I agree completely about the candles. They look like they were arranged for some reason other than this shot. Their arrangement distracts me as I try to figure out why they are placed where they are. You are more aware of the other aspects of studio shooting than I but I agree with your comments except for the one about ignoring what you said. Some body oil would help to pick up the candle highlights. Lots and lots of oil. Thanks for asking for my opinion. Greg > -----Original Message----- > From: Robert G. Earnest [mailto:robert@earnestphoto.com] > > so- here's what I thought. > > The candles seemed to have been arranged according to some > dimensions of > the room they were in. Were this a self portrait with the camera on a > tripod I believe that much more attention would have been > paid to their > positioning in the frame. > I don't understand why the three in the foreground aren't aligned with > the eight in the background (which seem to be so carefully placed). > > Also, why do the lights go out of the frame on the left while > the model > goes out of the frame on the right? Once again the careful > placement of > the eight votive candles in the back causes me to want a formal > structure in the composition causing all the other elements > placement to > seem haphazard. > > The lighting gives a sense of mystery to the shot that is > killed by the > presence of the white doors in the background. Suddenly I realize that > we are in an apartment with shag carpeting. > > I feel that lowering the camera angle to minimize the texture > and amount > of the carpet and disguising the back wall with perhaps a draped > material would allow me to escape the mundane realities of this > environment. I have had encounters in environments like this and > invariably everyone involved came away with rug burns. I > need/want/require my fantasies to be sexier than that. > I would use the placement of the candles to lead the viewer into the > image. Perhaps even having some (one?) looming very large and out of > focus fuzzy in the foreground. Show me the entire body or > have a reason > why you didn't. For sure try to get a tad bit of light on the > background > behind her so that I can make out that fabulous shock of hair and > perhaps the curve of her shoulder and hip. > > And lastly? Choose all black wardrobe or all white wardrobe or get rid > of it all together. No mixing and matching. No plaids or bows. > > I think that this situation surrounding the production of > this image is > one that I myself would have liked to have been in. That in > itself makes > it a very successful image. I for one find amateur efforts much more > provocative than professional ones and if for no other reason > than that > you should ignore everything I have suggested. > > What do you think Greg? > > r > > > > Gregory Fraser wrote: > > > > Well now Antonio, the title of the image is 'Portrait' not > 'Self Portrait' so you really don't know what you're getting > us into. Having said that though, it does involve fire and > probably very loud tribal drums so what the hey! Left leg blue! > > > > >
