On around the 11th of february, you asked me a question about Rebekah...a young indian apache girl..and how I posed my subjects to get a certain look. A couple days after you posted that, I left for Geneva Switzerland for two weeks to work with the World Health Organization on an international treaty on tobacco.
On most of my portraits posted, I use no electronic light. The image of the nine year old girl, was meant to show her stoic (sp) attitude. Her father calls her his "warrior" daughter. Literally. She is the same little girl holding the reeds in "Apache Stream". I lit the image with kerosene lamps.....making for a long exposure (1/4) sec....and very minumum DOF. It was shot in her living room....with a wood burning stove pipe in the background.
I do not typically look for or want a smile on my subjects unless doing a commissioned portrait. I havent posted many of these....and even then....I rather a neutral look versus "smile". I like seeing how they look with "no face" put on.
As you may know......I do no photo shop on any prints. They are all straight prints....judged for contrast and density which I can control.....but no burning or dodging is possible in the contact print. If I can get the image information on my negative, with a platinum print having such a straight toe on its reproduction, I can get it on the paper. My tone between sepia and charcoal is determined by my mix of platinum and palladium metals.
I have a LOT of favorite images of yours. I think you are one of the best portrait shooters on USEFILM. I think your images are very creative.....and you really know what you are doing. Your lighting is generally impeccible....and you use your frame to the maximum.
I wonder how you print....from film...or off the computer. I suspect most of your images except the one with the butterfly that I commented on some time ago are from film. Regardless......I like your work very much.
You have gotten me here while I am really jet lagged...back for a day....9 hours time difference from europe...and being verbose. I appreciate your images....and your comments. Till next time..... GA
Dear Verna: I love the color and the way the image grabs you because of it. I do notice some marks on the jesters right lapel, (left side of image). Is this just due to scanning? The only thing I think I would change is are the eyes. Just a little to far rolled up for me. But is really is a great idea and well done! Shyfox
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