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Penn's Capote
Penn's Capote
thegrandwazoo


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Portrait with Closed Eyes (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D750
Lens: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G
Location: Mesa AZ
Date: Jul 12, 2015
Aperture: f11
ISO: 800
Shutter: 1/160
Date Uploaded: Jul 12, 2015

 This is a tribute/recreation, and a SP I might add, of the famous Irving Penn image of Truman Capote. I love Penn’s work and this shot came immediately to mind for this challenge. I know that many of the voters won’t know the shot but I encourage you to take a look at more of Penn’s work as it is exceptional.

Trying to get into the mind of 2 great artists is a challenge. The original shot was done in 1965 just after Capote completed "In Cold Blood". I could not find exactly what camera and lens Penn used but the timing put it not long after he switched form Leica and Rollie to Nikon 35mm. I know he used the 80MM (normal) on his Rollie for portraits so I used my 85MM maybe I should have used a 50mm (normal) on my FX, oh well.

The pose is not quite right and even though I am older (44) than Capote was (41) in Penn’s shot he looks older, I guess due to his fondness for drink and drug. The lighting I almost nailed but I had to make some choices for the processing, since all I have seen of the original shot is what’s on the web, I did it the way I thought Penn might if he had access to PS and DSLRs in the 60’s.

Learned a ton about lighting with one main brolly and one background light.

Thanks for the comments and especially Bear for yours.

Here is a side by side with the original shot:



Statistics
Place: 24 out of 143
Avg (all users): 6.0000
Avg (commenters): 7.5000
Avg (participants): 5.9054
Avg (non-participants): 6.2593
Views since voting: 527
Views during voting: 181
Votes: 101
Comments: 6
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 07/21/2015 06:44:28 AM
Browsing through the images post challenge, gosh I knew this looked familiar. Penn is also one of my favorites. You did the shot justice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/20/2015 12:50:21 AM
Just needed some more wrinkles on your forehead, good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2015 08:10:01 PM
I think that you did a fabulous job. Plus the likeness....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/18/2015 05:55:14 PM
What a lovely processing and light!

I don't understand his left hand...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2015 07:13:26 AM
Will make the front page, great work
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/12/2015 08:18:49 PM
Extraordinary reconstruction of the (very famous) original. It's not as harsh, and it's missing the expressive furrows of Capote's face, but still a real double-take for me. I'm not sure how to score it, frankly; for now, a 7 -- but I may change that. Good job, anyway, on its own terms.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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