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Roger Williams
{K:86139} 11/6/2003
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These comments have been most helpful, and I'll certainly try again. Thanks everyone! Most of the weaknesses I was aware of (and one or two I wasn't) have been dealt with and I am encouraged. I am NOT good at taking people, and Ray's suggestion of "taking charge" while it doesn't appeal to me emotionally sounds like excellent advice. Also taking a number of photos. I acquired a habit of economising with film, taking a very few shots very, very deliberately, when I was a poverty stricken schoolboy in England trying to keep photography going on pennies. I can see that it's inappropriate behaviour now I'm a big boy.
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Neil Jones
{K:105} 11/5/2003
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Hi Roger
You seem to have an unending supply of facinating faces to photograph. These are no exception. If I were to be critical I have to say I find the background a little distracting, I think you could have moved the chairs on the right. i also feel this format has too much unused space. If you look at the photo I attach you'll see where I've cropped it and that I have blured out the background to focus specifically on the people. I hope this is a help.
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Neil Jones
{K:105} 11/5/2003
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Hi Roger
You seem to have an unending supply of facinating faces to photograph. These are no exception. If I were to be critical I have to say I find the background a little distracting, I think you could have moved the chairs on the right. i also feel this format has too much unused space. If you look at the photo I attach you'll see where I've cropped it and that I have blured our the background to focus specifically on the people. I hope this is a help.
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Ray Heath
{K:4559} 11/4/2003
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Hi Roger
Just read your forum post - thank you.
This image has a lot of value but I agree with Matej's comments, plus you should shoot several frames of a subject such as this. With more than one person you would be lucky to get them all looking good in one shot. It seems you had some control over the situation, so take control, get a good range of shots. Remember when doing portraits, the image that pleases you as the artist/photographer, is not necessarily the image that the subject or their family will treasure.
Back to the image at hand, print quality wise, the image could be greatly improved by darkening the background to make it less obtrusive.
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Armando Jorge
{K:7937} 11/4/2003
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Great composition !! Good work !!
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Matej Maceas
{K:24381} 11/4/2003
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I'll start with their eyes and expressions. The older lady has nice catchlights in her eyes and that is very good. It contributes to her alert expression and leaves no doubt as to the exact direction she is looking in. The younger lady (the daughter?) seems to have no catchlights at all, which is a pity, especially as her eyes are narrower (or was she in mid-blink), and overall this results in a somewhat sleepy expression. The gentleman's eyes are partially obscured by the rims of his glasses. I suppose this is OK if that is the usual way he wears them, i.e. if people normally see his eyes like this.
I wonder about the downward angle of the shot. On the one hand, if Mr. Murakawa uses the wheelchair often or always, this image is truthful to the physical point of view of those who meet him. On the other hand, in a certain sense this makes the photo be slightly more a portrait of him and slightly less of the family as a whole (because his position is a given, and the ladies have to adjust). This may well have been your intention. However, the angle forces the younger lady to lean forward in a manner that doesn't look too comfortable on the photo. Hence, I would suggest also trying a shot where you crouch or kneel down, and look slightly upwards at the family. Hopefully it should eliminate some of that leaning effect, and perhaps it could also be flattering to Mr. Murakawa (and the ladies as well) if he was looking 'down' or eye-to-eye at the viewer rather than up. I also mention this because he looks a bit strained, tilting his head backwards like that (but maybe I'm wrong).
Compositionally, I would watch out for that window frame and its positioning relative to the daughter's head.
The above suggestions notwithstanding, I think you did a good job with this portrait and that it will look good in their album.
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Aleksandar Lazarevski
{K:1285} 11/4/2003
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Very natural. Much better in B&W than in colour. It gives serious concept to it. Congrats! Regards, Aleksandar.
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jo pez
{K:2958} 11/4/2003
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...good one...from family album...:)
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