Hi,

Several weeks ago, someone posted a message regarding window light portraits. Here

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000n15&topic_id=23&topic=photo%2enet

is an image taken from my first session with a model several years ago in her apartment. It is a meaningful picture to me in many ways. First, she is the first figure model I worked with. Secondly, it is a representative work of the beginning of my exploration of light and shadows. Lastly, I like to tell a story with the environment of my people photography; in this photo, I like several intentional elements: the air conditioner, the strong sunlight, the model's pose, and the paw and the foot. I hope you enjoy the photograph and welcome any criticisms and comments. Thanks in advance.

David Hou

-- David Hou (dna2367@hotmail.com), February 24, 2000

Answers

I would have taken the top right 1/4 of the image. Her looking down toward the cat, window in back, and opened up the shadows some. I realize you were trying to explore high contrast shadows and the story of the environment, but sometimes you take what you can get. The original is busy.

-- max (maxel@quik.com), February 25, 2000.

When I look at a photo, I look at both formal and representational elements. Is the subject matter interesting or engaging on its own merits? Is there a story there? Is there a strong composition - or an implied reason for not having one? Is there an interesting interplay between tones (or hues) and the contrast range? How does this picture fit in to or comment on the genre that is implied (portrait, figure study, photojournalism, etc.)?

Perhaps in the context of a show with additional prints, this one might answer some of those questions. As it is, however, it doesn't. It may be meaningul to you for lot of reasons. However, the viewer doesn't have access to those reasons or feelings.

-- John Kantor (jakntor@mindspring.com), February 25, 2000.

Intellectually, I got what you implied. But artistically, it doesn't sing. The light is bad (too hard and missplaced) and she doesn't look hot (like sweaty and needing of AC), she looks bored. The angle of veiw is inconsistent with any a sober human veiwer might have, perhaps another cat took this picture... t

-- tom meyer (twm@mindspring.com), February 25, 2000.

Hey Tom, close but cigar. I was born on the year of mice, not cat...

-- David Hou (dna2367@hotmail.com), February 25, 2000.

oops...didn't mean to give you the cigar, Tom. I meant "close but no cigar".

-- David Hou (dna2367@hotmail.com), February 26, 2000.