This one was shot from a high angle using a Canon F-1n with the SpeedFinder flipped around so I could see the image while the camera was held just above my eye level. She's lying on a couch, lit by a table lamp. I did lots of burning and split contrast tricks to make it look this way. A straight print is totally underwhelming. For those who care, the film is Delta 3200 (EI 3200) and the lens is an old Canon 135/2.5 FL (got it for $26 off eBay!).

-- Mike Dixon (burmashave@compuserve.com), September 12, 2000

Answers

I can see why this image came to mind, and it's similarities to my over head shot. I'd be hard pressed to say who's rig weighed more, my RB with 90mm or your Canon Tank... t

Oh yea, nice shot, I'm liking your usual color in this one... what text goes in your "negative" space?

-- tom meyer (twm@mindspring.com), September 13, 2000.

Isn't there text in the negative space? Something about "Mike Dixon"? :-)

Mike's photos are inspirational and unique. Although this woman looks like some famous actress or model. Maybe it's the table lamp.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), September 13, 2000.

I think the eyes are the part of the subject that really make the picture. The strong manipulation of light and dark - the blowing up of the specular highlight on the eye from the bulb - the toning down of the actual iris/pupil detail gives it a weird flavor. It's almost alien.

It gives the model an intense look in the eyes, but a relaxed look in the face. In that sense, it fits with a lot of glamour photography done for fashion moguls.

-- Edward Kang (ekang@cse.nd.edu), September 13, 2000.

I really like this. I think it is strong enough that the rebate/border/whatever-you-call-it is superfluous, and distracting.

But one of the problems with web-resolution...I want to see the grain more, but the pixels are getting in the way!!!

I love trying to do this type of thing myself, but I always end up disappointed when it gets to the printing stage.

ps, fwiw, She reminds me of Ellen Barkin.

-- shawn (seeinsideforever@yahoo.com), September 13, 2000.

Thanks very much for your comments. I need to give some credit where credit is due. This is a professional model (Amy), and hair/makeup were done by Candace Corey. Never underestimate the contributions a good model and stylist can make.

She was actually relaxing, waiting to go shoot with another photographer when I saw this opportunity.

-- Mike Dixon (burmashave@compuserve.com), September 15, 2000.