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For Your Eyes Only
For Your Eyes Only
shutterphunk


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Outside Looking In (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Pentax *ist D
Location: Kitchen, Fukuroi, Japan
Date: May 7, 2005
Aperture: f 4.0
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/125
Galleries: Portraiture
Date Uploaded: May 7, 2005

Thanks, Jeff, for your modeling assistance. I know it was tough!

Set-up: A big bamboo blind hung up over a pole in the kitchen. Sheet hung up about 2 m behind that to eliminate distracting elements on the wall. A 500W tungsten studio light shining at the sheet. The 2 models near the screen.

Post-processing: Levels. Curves to enhance contrast. Channels Mixer to change to monochrome. Color Balance to give photo a warm tone. Experimented with blurs, but decided they didn't enhance the photo. Border.


Statistics
Place: 7 out of 165
Avg (all users): 6.5607
Avg (commenters): 8.3000
Avg (participants): 6.4750
Avg (non-participants): 6.6344
Views since voting: 14213
Views during voting: 298
Votes: 173
Comments: 16
Favorites: 4 (view)


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AuthorThread
05/22/2005 06:14:38 PM
Hello from the Critique Club!

This image is about the viewer intruding during an simple, intimate moment between two people; you want to look but feel you shouldn’t. There is something voyeuristic about looking at such a loving, private embrace, but the emotions the moment evoke override that sense of guilt. As photographers we are all aware of the thin line between capturing an image and invading someone’s privacy and this image reflects that issue perfectly, even though it is posed.

The eye is drawn to the man’s eye and then to that kiss and is then held. The fact that the eye is held there gives the illusion of a long, passionate but tender kiss that lasts till the viewer moves his gaze. This in turn creates a sense of peace or calm within the viewer as though time is slowing down somehow.

The lovely muted colour in the picture gives a sense of warmth echoing the intimacy and feeling of the image. This is enhanced by the lighting, which has a lovely and appropriate soft quality creating just the right atmosphere. The lighting combined with the correct exposure has ensured there is just enough light on the couple to give enough detail to hold the viewer’s interest longer and to make them look more closely: Any darker and the detail would be lost and the feeling changed. Any lighter and the feeling of intimacy would be lost.

The light in the image gets darker as we move from left to right, which almost creates the optical illusion or impression that the woman is slowly steering her partner backwards into a darker, more private room.

The blind offers great texture and creates a necessary barrier between the viewer and the couple. Its horizontal and vertical lines give the image a dynamism that turns a good picture into a great one. The horizontal lines in particular give a sense of movement and keep the eye moving from left to right.

There is a great balance between the positive and negative space.

This is an excellent image that fulfils the challenge perfectly. It captures a moment of intimacy in a subtle and evocative way.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/17/2005 05:04:27 AM
What a beautiful picture. Emotional. Congrats on the top ten.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/16/2005 02:10:16 AM
Wonderful idea, great silhouette. I like the textures.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/15/2005 08:19:18 PM
Congratulations on your top ten finish with this intimate kiss.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
05/15/2005 05:14:21 PM
I love this! Just enough clarity and just enough ambiguity ... would likely have done well in Silhouette II with a bit less detail on the couple.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/14/2005 10:52:11 PM
Great picture! Emotional, original, creative. I really like this one, I hope it wins.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/14/2005 12:48:33 AM
This is a very well composed entry. The only concern I have is that for an outside looking in I would expect to see some visual clues to help. Either the frame that the reed curtain is in, on a hint of some objects in the room.

This still an excellent capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/13/2005 03:06:23 PM
fits challenge title well
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/11/2005 09:53:06 PM
Awesome shot...I love it! My only 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/10/2005 08:02:58 PM
This is a beutiful picture. Good luck. 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/10/2005 06:27:34 PM
Great image, love the colors
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/10/2005 12:55:16 AM
Very cool effect - 8 from me
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/09/2005 12:04:20 PM
This is perfect. 10 + fav.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/09/2005 07:57:00 AM
Nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/09/2005 05:16:17 AM
oohh la la.. nice shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/09/2005 04:19:09 AM
OOOooo LA LA.... very sexy. Yummy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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