A West Side Story, copyright 2000 Jeff Spirer

Well I like the idea of "photo viriti" that John applied to my work. This just happens to be a recent example of that. Some people in a parking lot in San Jose.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), July 06, 2000

Answers

You have a photographic similarity to a friend here in Decatur. The rare ability to make insanely bad light look good... what is that? straight above sun in a totally clear sky? I would be lurking in the "bright" shadows like a southern California vampire.

Since this isn't the Philosophy Forum, can I ask what's the processing info and EI of your tri-x? Or is it just the light colored piazza giving really good fill light?

Nude, this woman would look like a statue of an angry greek goddess, her pose is perfect. I really liked the diptych you sent me, why don't you post it here, re-sized to fit?... t

-- tom meyer (twm@mindspring.com), July 06, 2000.

The light is really difficult here. There's about ten days a year when the sky can be in the photo. Otherwise, it's this bland silvery blue that a red filter doesn't seem to affect - it's just plain bland. You just have to learn to use what you get, I guess...

I shoot Tri-X (the traditional 400 version) at 320 and process in Rodinal. I rarely stray from that combination, sometimes someone will give me some out-of-date film (I just shot some five or six year old Delta 400 yesterday), or I will need to shoot Tri-X in the dark at some ridiculous EI, but 98% of the time, it's the same. The scans are usually pretty straight, with only a levels adjustment, spotting, light sharpening, and sizing.

The shot Tom mentions is below; click on it to see a large version. The web is a terrible medium for unusual size images. This is two frames next to each other. I was looking to get the people at the edges of the frame, and this is an interesting result. I should rescan to show the film border, probably.

Copyright 2000 Jeff Spirer

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), July 07, 2000.

technically superb; no blown out highlights, for sure. :) moreover, it demonstrates excellent potential as something akin to a "photo verite'". clearly, there is more to the image than just a gorgeous latin girl; but only a hint of that factor appears within the frame. in other words, the inclusion of more of, preferably all of, the inhabitants of the periphery of the picture would have given the image communicative power, and eliminated the reductive element that the vague presence of the bystanders injects; on the other hand, exclusion of those fringe subjects would have given more authority to the girl, and allowed her to speak for herself. thanks for posting your work.

-- wayne harrison (wayno@netmcr.com), July 07, 2000.

I just love the tonality you seem to be able to coax out of 35mm film - may I also ask a technical question - what is the dilution of your Rodinal - I would guess 1:50.

That's the sort of woman who used to terrify me when I was about 14.

-- fw (finneganswake@altavista.net), July 07, 2000.

jeez, wayne, where'd you learn to talk like that? I can't tell if you thought it would be good, or bad to include more of those reductive elements, and thereby contributing more (or less) communicative info- mation from the perif.

More info would have distracted from the goddess, as they are placed by Jeff, they present a of balance context and a opportunity to explore the frame and it's hints as to the subject's relationships. Why are those people standing near, but distinctly outside of, her personal space?

With less of the "inhabitants of the periphery" it would just be a static picture made incidental to some guy trying to pick up a buxom babe by displaying his 6x7 in her presence. As it is, I wonder why she and they are there? and where is there? and do they know each other? and I like to wonder... t

-- tom meyer (twm@mindspring.com), July 07, 2000.

Well that'll tech me to try to talk like I went to art school...

I meant that the guys at the edge balance the context of the picture with the subject. Without them she's too static and isolated, looking put upon, with more I'd be distracted and bored by disconnected people (I think) this all presumes I am omnipotent and know what's outside the frame. Okay, enough... t

-- tom meyer (twm@mindspring.com), July 07, 2000.

A few responses.

Despite her appearance, she is Persian. I wasn't going to ask her, and thought she might be offended, but apparently she wasn't.

what is the dilution of your Rodinal - I would guess 1:50.

1:25.

Regarding the partial figures at the edge of the frame - I would agree with Tom. The central placement would be very static (i.e., dead) without the partial figures. I think if they were full (not cut off), the image would lose its theme.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), July 07, 2000.

I too like the partial figures on either edge of the image, they create a sense of action and involvement. I also like those dark colored things on the wall. They seem to add depth and thus capture my interest. The subject is beautiful!

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), July 07, 2000.