also the first viewer to comment on this photo and its PS alteration when it first posted a while back. And you were also among a few who i explained why i took it off. Well! What can i say now..."i can't decide what others think of and/or want me to be. I love photography because it's the best medium of self-expression artistically and emotionally for me. My photography have captured and will continue to capture/create what is essentially beautiful or real to me." Thanks again for your attention Ramsey.

 

Jim:

You are right about the "mood" of the photo. For me, it's very important to have any kind of "mood" to the photo because it's the soul of the photo. Technically, when i took this photo, all i knew was that "F5.6" is good for portrait. Still a long way to learn, but i guess i have a slight improvement for the "educated eye on photography" to recognize so many flaws in my photos now :0(. Hope my photography will improve overtime because the more i know and understand the language of photography, the more i want to delete my whole gallery. Well! the good thing is that "i have plenty to room to...improve :o)"

 

Joao:

Very interesting analogy "introspection and narcicism". Hehe! I am glad the mirror was not a pond, otherwise, you know what happened...;o). I also like the soft focus like you mentioned (Lol! don't tell Jim that i didn't know how to operate my camera to put in on FOCUS :o)).

 

John:

Wait a minute! which body part are you, John?!!! The gray hair or the 45 y/o well-fit body? ;o). I think this will be THE PHOTO of the year on PN. We finally get a glimpse of the most popular photographer on PN; yet, he's still ...mysterious.... San Francisco belongs to Alex Lee. I don't think i can find hypnotizing models or as hypnotized as his photography is!!!.

 

Jonathan:

If i ever have any emotional breakdown, i would come to you :o). Love your subconscious psychological rationales as always. I am intrigued by your last words: "I want to be known...but only by someone who will love what they find." I am not sure i understand this. Isn't what you mentioned true for most everyone?!!!. BTW, i have finished the book that you recommended a while back. I laughed when i thought of why you recommended it to me. Can't go wrong with Carl Jung, you know :o).

 

Artur:

Thank you for your excitement in the photos. If only some of my photos are as good as yours, i would be in estacy :o). Well! One day...Spain would be my destination ;o). Besides sushi, i have a very adventurous spirit for...food :o). Be prepared!!!

 

Alon:

Thanks for viewing and leaving comment. Hmmm! your bio starts with a song from Pink Floyd, let's see what i can say.... Well! i try photography because "Hey you! Anybody out there...." At least, there are some responses to my artistic expressions on this international forum. Where i live and most people i know, they just want me to be "Comfortably Numbed". Hehe! you can share with me more, but that's all i know about Pink Floyd. Thanks Alon and your daughter is definitely having the eye for photography :o).

 

Warm regards to all,

 

Tanya.

 

 

"Isn't what you mentioned true for most everyone?" - yes, that's why it is such a good photo, to express that primal anxiety so neatly (and, it seems, intuitively).

You make me laugh again. Perhaps, you assume the model is...ME?!!! ;o).

It's true that we want to be known "only" by those who care about us and like what they "see" per se; therefore, intuitively, we seek for approval at some level in whatever we do.

On contrary, reposting this photo and others will not serve me any good (at least, to the people that know of me, or i know of them). I took them down because i wanted to be a confirmist, to agree with what others define life, beauties and art are. Now, reposting my work can also mean putting a death sentence on myself morally-speaking (to others.)

 

Oh well! i like the image and want to see it every time i view my porfolio :).

Knowing the fit of bravery required to post this makes it even more special. No matter how new and evolved, still, there is a forever innocence in the eyes as the past looks at the future in a mirror. The "present" is here, it is taking the picture, alive and well.

Dare to show & Creativity are essential components for being an artist. If this one was one of your earliest work, then you belong to those gifted artists with creative mind. I admire your courage and creativity. Good work. Although in PN, for this image I donot comment on photographic technicality, as this one is simply artistically interesting work of art, photographically captured.

Whether or not you are physically the person in the photo does not matter. Any image you create is to some extent a self-portrait, it says something about how you feel (at the time) and reveals a small fragment of your inner soul.

 

One of the reasons I keep coming back to your photos is that very few other photographers have the natural insight to produce pictures that are so direct and so transparent. They are truly works of art.

It is a beautiful, well composed image. The ballance is superb and the selectve focus works very well.

 

PS. I love your new self portrait for the site.

 

-Owen

Tanya, I think that what Jonathan says above is interesting. It is irrelevant whether the picture is you or not. Your work will reflect your personality and therefore, in the long run at any rate, it is a part of you.

 

At any rate, there are many attractive female photographers on PN and that is not the issue. Your work inspires comments in part because it asks as many questions as it answers. It leaves the viewer always curious to know more. This is an excellent quality in any artist.

...for paying frequent visits to my gallery (even though i have not had time to visit yours and others that often.)

 

Neil: You are right. The moment is here...to take photos. Like Alex Lee said: "when i photograph, all the troubles in the world go away." Ah! Perhaps, I should add: "...but when i display/exhibit my photographs, new troubles arise.... :o(."

 

Beng: I am humbly receiving your praise. As i study the work of world famous photographers and others on PN, i think my creativity and talent are pretty much insignificant. Someone told me that: "when you take a photograph, it is first to please you. Everything else is secondary." I took this to the heart, when someone also enjoys my artwork, it's a double joy :o).

 

Jonathan: Ah! thank you for sharing "part of your beautiful soul" with us on PN from your portfolio. I am still an "emerging artist" who tries to find her place; therefore, i am flattered and feel very motivated by your words. Thanks again. You make me feel that i should take photography more seriously, and perhaps, i should enter photography school for acedemic advancement.

 

John: I am disppointed that you took the photo of yourself with the 2 models down. I don't mind that you posted it here. I actually thought that was cute and funny.

 

Warm regards to all,

 

Tanya.

Interestingly tanya the expressions on each of the faces could be of different people, I love the slightly de-focussed effect, for me both the reflected image and the profiled image could from their percieved expressions could be thinking different things. An interesting and timeless shot.

I visit your moody whites series quite often, and as with all of your work you have created in my eyes that tanya truong feel.

Loving yourself, the fortness of beauty.