Hamilton

[juznobsrvr]

I received an email from Hamilton today announcing his retirement. He inquired if I still have the photo I took of him a couple of years ago so he can use it for his signature board. So I dug this up and thought I might share it here. It's really a test shot. At that time I just got my Canon 580ex ii flash and wanted to practice on bouncing the light.

Thanks for looking.

[Kodiak]

Test? …wow, cool!

Hey Rob, here is a secret:
the sharper a photo is, the less extra contrast it will need (don't spread!).

In Hamilton's case, the specular lights in his skin are such that one may think
of reducing the contrast a bit so to obtain a more gradient tonal change of his
darker skin tone rendition. This will not affect the sharpness but bring back
more of the grey scale in the take.

[Shadowman]

Hamilton was nicely captured. Well done.

[juznobsrvr]

Test? …wow, cool!

Hey Rob, here is a secret:
the sharper a photo is, the less extra contrast it will need (don't spread!).

In Hamilton's case, the specular lights in his skin are such that one may think
of reducing the contrast a bit so to obtain a more gradient tonal change of his
darker skin tone rendition. This will not affect the sharpness but bring back
more of the grey scale in the take.

Thanks for kind words and great tip, Daniel. As mentioned, this was taken a few years back and I must have been on my "must-be-sharp-contrast" phase :-) I see your point. Cheers.

[juznobsrvr]

Hamilton was nicely captured. Well done.

Thanks for noticing and your usual kind words, John. Much appreciated.

[Manfred M]

Another very interesting capture; one can't accuse you of not having gotten close enough.

The last number of times I have shot darker skinned subjects, I never got the specular highlights on their skin under control. While Kodiak mentions them, you have them under much better control than I have managed. This has been getting to the point where I was wondering if I needed to use a polarizer to try to tone them down.

Nicely done; Hamliton should be pleased that you found the shot.

[juznobsrvr]

Another veru interesting capture; one can't accuse you of not having gotten close enough.

The last number of times I have shot darker skinned subjects, I never got the specular highlights on their skin under control. While Kodiak mentions them, you have them under much better control than I have managed. This has been getting to the point where I was wondering if I needed to use a polarizer to try to tone them down.

Nicely done; Hamliton should be pleased that you found the shot.

Thanks for meaningful comment, Manfred. Not quite sure what I did to get those highlights. Perhaps the bounced light helped? I fired the light on a gray wall in front of Hamilton. I only had two chances. Afterwards, he told me to bugger off as he wanted to get back to work. Although I was his supervisor, I didn't pull rank on him on this one. Wasn't business related :-)

Polarizer on darker skin people? I would like to see how that works.

[Kodiak]

Not quite sure what I did to get those highlights. Perhaps the bounced light helped?

No, not perhaps… but most certainly!

The successful element behind your good shot is that the more contrast in
the scene (white eyes vs dark skin tones) required a softer light, bounced
in this case. A direct flash would have had exaggerated everything.

[juznobsrvr]

No, not perhaps… but most certainly!

The successful element behind your good shot is that the more contrast in
the scene (white eyes vs dark skin tones) required a softer light, bounced
in this case. A direct flash would have had exaggerated everything.

Aha :-)

Thanks for your brilliant analysis, Daniel. Really makes a lot sense.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Rob. After some technical comments , let's come to the feelings now which I'm usually more interested in your images . If a photo(or a painting or a statue..) communicates with the viewer it is called a piece of art. Most of your images communicate with me and I have different feelings for them. And I like everything in this image. Thanks for sharing


PS. Kodiak and Manfred ,I edited my comment because I said 'stuff' instead of 'comments' , please excuse my English, I did'nt mean anything bad

[deetheturk]

Lovely capture Rob!

[truonda]

Rob, I think you do your photo injustice by calling it a test shot; it is anything but that. I'm not good with technical jargon either but I really like how much skin detail you have captured in this shot. Good stuff!

[John 2]

That's a photograph of a personality not just a person. Excellent.

[juznobsrvr]

Hi Rob. After some technical comments , let's come to the feelings now which I'm usually more interested in your images . If a photo(or a painting or a statue..) communicates with the viewer it is called a piece of art. Most of your images communicate with me and I have different feelings for them. And I like everything in this image. Thanks for sharing

PS. Kodiak and Manfred ,I edited my comment because I said 'stuff' instead of 'comments' , please excuse my English, I did'nt mean anything bad

I believe feelings should precede techniques in order for art to work :-) Thanks for your kind words and your interest in my work. They mean a lot to me. Cheers.

[juznobsrvr]

Lovely capture Rob!

Thanks for noticing and kind words, David. Much appreciated.

[juznobsrvr]

Rob, I think you do your photo injustice by calling it a test shot; it is anything but that. I'm not good with technical jargon either but I really like how much skin detail you have captured in this shot. Good stuff!

Thanks for kind comment. Much appreciated.

Well, maybe we can call it a fortunate test shot, Daniel :-) I was just walking around at the office after mostly everybody left, and then I saw Hamilton still working in his cubicle. I asked if I can take his photo so he promptly turned his head and smiled, which I took to mean yes. I adjusted the flash so I can bounce the light, fired two shots, and here is the one that made it to final print. The "photo session" probably lasted for less than two minutes. Later when I went home, I realized that one of the images had potential so I worked on it and gave him a print the next day. He had the print in his office since then.

[juznobsrvr]

That's a photograph of a personality not just a person. Excellent.

Very much appreciated, John. Thanks so much.

[MarieV]

[QUOTE=juznobsrvr;440219]I believe feelings should precede techniques in order for art to work :-) My feelings exactly Rob - keep them coming.

[juznobsrvr]

[QUOTE=MarieV;440237]

I believe feelings should precede techniques in order for art to work :-) My feelings exactly Rob - keep them coming.

Thanks for encouraging comment, Marie. Much appreciated.