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Hi Folks,
I'm new round these parts but feel free say what you like about the shot.
I figure a self-portrait is a good way to start
Thanks
Byrne
Hi Byrne and welcome to DPNow!
I find tattoos fascinating even though I'd never want one for myself (I'm too chicken anyway ).
For hundreds, even thousands of years, tattoos have not been a major fashion - at least in Western society. And we relate tattoos to primitive culture. But now in this digital electronic age, tattoos are very much in fashion.
I like the lighting in our picture, but it looks soft on my screen. Can you tell us a little about how you took the picture?
Hi Byrne, welcome to DPNow, thats quite a striking first image you posted there. If I'm honest I find it rather too warm for my taste, how did you set up the shot.
Perhaps you could tell us a little about yourself, what do you normally like to photograph and what are your major influences? Don't ask much do I
Thanks for the comments guys and in answer to your questions.
Influences would have to be the greats I guess. Capa, Leibowitz, Bresson.
I mainly shoot street / documentary photography so this shot was a huge leap for me. I was asked to shoot some portrait shots for a portfolio and not having a model to hand I simply used my myself.
There was a softbox to my left at head height and a modelling light to my right that was at waste height angled upwards slightly. Some PS work later and the shot is complete.
Thanks for that. The on-screen softness I notice is probably only a symptom of being displayed on the Web - or did you consciously decide to go for a softer look, maybe to balance the hard masculinity of the subject?
I have to confess I don't have the skills or knowledge to make any sort of informed critique but I can and do offer a very warm welcome to the forum.
Pol
Ok - I've now been away looking through some of your (extensive) other work, recovered slightly more from my feelings of inferiority and loss of confidence so I'm gonna bite the bullet and say a little more about the picture you've posted here within the context of the feelings evoked by your other work.
What I see in this self-confessed self portrait is a man who can display and capture enormous sensitivity - though that sensitivity can also be harnessed and well controlled. A lighter side and a darker side, vulnerable and protecting himself - hard and soft ........ a very wide gamut of human weakness,strengths and emotions all firmly contained but willing to show and share glimpses of those facets. A well rounded and yet sensitive human being.
I can't comment on the technical aspects because I don't know enough about those things.
I'd also like to add one or two of your more powerful street shots kinda moistened my eyes. I'm envious and in awe.
Steady now Pol, don't want you bibbing all over yer keyboard
Shurrup, Yorkie.
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I'd do almost anything but die for some of those street shots and that's a fact .. so I'll jut keep on doing the back/leg/arm physio and making my 'chauffeur and kit caddy's' life a misery.
I think the shot works well but for me the balance between the key light and the modelling light is not quite right. I think there is just a bit too much contrast between the top of the shoulder and the rest of the arm. I like the warm colour and pose. The title of the picture raises another question in my mind; does the title refer to the tattoos or the vulnerability that I see in the picture. (This is a rhetorical question, but shows that the image is working my mind).
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Shurrup, Yorkie.
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