'Tim' -- A Man of Many Aspects

This is 'Tim', a man who enjoys good company, his freedom,

motorcycles, mechanics, and methamphetamine, not necessarily in

that order. Your ratings and critiques are invited and most welcome. If

you rate harshly, very critically, or just wish to state your opinion,

please submnit a helpful and constructive critique. Please share your

photographic knowledge to help improve my photography. Thanks!

Enjoy! John

Nice shot but I think your croped the pic a little too much from the top and bottom.

He seems to have a nice beard you should have made use of it.

Best Regards

Gamini

You are not wrong in your criticism, so far as you are able to see.

However, I tried vertical shots, but they were not nearly so good.

This shot does need improvement and within 24 hours I probably will replace this version with one that is cropped to the left of the head (as we look at it)

The great beard you write of is there, but below the mouth, really it diminishes except for extraordinary mutton chops, and they're extremely hard to capture, especially when his head and eyes to me are the reason for the photo, not his beard.

His beard here is the gateway to his mouth which protrudes, his nose, which also protrudes and his overhanging brow, which conceals his deeply sunk eyes, which when turned into black and white, seem menacing (he's really a pretty genial guy -- at least now, and I can't say at all for other times, as I don't know, but he has no station in life, cannot work, and is out of the work force.

It is the 'eyes' here, accentuated by the beard, that is the focus of my photo, not the beard, which is only to accentuate the menace and give texture - -this is not a portrait of a bearded man. It is a portrait of a menacing, unusual man with portions of his beard showing and his huge mustache (only the top part, for the main part).

What you envision really changes it to another portrait entirely, which I tried, but did not work (believe me I took about 124 photos of this guy in 20 minutes or less, and there isn't much I didn't get or try, and believe me, horizontal 'works best'.

So, when I have a few minutes later, I'll probably dig out the original, re-size it after cropping left to near his head, then re-insert the cropped photo and add this photo as a link (or in-line) so the thread is not broken.

I do highly value your critique, as it is well thought out, but suffers only from not having seen the other captures, which you obviously cannot have done.

Actually, even tighter cropping on this guy works even more wonderfully, but my choice is 'looser cropping first' on a portrait of a guy like this, then lay out my further choices later and go with my instincts.

Initial reaction says 'tighter crop -- probably much tighter crop -- but not here. I tried a VERY TIGHT CROP before in Photoshop, and it looked wonderful, but it was not the photo I was posting for this here.

Perhaps another time or at some sort of possible future exhibition. . . . .

My best to you with my thanks.

John (Crosley)

What a drama. I would not change the composition i any ways. It is a great shot. The BW underlines the actuality and the reality of the image.

Tommy

Thank you so much.

I have mixed feelings only about the left crop - nothing else.

I feel like you.

Thanks again.

John (Crosley)

love it.  kind of looks like nietzsche.  :)

I looked up image of Nietzsche on line, and indeed Tim here looks like the philosopher, but trust me, Tim is no philosopher, unless he's maybe a little 'stoned' which according to him is a more or less natural state.

;~))  (Based on my talks with him and his companion, a guy).

Thanks for the comment.

john

John (Crosley)