'The Tire Guy'

Here is 'The Tire Guy' where he works, his soiled fingers helping keep

those glasses from sliding down his nose, I think, as he contemplates.

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 photographic knowledge to help

improve my photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John

Another very fine live portrait, I like details, colour, DOF...best regards, vf

The harshness of the 'overexposed' areas add a layer of conflict for the hardworking Tire Guy.

 

Steve

I generally don't just start to go out on a 'photo expedition' though some of my trips or journeys may end up that way if I feel good enough and my shooting is 'on target' enough.

 

This started out with a trip to buy a tire -- actually two tires. Used tires.

 

It led me to this place and this guy.

 

I took a bunch of photos of him, and they were quite good, but he and I both liked this one where he was shoving his glasses back up his nose where they started to slide off.

 

Lots of detail, lots of depth of field, and, believe it or not, it is a great b&w photo to -- maybe even better as b&w, but I haven't posted too many color photos here lately, and the blue colors of this shirt and the bluishness of the tires and background seem to tie together, so up it went as a color capture.

 

As a B&W, it would be presented more contrasty and more 'sharp', at least as I worked it up.

 

They're identical, but they both have a different 'feel'.

 

Keep looking around and some day you may see the B&W version surface somewhere, probably not here.,

 

Best wishes; I thank you for enlightened criticism (and you needn't just give niceness, either -- I can handle tougher criticism - from someone I respect, such as you.)

 

John (Crosley)

Although those areas may be 'overexposed', they are not 'blown' - there is detail in them. This is a low ISO capture, and a slow shutter speed for maximum fidelity.

 

I'm trying to learn from the example set by cyber colleague Giuseppe Pasquali who shoots with modest equipment but at best ISO, and gets stunning quality -- I almost always shoot at higher ISO, but I'm learning. . . . or so I tell myself.

 

Look at this guy's fingernails, if you want to see 'detail', then blow them up , , , way big' and examine them . . . for grime, nail tissue, and all (even search for hangnails if you wish).

 

There is lots of detail in this photo and important parts are well in focus.

 

Best to you Steven.

 

John (Crosley)

both closer up and with the tires in the background - with him looking elsewhere and directly into the camera, as a 'street' or 'environment' or even 'industrial' portrait.

 

However, we stopped when he pushed his glasses back up to the bridge of his nose.

 

We both looked at this one, and he and I both agreed it was the most interesting, and the most original of the lot of pretty good photos (oh, I see someone thinks this photo is pretty awful -- in which case then maybe we made a mistake in that person's eyes . . . ;~))

 

Oh, well, can't please all of 'em all the time (the suckers that is . . . to quote P.T. Barnum.).

 

Reasonable people as well as suckers, however, may differ on evaluating photos such as this. After all this is not a nude with pert nipples searching for the sky . . . .which some prefer.

 

;~))

 

(even me, come to think of it)

 

John (Crosley)

Bettor English on my part would have helped. I was referring to the upper right of the frame, not the nails on his hands.

 

The harshness of that bright area adds to the subject's expression.

 

Sorry for the poor wording,

 

Steve

 

 

I did understand what you said.

 

I was just being discursive. I should have addressed the point more directly, I guess. There is 'information' in the apparently overexposed area, upper right, but it does create a 'contrast'. I like to use comments like yours as a 'springboard' to a discussion of the 'issues' a particular photo posed, so neophyte photographers can learn the problems and issues they face are not unique to them.

 

;~)).

 

It helps them figure out ways to tackle those problems when they face them in their shooting I think, and in that way I think I make a contribution, as many (I am told) read these comments.

 

Hope you don't mind having your comment and its reply be a 'springboard'.

 

John (Crosley)

 

Hey John! Starting to see lots of your stuff now. I like your trend to photograph the common man. I love it! You do seem to spend a lot of time getting your car fixed though ;)

If you drive a new Mercedes, you'll never get the photos I get!!!

 

Maybe I drive an older car on purpose. Did you consider that?

 

And patronize such places on purpose??

 

;~))

 

John (Crosley)

I think it's a very good portrait and I'm certainly not worried by that slight overexposure on the top right. You're right on the b&w, it would certainly give another feel to it, perhaps a bit too dramatic. I like the colours of his blue shirt and the skin colours. If anything I would consider a square crop top put more emphasis on him.

I am not at all worried about the lightness (not overexposure) at the top right. It is in keeping with the time of day and subject, I think.

 

It does make a very good black and white - and it is pretty dramatic -- it has an entirely 'other' feel to it.

 

Since this is about the 'guy' and 'tires' I wanted as many tires as possible, so I don't think I want to crop right.

 

Besides, I like the 2:3 aspect ratio and framed it for the tires, right.

 

If I shot Hassleblad, it might have been framed differently.

 

I try to avoid cropping when possible.

 

(Unlike Hassleblad shooter Helmut Newton who planned to crop almost all his shots . . . his printer told me)

 

Best to you.

 

John (Crosley)

The beauty in all art resides inside us. The glow comes from our heartstrings within and not from the object or writing or melody per se. To be beautiful it must evoke emotion but the emotion itself is its beauty. I knew this John before you ever picked up a camera. I do not see beauty in this photo as you and some others do. I rated according to my heart. The rate does not make this intrinsically a bad or a good photo. Nor does it make me and some others “suckers” as you stated above. The Hebrew word for “sucker” is פראייר transliterated “Prahyer”. A Prahyer is fundamentally a good person. In my country there was a time when a Prahyer was the National Idol. אף פעם לא הייתי פראייר I hope you understand my English.