Serious Frivolity

[Blithe]

Each time I saw these masks it struck me how something so frivolous could look so serious and solemnly beautiful all at the same time. Hope that comes over in the photograph.

[Ian]

Re: Serious Frivolity

Each time I saw these masks it struck me how something so frivolous could look so serious and solemnly beautiful all at the same time. Hope that comes over in the photograph.

Interesting - where was this taken?

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: Serious Frivolity

Nice exposure and composition Blythe. I like the soft warm tones. However, it's funny, although we get a lot of these images in our Photographic Society and although I have seen numerous ones in Venice, I have never felt the desire to take a photo of them as they disturb and I think frighten me. It's probably the white faces.

[Mowgli]

Re: Serious Frivolity

I would agree with Autumn, I always find these things look more frightening than pretty. Im surprised the Dr Who folk havent adoted one of these as a baddie
Mowgli

[jojo]

Re: Serious Frivolity

I think the colours in this shot are very effective - warm and saturated as Pol said. However,Venetian masks don't frighten me half as much as a traditional seaside Punch & Judy show . Didn't like it when I was 7, still gives me the heebie jeebies at 47!

jo

[Pol]

Re: Serious Frivolity

I think the colours in this shot are very effective - warm and saturated as Pol said.

jo

It was Audrey wot said that about the warmth etc - I ain't commented on this picture yet but I'm about to.

Pol

[Pol]

Re: Serious Frivolity

Each time I saw these masks it struck me how something so frivolous could look so serious and solemnly beautiful all at the same time. Hope that comes over in the photograph.

I'm sorry to say I'm not too keen on the composition of this one. I'd rather have seen the mask face-on rather than a semi profile tucked away in the bottom corner. I'd also have preferred seeing the entire head piece, which is currently cropped at the top right in the picture.

I see quite a lot of artifacts showing in the background and on the mask edges too, which kinda spoils the overall effect and dof imho. Nice lighting on the actual mask though.

Sorry

Pol

[jojo]

Re: Serious Frivolity

Time for bed said Zebedee
jo

[Blithe]

Re: Serious Frivolity

Thank you for looking and commenting. I didn't realise that so many people had such strong feelings about these masks.

Ian - I saw it on a stall in the Piazza delle Erbe, Verona. They held a sort of fascination for me, with the constant expression - like the costumed artists outside the arena, but I couldn't get such close ups of them.

Pol - You have your opinion and I have a confession. I added the background, obviously not very successfully, because there was so much vying for attention even in a subdued street background. It looked OK until I saw it on the screen. Will have another go at that as I personally like the composition - I like the haughty distant feel that the lower side profile gives. For me it was the actual 'face' that made the impact.

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Serious Frivolity

I think those clowns whose heads turn left & right, the ones you get at fairs & piers with their mouths constantly open are more frightening than the Venetian masks!
Blithe, I find the background a bit too busy & distracting! A much subtler version would've been better & not so obviously added at a later date!