Self Portrait: I've been wanting to do this for a while. I thought this would be a different take on the common self portrait. They didn't come out as well as I had visioned, but I...

gregspix

I've been wanting to do this for a while. I thought this would be a different take on the common self portrait. They didn't come out as well as I had visioned, but I think they'll do. I am only posting one for now. Maybe more later.

jmoon

angle is good and B&W contrast is very impressive

gregspix

jmoon wrote:

angle is good and B&W contrast is very impressive

Thank you!

subroto mukerji Loc: New Delhi, INDIA

I like that photograph hugely, absolutely original, resonates with some deep emotion. Powerful personality grappling with some problem of cosmic dimensions; it reaches out to me, and I feel like putting a gentle hand on your shoulder to give you strength. B&W was an excellent choice, technically. Can't see how this photo could've been better...I'm lousy at self portraits, nowhere as handsome as you are, this is an outstanding picture. I'm so glad I got to it.

gregspix

subroto mukerji wrote:

I like that photograph hugely, absolutely original, resonates with some deep emotion. Powerful personality grappling with some problem of cosmic dimensions; it reaches out to me, and I feel like putting a gentle hand on your shoulder to give you strength. B&W was an excellent choice, technically. Can't see how this photo could've been better...I'm lousy at self portraits, nowhere as handsome as you are, this is an outstanding picture. I'm so glad I got to it.

Thank you! Very kind words!
I wanted to do a shoot of the common blue collar worker suffering through times. (Times are not that bad for me, I just wanted to show the world the emotions of how it can get and wanted to use myself to get the full emotion that I had pictured in my head.) My complaint about how they came out is, I used my on camera flash with a diffuser and a canaster light with a soft floresant bulb filtered with a diffuser over it as well. Yet, I found it a challange in post processing to lighten the dark areas without blowing out the whites.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I LIKE the concept!
That's much better than the usual self portrait...it's a story.

The processing is slightly too much for me but everything else is well done....nice props....nice idea...nice execution.

gregspix

rpavich wrote:

I LIKE the concept!
That's much better than the usual self portrait...it's a story.

The processing is slightly too much for me but everything else is well done....nice props....nice idea...nice execution.

Thank you! Yes, as I said earlier, my lighting wasn't great and I really had to do a lot of work in post prossesing to get what I got. I'm still learning everyday though.

gstaylor Loc: Twin Cities, MN

I LIKE it! Something I have thought of often and have not tried yet. Your's turned out great as it shows the emotion.

Reminds me of self-potraits of my grandfather. He was a Press Photographer who retired in 1941. Have lots of photos of his (and of HIM) they are B&W and awesome, as the negatives are 4 by 5.

Keep up the good work.

subroto mukerji Loc: New Delhi, INDIA

gregspix wrote:

quote=subroto mukerji I like that photograph huge... (show quote)

I see your point about lightening the dark areas without blowing out the highlights...but why lighten the dark areas, to begin with? I feel the starkness of the picture, the contrast between light and shadow, reflects the grim reality of the subject's emotions and problems. We could look at it this way: maybe the contrast accentuates the subject's perplexing real world dilemma, where happiness and sorrow are two sides of the same coin. IMHO, this IS the picture's USP. Very well conceived, enacted and captured, sir, well done !

AlthaeaTrout Loc: Spokane WA

gregspix wrote:

I've been wanting to do this for a while. I thought this would be a different take on the common self portrait. They didn't come out as well as I had visioned, but I think they'll do. I am only posting one for now. Maybe more later.

I love your very interesting idea and your photo. You did a great job of portraying your idea--the "defeated" emotion is shown and felt.

ggiaphotos Loc: Iowa

gregspix wrote:

quote=subroto mukerji I like that photograph huge... (show quote)

It depicts the many many who are out of work at struggling to keep afloat. I think your picture goes right to the heart and is the best one I have seen that truly fits the phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words."

SuKai Loc: California

gregspix wrote:

I've been wanting to do this for a while. I thought this would be a different take on the common self portrait. They didn't come out as well as I had visioned, but I think they'll do. I am only posting one for now. Maybe more later.

I like it very much! It tells a strong story simply with out words. I think there are many people who can understand the message that comes across. I'm not a huge B&W fan but in this case I do believe it is appropriate. I think it came out great. :thumbup:

gregspix

Thank you ALL for your GREAT feedback!

Joyfullee Loc: South FL

gregspix wrote:

I've been wanting to do this for a while. I thought this would be a different take on the common self portrait. They didn't come out as well as I had visioned, but I think they'll do. I am only posting one for now. Maybe more later.

I like the fact that it looks like you captured someone in the moment and not staged.

Excellent concept and well-executed.
:thumbup:

gregspix

[quote=Joyfullee]

gregspix wrote:

I've been wanting to do this for a while. I thought this would be a different take on the common self portrait. They didn't come out as well as I had visioned, but I think they'll do. I am only posting one for now. Maybe more later.

I like the fact that it looks like you captured someone in the moment and not staged.

Excellent concept and well-executed.
:thumbup:[/q

Thank you!