fg

I've noticed this image a while ago on the site, it was in the "top rated photos" series.

It's just perfect. IMHO the author should start searching for a publisher or send it to

Magnum. They'd like it too. www.magnumphotos.com.

Gideon,

 

in Photoshop duplicate image level, apply gaussian blur filter (set to 20) to new level as set the blurred level to "darken" or "lighten" in the levels window.

 

Patricia, excellent portfolio, very interpretative and intense.

Hi Richard, I like your bubbles. I think they are very graphic, more than photo-graphic, which is not bad at all. They really look so cool that, if I were you, I would think about making a mega enlargement to hang in a fancy interior design shop. Keep it up! - FG

Interesting exercise. I have the feeling that the perspective could have been made more extreme in order to create more impact on the viewer and consequently a higher rating. On the contrary, using a PC lens would have resulted in a very predictable image. I did similar stuff recently and exhibited in a gallery... have a look at a folder cityscapes: subjective perspectives and let me know what you think.

 

Keep up - FG

 

Hi Fabrizio, nice to see you on photo.net! Thanks for your rating, happy you like it. I'll drop a bit of an explanation for the benefit of the community but I promise we'll catch up privately via e-mail (ok gents, you gotcha: we're friends!).

 

The set up for Chili Peppers was quite tricky, even though the subject looks so simple. It all started on with a piece of paper and a pencil, where I sketched a "rough" of what I wanted to look like an advert from Apple Computer. You know their setups are generally based on a supercool white background, very stylish and upper market, but at the same time totally emotional. This is what I wanted to achieve.

 

Peppers were initially dried in my kitchen's owen to make their red more intense and get them to stand right up properly. The small bowl was filled with sand first and then the peppers were inserted. Finally, the lonely one you see on the bottom right was glued to the base of the set (you'll notice it's pointing slightly upward). To get the thing properly lighten up (I wanted it to look like an Apple Computer advert) I made up a lightbox using 4 Multiblitz Profilux 200 torches mounting 2 strips (left/right) and two square softboxes (one stays right above the subject, the other one behind it, 50cm below the bowl and pointed upward). This gave me a white background on an opaline plastic sheet where the main light is the softbox above the peppers. The shot was taken on 6x7 after a few polaroids (I should have used 4x5" really but I was just testing out...) on slide film. Overall it has taken me 4 hours to get the shot.

 

This image has proven to be quite a hit amongst all friends that have seen it but I still feel it could be improved. We're never happy, aren't we?

 

All the best - FG

 

Controversial - that's why I like it. Keep up - FG

Interesting image, I like the tatoo and the chain thing. I would have seen a more aggressive posture but that's just me. I think you might be interested in the work of Paolo Roversi, a regular shooter for Vogue Italia. The print displaying the border of the negative reminds me of the good old Cartier Bresson. I would not use 135 for such work - go 4x5" and keep up - FG

Thanks for the comment. Yes buildings, pure form, no concept, no hidden meanings. My work exhibited in "Cityscape: subjective perspetives" is an investigation on the relationships between forms and patterns, taking the viewer by hand and bringing him to an imaginary point of focus in the center of the image. Hope you guys like it, I've just begun to share. Enjoy the folder - FG

Interesting composition. I am sort of "tempted" by the contrast between the smooth profile of the car and the sharp edges of the buildings reflected by it. Personally, I would have added some sepia toning, similar to the picture posted above, but that's just a personal thing. Your picture is interesting. Keep up - FG

The composition is very dinamic and the whole scene definitely intriguing. But, most of all, I just keep staring at the two guys overlooking each other with similar posture and gesture. Excellent shot, definitely a POW. Was this one shoot in color I would definitely see it published in a world-class magazine as part of a reportage. Send it to an editor and get some serious feedback. Congratulations.

 

Bravo, bravo, bravo, bravo! Next time, check the color cast and vignetting. Bravo, bravo, bravo, bravo...

Hi, I like the use of selective focus and the background but... how about turning the image upside down? I have the feeling that this would result in better composition.

Bye,

Francesco

The sense of ambiguity and the teathrical, dramatic framing is telling a story. It's ambiguity makes the observer wonder about the subject. This picture just confirms me that women are definitely more interesting as authors than all the male geeks that talk technique here. Most of the female authors I know have "more to say" than their male counterparties. Having something to tell is, I believe, the only reason makes me pick a camera. I hope you can share this feeling. It'd be interesting to see more of your work on this site.