'The Tireless Shopper'

This 'Tireless Shopper' is shopping for . . . what else? 'Tires' . . . all at

a local used tire mart. 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

Fine portrait. I like the compo, colours and the way you have used a light on his head/neck.

PDE

Thanks.

 

This is just as the 'raw' capture looked after I made my adjustments; all done in camera for composition.

 

One of my better ones and so far raters have turned up their noses.

 

But I (and you) like it, and that's one extra to post and keep posted, even in this highly-trafficked folder where there is some of my best work.

 

This man (whose name regrettably I screwed up and thus never really knew) was MOST cooperative -- my special thanks to him.)

 

Vladimir, you are inevitably 'right on' when you step in.

 

John (Crosley)

Yes, I agree (I don't always).

 

The lighting on the face is entirely natural by the way; all planned for that.

 

Also the repetition of 'red' in the rims from rust mirrors the ruddiness of his skin.

 

Same with the blue of the background and the blueness of his top and his hat.

 

Pure serendipity that said to this photographer: 'Take this photo!'

 

So I did.

 

I was compelled to do so.

 

And aided by a very nice man.

 

And encouraged by you.

 

Thanks.

 

John (Crosley)

 

this image really caught my attention. Like it a lot!

A very lot of thought and skill went into making this portrait, and quite a few attempts that were good but not absolutely the best.

 

This is 'the best' that could be achieved under available light (an earlier commenter noted the 'light on the face' but it is entirely natural). In fact, everything here is entirely natural -- no artificial light here at all from any source.

 

Careful attention was placed on colors and also color coordination, as well as composition (other captures were not quite so well composed)

 

For instance, look at the rust color in the tires and the ruddiness in his face (reddishness) and how they coordinate.

 

Look at blues throughout.

 

Look at the circles and curves throughout, including the line of circles from tires lined up, then repeated in the lines of his head and hat.

 

Yes, a lot went into this, not all of it was conscious, but nearly all.

 

And the model, a passerby who was interested in photography and extremely willing and nice, was very, very helpful (and a very good model).

 

I hope he downloads a copy and sends me his name so I can give him credit.

 

He is very deserving of credit also (and I screwed up getting his name - stupid me -- I got the wrong name, as I got it confused with someone else's.

 

Thanks, Fee, for the accolade.

 

I don't always agree when I get a compliment, but in this case, I do.

 

John (Crosley)

This capture also looks GREAT in black and white.

 

I probably won't post a desaturation here, but it may show posted somewhere, sometime.

 

If you right click and save to a folder, then just desaturate, you'll see what I mean.

 

You probably will have to play with 'color channels' to get the best results, and play with brightness/contrast also.

 

I really mean it, about how it looks desaturated. You might try it for yourself.

 

John (Crosley)

Indeed it is better in black and white. I think that color does not fit the mood of a used tire yard and afro-american skin tones are hershey-bar-luscious in gray scale.

this is another great portrait from you, the face of the model is amazing and I'm a little surprised he was willing and nice as I find his look a bit shy and distrustful as if he was suspicious about your intentions. Anyway everything adds up in the composition and I think the neatly arranged tires and untidy wheel rims are a perfect background here. To be honest the dominance of blue in the picture doesn't work for me as even the tires and rims seem somewhat blue and I prefer b&w version which is absolutely great. Of course the color version is more artistic and it still very good but imho the color distracts the viewer a bit from the main topic which is really interesting and powerful in itself. Thank you for sharing, with my best regards, -wm

This guy, a photo aficionado, was posing and adopting poses and facial expressions to suit my whim.

 

Here, he was assuming a 'look' I asked him to assume as though, I told him 'your woman just bitch slapped you and you didn't deserve it' and you're not hurt, but you love her and you wanna know why she's doing that. Why you doing that woman?' is what I told him to try to visualize.

 

And so: mistrustfulness is what he shows -- and surprise.

 

It's all stage direction.

 

(by the way, he and I agreed on 'black patois' for instructions - no talking down -- he's extremely intelligent, but just for that I spoke in the vernacular to try to evoke emotions AND an appropriate visualization.

 

I think I was successful.

 

I was pretty sure when I suggested people try to desaturate, someone would post one, and sure enough.

 

Yes, it's two different scenes - color and black and white.

 

I also prefer black and white, but I also hadn't posted anything in color in a while. The blue is 'true' in that it's not corrected by our eyes as much as we often do. We just are unaware of it. These winter days in sun, go out at 4:00 or 4:30 and look. Everything will be very yellow, yet your eye won't see it. Your photos will, unless white balance is adjusted. Film will show it for sure, unless you filter.

 

I liked the color version enough to post, and the b&w version may be posted 'elsewhere' some day (not soon).

 

But I'll do the desaturation, from raw (it's already worked up and waiting. I just don't post two of almost anything, even color and black and white, with rare exceptions.)

 

Nice critique. And very on point.

 

Best to you.

 

John (Crosley)