Another Image For Comment

Hi guys,

Just finished this shot. It's from my personal collection. I know people on this forum have often suggested that I provide more of an explanation behind my images so here it is:

The model is my dad. Whilst visiting my parents over Christmas I was itching to have a play with a new Prime lens I'd just purchased. So, short of a model i asked my pops to stand in. Unfortunately my father wasn't in the mood for the shoot, preferring to work on his soduku. Needless to say he was irritated with my prancing around with the camera, but ultimatelly he relented and i started shooting.

For my personal work i have a preference for darker, more sinister images and that is why i deliberatly processed the image in the way I have done.



Below is an interesting crop to the shot which I also like:


Any comments as ever, more than welcome.

Nice.Interesting how lightening the shadows on #2 the mood goes from gruff to stern but caring.At least that's what I see.

Matt,

It's tough having family reluctantly help with one's work or listen to one's story they thnk they've heard before. You have conveyed this dark reluctance to tolerate your photography. There's almost a cynical attitude. I cannot but help be impressed, but in succeeding, you might also be defining your father, by this one picture, as being more negative in general to other folk.

Asher

Hello Matt, I like this portrait very much, especially the vertical composition.

All good. And midtones too.
Arun Gaur
http://tripolia-indianlandscapeimages.com

Love the shot; I think the first works better than the closer crop.

I also think he looks like someone I'd enjoy talking to; there's a "no bs" air about him that seems to be covering a barely concealed wry amusement.

Ruben Alfu said:

Hello Matt, I like this portrait very much, especially the vertical composition.

Click to expand...

When I wrote this comment I was looking at a crappy monitor, and even so, what I was really thinking was "I'm speechless". Now, I'm looking again at this photo in a well calibrated Cinema Display (at least way better than the crappy model), in good viewing conditions, and I can confirm it: I'm speechless.

The cropped picture of a splendid photograph is more to my liking. There is an immediate connect with
the person thru the eyes. Slowly I went around the whole framed.

Excellent photograph.

Hi guys, many thanks for all the comments, I'm pleased you like the shot.

Hi Matt,
My apologies for being tardy to this post.
Splendid image!
Although you made mention of a leaning towards "darker, more sinister images" I never really felt that when viewing previous posts of yours.
Yes, you do have a unique style or approach to the processing, however I believe it works quite well.
This image is another fine example.
I'm imagining this would look extraordinary in print!

Asher Kelman said:

Matt,

It's tough having family reluctantly help with one's work or listen to one's story they thnk they've heard before. You have conveyed this dark reluctance to tolerate your photography. There's almost a cynical attitude. I cannot but help be impressed, but in succeeding, you might also be defining your father, by this one picture, as being more negative in general to other folk.

Asher

Click to expand...

Hi Asher, with regard your last point, I appreciate you comment however when exhibiting this work it would not be disclosed who the subject matter is. Secondly, when I showed my father the image he liked it, and thought it was a good representation of his grumpier side. In that respect I don't think he minds what impressions other people develo from the image.

Matt Halstead said:

Hi Asher, with regard your last point, I appreciate you comment however when exhibiting this work it would not be disclosed who the subject matter is. Secondly, when I showed my father the image he liked it, and thought it was a good representation of his grumpier side. In that respect I don't think he minds what impressions other people develo from the image.

Click to expand...

Still, Matt, it's so interesting for me to see the reluctant relative roped in for photography. That was my wife's resentment about photography. She had to sit for hours as the model for her father's fascination with his 8x10 Deardorf Film Camera. Your Dad's expression reminds me of exactly the feeling I experience what when trying to get relatives to cooperate!

Asher

Asher Kelman said:

Still, Matt, it's so interesting for me to see the reluctant relative roped in for photography. That was my wife's resentment about photography. She had to sit for hours as the model for her father's fascination with his 8x10 Deardorf Film Camera. Your Dad's expression reminds me of exactly the feeling I experience what when trying to get relatives to cooperate!

Asher

Click to expand...

I sympathise for your wife, however the 8x10 Deardorf Film Camera must have been a wonderful piece of kit! My father's look of disdain is all play, in some images he was trying not to laugh! I can assure you that if he didn't want to sit then he wouldn't!