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In the shadows
In the shadows
IreneM


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: The Cowboy (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8
Location: Living room
Date: Jun 6, 2008
Aperture: f5.6
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/60 s
Galleries: Portraiture, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Jun 8, 2008

 Fantastic!! Thanks for the score and the great comments.
This is the first time my husband ever volunteered to pose for a shot!
I really wanted to enter this challenge but I didn’t like my idea all that much (a “hat lying in the dust with a red rose lying beside it” type of photo), so when my husband asked what the challenge was, I said it was in honor of Sean. He said “well, would you like me to wear the hat instead of having it lie in the dust?”. I was really surprised because he’s never keen to be photographed and bribing him with ice-cream and visits to the zoo the way Tim timfythetoo does with his kids doesn’t always work ;-D
I taped a black piece of cloth to our living room wall as a background. The only light was natural light coming through the window.
Some commented about the hat blending into the background too much. I knew this would be mentioned but I did it that way intentionally because of the “in the shadows” look I wanted. I felt this went better with the mood of the challenge.

Statistics
Place: 9 out of 91
Avg (all users): 6.7989
Avg (commenters): 7.5500
Avg (participants): 6.7073
Avg (non-participants): 6.8261
Views since voting: 3057
Views during voting: 359
Votes: 179
Comments: 29
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
 06/17/2008 01:13:57 PM
Great portrait Irene! The light is perfect. Saved as a Fav so I can refer back as I begine to try portrait work. Really caught the mood of this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/17/2008 12:58:17 PM
Da sitze ich hier auf Lanzarote am Hotel-PC und was sehe ich? Du bist schon wieder in den Top 10!

Das Portrait von Deinem Mann ist fantastisch. Die schwarze Umgebung unterstreicht den Ausdruck um so mehr! Toll!

Sonnige Gruesse,
Christiane
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/16/2008 06:27:48 PM
So well done Irene, and you are a truly gifted photographer in every sense of the word.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/16/2008 09:04:48 AM
Well done!!! Love the shot and your husband is still as good looking as always!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/16/2008 06:44:59 AM
Beeeeeautiful, Irene! Another front page portrait! Your talent is so versatile :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/16/2008 05:54:31 AM
I thought this would ribbon. Personally I love the fact that you can make out the hat in your imagination (without even thinking about it) prompted only by the lower outline and the ribbon around it, so, the fact that the rest of it blends with the background is an added feature, the way I see it.

This excellent portrait is another example of the amazing diversification process we are witnessing of Irene.

Rembrandt (obviously) did not have studio lights at his disposal, only windows; so did Irene for this picture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/15/2008 08:26:09 PM
I loved the lighting in this, congrat's on your top 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/15/2008 08:21:43 PM
I use spongebob fruit snacks to bribe the kids. Maybe you should use them next time. ;) And dangit - a couple more points to add to your tally. Very nice image Irene.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
06/15/2008 02:29:52 PM
Striking portrait. Hope this ribbons! (9)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/15/2008 08:20:28 AM
This is a superb portrait...welcome to DPC Rembrandt, I predict you'll win all of the portrait challenges.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/14/2008 07:38:49 PM
Excellent portrait.......
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/14/2008 06:23:23 PM
Wow, great portrait the whites of the eyes of this grizzled cowboy really grabs the viewers attention. Subject really fills the frame and thus captures and HOLDS our attention. Focus is wonderful showing us every great detail upon this cowboys face. He does appear to be peering out or emerging out from the shadows. My only critique on this is that I wish that that there is greater definition of his hat - the black tones of his hat fade and blend in too well with the dark backdrop. Mayhap a little dodging around the brim and top portion of the hat would give it better definition. The other possibility is to place a light directly behind the subjects head to illuminate it better. But I would not use a strong light for then it will give too much of a halo look surrounding him - rather a dim light just enough to illuminate the edges of the hat like highlight shading such that it stands out from the dark backdrop.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/13/2008 08:47:32 AM
Another shot with really good lighting! For some reason it really seems to work with this scruffy face. Brings out the wiskers and the lines. Very nice!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/12/2008 07:54:12 AM
Very nicely done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/11/2008 06:14:02 AM
Interesting face and subject, but too posed for my liking. Too "studio," but that's a very subjective thing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/10/2008 10:07:34 PM
A nice, simple shot, good lighting on the face, would have liked to see just a bit more detail in the hat
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/10/2008 08:27:52 PM
Well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/10/2008 05:42:52 PM
Nice portrait!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/10/2008 10:37:20 AM
A nice portrait, done well in B/W. Good touch in selectively sharpening the eyes. Good luck in the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/10/2008 05:51:14 AM
Wonderful lighting, great focus!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/09/2008 07:22:03 PM
Wonderful shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/09/2008 05:14:12 PM
Very nice portrait. I like the sharpness and detail in the face, works well in black & white.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/09/2008 02:36:07 PM
great b/w portrait. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/09/2008 12:57:28 PM
Very nice tones in this gem. Love the feel. And the stare really makes it work wonders.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/09/2008 10:07:34 AM
one of my picks for top 5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/09/2008 06:23:13 AM
Excellent lighting & contrast . 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/09/2008 12:00:34 AM
I like this...nice amount of blacks in this...8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/08/2008 08:21:10 PM
Nice honest portrait. :~)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/08/2008 08:19:50 PM
Very nice image Irene. Great light and shadow.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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