Trust: All I need to know Is you're in control And you know just what to do I don't need to see What I really need Is a little more trust in you Jaci Velasquez Trust In You Spotted...

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

All I need to know
Is you're in control
And you know just what to do
I don't need to see
What I really need
Is a little more trust in you

Jaci Velasquez Trust In You

Spotted this young man a few months ago and wanted to take his picture then. He always refused or made it plain he would not play ball. Finally he relented but was not entirely comfortable. Best I could achieve folks.
There is something in his eyes, a story, a sadness, a regret Im not sure what it is. The FYC panel of judges can tell me if I have been successful.

Comment views and critique at will

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Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

Having worked with many folks over the years, I have tried to learn to read peoples faces and body posture. I get a strong sense he doesn't trust you and doesn't like you. He knows he is different, in what way I don't know. He feels he knows where he's going and what he's doing and doesn't respect of feel he can benefit from you. The look he's presenting here is the face of a far older person that has been screwed over so many times and is showing strong apprehension. Name of the Photo if it were mine. "Apprehension"

That's just me take on the Photo. Wither true or not you will have tell use Billy.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

I know nothing about portraiture, but for what it's worth, I really am captivated by this capture. Other than hot chicks I mostly gravitate to portraits of the very old - lots of character and history in those faces. But this young man's expression is riveting, although I don't know exactly why. In my humble and uneducated opinion the photo succeeds very well.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Billyspad wrote:

All I need to know br Is you're in control br And ... (show quote)

Billy,
I have to admit that before, as well as after reading your back-story, I perceive more resignation than trust in this fellow's expression. It's a technically excellent capture, and a strong image, but it conveys a distinctly different feeling to me than, apparently, to you. I'd suggest a bit of vignette at 1:30 and 7:30 to balance the BG a bit.

Dave

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Billyspad wrote:

All I need to know br Is you're in control br And ... (show quote)

Mr. Spad your ability in the street genre is without question, outstanding. My only suggestion would be to remove the letters by his hand. It distracts an otherwise excellent photo, makes you want to figure out what it says.

Lynn L Loc: Northern IL

Hi Billy. I've not been to a site like this one. So here goes. First, you've made a technically fine portrait. I agree with previous comments that this young man looks like he feels he is the official "screwee" of the day. Now I wonder if it was your intentional or unintentional plan to use a camera height an inch or so above eye level to your subject? An inch or two of looking down at you subject records him as below you, and this could directed viewers to look down at him thus belittling him. An inch or two of looking up at your subject makes him look an egotist, a real 24 caret suppository model, a guy you would not trust. And looking at your subject at eye level, with just tad of forward lean, makes him look like your friend, and a person you would vote for. Does any of this make any sense to you. Your subject is probably just what he appears to be, but your input to the subject, photographically, could also add to this expression. See ya, Lynn

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Lynn L wrote:

Hi Billy. I've not been to a site like this one. So here goes.

Welcome Lynn glad to hear from you here. Look forward to hearing more.

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

I've carefully read all the commentary and critique so far, and I have to say (as an old portrait man) that in my opinion that is an absolutely perfect portrait: engaging; alluring; mysterious. I particularly love that his eyes are looking directly at me, but they are off-center in the frame, and on the "wrong" side! ("Wrong side" by the "rules." ) I would not change one single thing, including the scratching on the board by his hand.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Thank you one and all for your input on this. The young man in the photo is gay which may account for the apprehensive look as to what my intentions actually were.
Very young gay lads or indeed those who pretend to be gay to earn a living of sorts can and often do have some unpleasant experiences. Some of these bad experiences are the result of spending time with white sex tourists.

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

Funny how I get that same look any time I ask to borrow five quid and promise to pay it back....

Seriously though, he's got that look which is often only so fleeting as to be missed. It's a sort of get on with it then just go away look which, if one takes too long soon has the subject either turning away or leaping to his feet in a threatening manner.

A very nicely executed study in every respect.

Cheers, Rob.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

After I downloaded the shot I noticed the smiley face he has an earring. To me that counters the look on his face. His eye I think says it all about what he is thinking.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Chuck_893 wrote:

I've carefully read all the commentary and critique so far, and I have to say (as an old portrait man) that in my opinion that is an absolutely perfect portrait: engaging; alluring; mysterious. I particularly love that his eyes are looking directly at me, but they are off-center in the frame, and on the "wrong" side! ("Wrong side" by the "rules." ) I would not change one single thing, including the scratching on the board by his hand.

Hi, Chuck,
Help me out, here. You say his eyes are " on the wrong side"...?
What I perceive is a gaze thar comes at the viewer from a bit to the left side of the frame and aimed to meet the viewer's gaze in the middle or a bit to the right of center. I'm not sure what you mean by " the wrong side" ? And doesn't that relate more to the direction of the gaze than to the position of the eyes doing the gazing?

"Trust"

(Download)

"Trust"

(Download)

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Uuglypher wrote:

Hi, Chuck,
Help me out, here. You say his eyes are " on the wrong side"...?
What I perceive is a gaze thar comes at the viewer from a bit to the left side of the frame and aimed to meet the viewer's gaze in the middle or a bit to the right of center. I'm not sure what you mean by " the wrong side" ? And doesn't that relate more to the direction of the gaze than to the position of the eyes doing the gazing?

The young man's eyes are absolutely on the "right" or "correct" side for this composition, but it "breaks" a "rule" I was taught, which is that the subject's eyes should "always" look toward the center of the frame. If I had made it, I'd probably have cropped or otherwise shifted him to the right, so that your crosshair bisected his nose. But that would be because I just naturally do that for having followed that "rule" all my days. I always say (insist, actually) that "there are no rules," then I adhere to them slavishly. :oops: This marvelous portrait maybe (maybe!) "breaks" a "rule" I was taught. That's all I meant. :)

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Chuck_893 wrote:

The young man's eyes are absolutely on the "r... (show quote)

Thanks, Chuck. Yeah...OK. I do remember that "rule"

Dave

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Uuglypher wrote:

Thanks, Chuck. Yeah...OK. I do remember that "rule"

Dave

Ol Billy never learnt em and if he did he would just break em!!!!