Under the Black Rose (NUDE - Not Suitable for Work)

[Anh Tu Nguyen]

This is the first photograph from my new serie "Under the black rose" with the gorgeous Galina. More about to come

• Everything you see in this photograph is very real as it should be. The giant black rose are made of paper (whose diameter is over 1.2 meter long) by my fantastic Thu Thuy! Fog was created with smoking bomb.

• The ancient Romans used to place a wild rose on the door of room where secret or confidential matters were discussed. The phrase "sub rosa" or "under the rose", derived from this practice, means to keep a secret.

• In the 19th century, the language of flowers became popular. In this code black roses to most people signify death but they are also symbolic of rebirth and rejuvenation.

Model: Galina
MUA: Galina & Thu Thuy.
Photographer: Anh Tu Nguyen Photography

http://www.anhtunguyen.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AnhTuNguyen.Photography

#1

UNDER THE BLACK ROSE Pt. I by Anh Tu Nguyen Photography, on Flickr

[Colin Southern]

My apologies in advance if this is not what you're hoping to hear, but as I've said in the past, I just don't think this kind of scene construction works; for me anyway the various parts of the image just don't work together.

[saea501]

I agree with Colin.

The background is busy and bright and as such she is almost lost in it. She and the tree are a little hot for my taste as well. I think you could have done without the smoke....looks too contrived.

I'm sorry, Anh....but this one doesn't work for me either.

[Mike Buckley]

I don't like this style of photography so I won't comment on anything other than to mention that your smoking bomb produced something that looks a lot more like smoke than fog. That's partly because the light throughout the rest of the image contradicts the idea that fog would ever exist in that situation and partly because such dense fog so low to the ground wouldn't exist in such a small area without at least a little fog also existing in the distance and higher up.

[Marie Hass]

I like the title and the idea. Not the execution. I showed this image to my husband, and his reaction was also lackluster.

I am sorry to be so harsh. You are so creative and have wonderful ideas.

Marie

[Geoff F]

This is more of a collage of images than an actual photography; and should be regarded as such. The sort of scene which might appear on the cover of a rock band album.

Bearing that in mind (deliberate pun) it does work reasonably well; although I found many others in that collection which work better for me.

[Anh Tu Nguyen]

I don't like this style of photography so I won't comment on anything other than to mention that your smoking bomb produced something that looks a lot more like smoke than fog. That's partly because the light throughout the rest of the image contradicts the idea that fog would ever exist in that situation and partly because such dense fog so low to the ground wouldn't exist in such a small area without at least a little fog also existing in the distance and higher up.

Realism is not my intention neither. I only shoot and i keep things where they are in a photo to express my feeling. More than that i rarely care...

#2

Under the Black Rose Pt. II by Anh Tu Nguyen Photography, on Flickr

[Manfred M]

I don't think either image work as well as they could. The first one is much too busy and there are far too many distractions in the background for it to work. I think you are getting closer in the second one, but again, the background, even though it is out of focus, is still distracting. I suspect an even tighter crop would work better.

[Mike Buckley]

From your first post:

Everything you see in this photograph is very real as it should be...Fog was created with smoking bomb

From your previous post:

Realism is not my intention neither.

You contradict yourself, mostly because you seem not to know what you want.

[Colin Southern]

I'll make things simple and clear. In my opinion, you should lose the "black rose" - it's like a hippopotamus in a china shop. Doesn't work. Ruins the photo.

[ajohnw]

Afraid the poses look a bit amateurish and forced to me. Looking at the set only one of the nudes doesn't. - hair seems to be mostly blond in that one.

John
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[Stagecoach]

Anh, I find nothing appealing in either of the images.

No 1 seems to be an attempt at a way of displaying a naked female body by throwing in a couple of poor looking props to warrant it as art. It simply looks like a composite.

No 2 this in my opinion has been ruined by the unnatural looking rose again and plastic look of the models skin.

[Anh Tu Nguyen]

From your first post:



From your previous post:



You contradict yourself, mostly because you seem not to know what you want.

What i meant "real" here is i don't use Photoshop to creat props out of nowhere but prefer to craft everything before the shot. That's the idea. Real doesn't mean realism.

[Mike Buckley]

I think I understand your distinction between "real" and "realism," though it seems that you're splitting hairs. On the one hand, you create props rather than use Photoshop because you want everything in the photo to be "very real as it should be." Yet you're creating a scene that isn't realistic by your own acknowledgement. I can't wrap my arms around why it should be so darned important to be real in one sense while it's important to be unreal in another sense.

Regardless, thanks for trying to explain it to me.

[Anh Tu Nguyen]

I think I understand your distinction between "real" and "realism," though it seems that you're splitting hairs. On the one hand, you create props rather than use Photoshop because you want everything in the photo to be "very real as it should be." Yet you're creating a scene that isn't realistic by your own acknowledgement. I can't wrap my arms around why it should be so darned important to be real in one sense while it's important to be unreal in another sense.

Regardless, thanks for trying to explain it to me.

It is just the way of one doing photography. Why someone like Tim Walker has to go much into troubles to creat wonderful props when he can make someone do it in post-production (and cheaper)? I am not saying i am anywhere close to his level but you got what i mean.

i craft a fantasy world. It doesn't necessarily mean that everything in my photos has to be done in PP because they are not real. I don't like being relied on post-production.

[Colin Southern]

i craft a fantasy world.

Anh,

Please forgive my boldness, but I think this may be where things are going wrong. I don't have an issue with anyone creating a "fantasy world", and indeed I've seen some incredible works along those lines, but I'm afraid that what you've created doesn't seem like "fantasy" to me - I'm afraid that those combinations just seem "odd" and "out of place". They're like car parts from different vehicles - they just don't fit together.

[PhotoRob]

Art is a very subjective call, maybe rather than just posting a picture and describing it a bit you could ask a question or ask for more specific advise?

Shot #1: Composition
My opinion is that you're shooting vertical height in a horizontal orientation and it hurts the composition quite a bit. Do you have a shot that captures the entire rose and model and little else? Your art, your call!

[Anh Tu Nguyen]

Art is a very subjective call, maybe rather than just posting a picture and describing it a bit you could ask a question or ask for more specific advise?

Shot #1: Composition
My opinion is that you're shooting vertical height in a horizontal orientation and it hurts the composition quite a bit. Do you have a shot that captures the entire rose and model and little else? Your art, your call!

I appreciate your feedback
I am well aware of composition and "rules" but we don't have to talk about it all the time. Somehow i don't like capture her whole body and the roses. To be honest, i have cropped the upper and the under part of the first photograph!

#3

Under the Black Rose Pt. III by Anh Tu Nguyen Photography, on Flickr

[flashback]

I'm a bit confused here, so I'll just throw this out: You are operating under your own rules, which is absolutely fine with me; you (appear to) have a very clear idea of what it is that you want to create and; you don't seem to be looking for suggestions, criticisms or comments. So should we just click *Like* and move on?

EDIT: Out of curiosity I visited your Flickr site; While admittedly I don't *get* the work you have posted here, your work in general is amazing. You have a vast interest and the skill to capture those interests. I might suggest you post some of your other work here so that people can get an idea of what you are able to produce.

Note - for those people working on landscape photography I think much can be learned from his site.

[Anh Tu Nguyen]

I'm a bit confused here, so I'll just throw this out: You are operating under your own rules, which is absolutely fine with me; you (appear to) have a very clear idea of what it is that you want to create and; you don't seem to be looking for suggestions, criticisms or comments. So should we just click *Like* and move on?

EDIT: Out of curiosity I visited your Flickr site; While admittedly I don't *get* the work you have posted here, your work in general is amazing. You have a vast interest and the skill to capture those interests. I might suggest you post some of your other work here so that people can get an idea of what you are able to produce.

Note - for those people working on landscape photography I think much can be learned from his site.

Nope, i don't only expect "likes", i have no problem with criticism and feedbacks but sometimes we just have to agree to disagree. No hard feeling though. And thank you very much for your inputs.
And FIY, i don't shoot landscape or street or whatever anymore (snapshot when i travel obvious yes but the other times no). That was the time when i just started explore photography and wanted to try everything to find out what i love to shoot the most.