"Testing the Waters"

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), September 18, 2000

Answers

That is so close to perfect- all she needs are some little wings- Pose-wise I just want to reach into the picture and put her toe in the water....

That's a nice setting- you should go back there with a model (and some wings) when the light is softer- what is the technical info on this?

-- Chris Yeager (cyeager@ix.netcom.com), September 19, 2000.

subj.

oh, chris, sorry: leica m6; 50/2; tmax 400 at 400.

-- tony (rowlett@alaska.net), September 21, 2000.

What makes this work is that the Asian motif of the photograph so aptly reflects the subject. It's a very nice photo that works because of the reference to art beyond photography.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), September 19, 2000.

I really like Tony's picture quality =) Dunno if it's his print making skill or his scanner, or both, but the black and white stuff is usually darn clear.

I'm going to take a guess and say that there isn't really an asian motif - at least not one on purpose - the girl looks like an alaskan local, and the plants/water...cold northwestern streams! I can just imagine the girl recoiling from dipping her feet in the frigid, fast moving water. Yow!

Reminds me of summers in Mount Olympus.

-- Edward Kang (ekang@cse.nd.edu), September 19, 2000.

Okay... against my better judgement...

Yes, the motif is classical: young girl on rock at water's edge, woodsey, isolated setting, leg extended suggesting impending bath, voyeristic point of view, softly filtered deep woods light. Contrary to classic motif, this young girl is fully clothed and the light is soooo hard, she seems to have a black hole for a shadow, and her facial expression is one of skepticism and recoil, as opposed to innocent, naive anticipation. A cute translation is available, but the light is just too hard for the subject and her expression invokes concern that she might be swept away by frigid waters (her concern and mine).

And as a last, wet blanket observation... it's too big to fit on my 17" monitor, even at "full screen". Okay, I'm done whining (sorry, Tony)... t

-- tom meyer (twm@mindspring.com), September 20, 2000.

I would be interested to know how you took this - is it a spur of the moment candid or did you say "hold still while I take your picture". I ask because she looks too relaxed to have just found out how cold glacial melt is (been there, done that :-), but her intent stare out of the frame and her overall body posture imply that she's not just - if you'll pardon the expression - chilling out.

I like the overall composition, the hard light and the feeling of movement in the nearby water, but for me she's not quite telling the story your title suggests.

-- Struan Gray (struan.gray@sljus.lu.se), September 20, 2000.

subj line goes here.

sitting in a hotel in san diego now (with no car, jeff) and on the hotel tv web service (nice, but I can't read the text well). Thanks for your replies. Nope, didn't say nything to my subj. before taking the shot. i took several on this occasion, and I take many of her normally, so she just ignors me. She is Chinese and the daughter of a close friend. It was on a river bank. We were camping yet we ordered pizza delivery, too! And yes, Tom, I knew right after posting it was too big for your monitor. I'll try to remember to post smaller next timel. I think I post larger than most. my screen at work is large.

-- tony rowlett (rowlett@laska.net), September 21, 2000.

testing

Tony! You should have called me or said you were coming to San Diego. I could have toured you around my lovely city by the bay. No reason to sit dejectedly in a motel when a tourguide is so close at hand. Of course then I could make you look at my images I never can post here. As for the image the shadow just kills it. Probably doesn't come across on the screen as well as in the print but the shadow is just a hole. The girl looks like she's frozen in terror of...I don't know....something. Next time call. James

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), September 23, 2000.

Rats! Next time I'll know better. It would have been nice to meet, tour, and discuss.

Before posting the image, I never paid the harsh shadow and light much thought. Although it is not as harsh in the print, it still detracts. For the curious lurkers who haven't posted any photography yet, this forum really does work!

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), September 23, 2000.