portraits BIG TORTOISE, LITTLE TORTOISE

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Great idea, nice composition and tones.

Thank you.

The David Meyer of yore resurfaces! I note this picture was not taken in Fresno, only nearby.

 

Ok; on to critique. I really like the composition, with the many repeated -- and yet not quite repeated -- forms, and the dramatic black background. The shadows seem harsh, and also appear to come from two directions. Could that have been fixed by using an umbrella or softbox, or by aligning the light more closely with the lens axis?

Aha! A rare sighting of the species Carltonius Barotinitus Photographfia. And on my humble site. Barry, it's a long story, and way too involved to bore you with, but essentially you are quite right, the light is coming from both sides, is harsh, sucks, and so did this whole series. Fortunately I wasn't getting paid to do them. Since then I have learned a whole lot more about my camera, and about shooting in a setting where a very pregnant young lady is mostly naked and the father-in-law is present making all of us uncomfortable and miserable. But I loved the tattoos, and the expressions, so I posted them hoping to fool someone into thinking they were interesting. Well, I should have known I couldn't fool you. And then, I had the disadvantage of shooting within twenty five miles of Fresno. I had no chance.

Tripod, near-total darkness, 20 second exposures. You explain that that's the way art is done; flash is for wussies. He gets bored after awhile and goes away. You set up the softbox and you're in business.

 

Actually, I was thinking another interesting way of lighting them would have been extremely from the sides. Cast light on the tatts, of course, but have much more subtle light on the rest. Keep the black background, though.