Sunday, January 21, 2007

Black & White Picture Of The Week - Week 2

posted by A Simple Jew @ 4:47 AM   11 comments

11 Comments:

At January 21, 2007 at 8:25:00 AM EST, Blogger Akiva said...

The contrast is so sharp, with no gradiation in the kippah itself, that the kippah looks drawn on or added later. The loss of even the slightest crinckle in the kippah makes it loose it's reality. The contrast of the bright blond hair and the rest of the picture is stark and impressive.

 
At January 21, 2007 at 9:11:00 AM EST, Blogger torontopearl said...

Not quite an aerial view, but rather a "hair-ial" view.
Love it!

 
At January 21, 2007 at 10:33:00 AM EST, Blogger yitz said...

Is that Lil' Tzaddik? He looks great!

 
At January 21, 2007 at 8:08:00 PM EST, Blogger Alice said...

that's a beauty!

 
At January 21, 2007 at 9:16:00 PM EST, Anonymous Anonymous said...

ASJ,
My eye is drawn naturally to contrasts. I like the play of light and dark in order to say something about the composition (subject matter) of the photo. The composition is very important.

In the first batch, I liked the photo of the wooden slats, something like a bench, but I doubt it was. And the blossoms against the stark trunks. However, to me the contrast was not vivid enough. Perhaps it was the time of day? Or the film as someone pointed out. Or the focus.

I found the tree and its far reaching roots to be interesting. I wonder how it would have looked, if the camera was on eye level with the bulging roots (which means the photographer would need to be flat on the ground), with the tree on the left, standing tall, and the roots appearing bumpy and stretching outward from the perpendicular tree. But then, again, maybe it was just the angle and position of the sun in the sky.

And, the best for last, L'il Tzaddik: the composition is much better, but I would have removed the clip on his kipah and what seems to be a leg to the upper left of the photo. I would have tried to make the glowing hair fill a little more of the shot if that was at all possible. While it's true the clip makes it more 'real' , it takes away from the contrast between the kipah and golden locks.

Please forgive me if i've been too critical, but this is how i see them. To me, the black and white contrast is one message that speaks as boldly as the composition (subject matter) speaks. [of course, i am not a photographer, but did spend several years doing graphic work, and when i was younger spent my free time at the free Fleischer Art institute in Philadelphia, where i began to express myself artistically ]

 
At January 22, 2007 at 4:38:00 AM EST, Blogger A Simple Jew said...

Akiva: The kippah actually was not added later. He was really wearing it at the time of the picture.

Pearl: ;)

Yitz: It sure is!!

Alice: Thanks.

Neshama: I appreciate your honest critique. I would rather have people tell me what is wrong with my pictures than what is right. It is the critique that helps me.

Your point about the leg is well taken. This leg belongs to a neighborhood girl who I was trying to move away at the time I was taking the picture but was not sucessfull. The most I could do was crop more of her out.

 
At January 22, 2007 at 6:25:00 PM EST, Anonymous Anonymous said...

ASJ,
Postscript: Please don't think "wrong" and "right", because expressing yourself through a camera is a personal journey. At the beginning we are limited, but with each new attempt we layer experience upon experience, and this is what will one day will produce the type of photo-art that you want to create. Kol HaKavod.

 
At January 22, 2007 at 6:32:00 PM EST, Blogger A Simple Jew said...

Thanks, Neshama. I still think you should start your own blog. I for one would read it each day!

 
At January 23, 2007 at 6:16:00 AM EST, Blogger Baleboosteh said...

Beautiful as always ASJ - love the black and white.

What gorgeous hair he has - just like 'Little Miss ASJ', she has stunning hair too and yet they are so different!
:D

 
At January 23, 2007 at 6:20:00 AM EST, Blogger A Simple Jew said...

Thanks Baaleboosteh..Little Miss ASJ likes to be called the Big Red Tzadekes these days ;)

 
At January 23, 2007 at 9:59:00 AM EST, Blogger A Simple Jew said...

Yes, his third birthday will be coming up in a few months.

Could you provide me the link on JPix, I couldn't seem to find it. Thanks!

 

Post a Comment

<< Home