Confirmation

FM Forum Rules
Rules: One new topic per day

FM Forums \| People Photography \| Join Upload & Sell	Search Used
1 2 end

Archive 2006 · Confirmation

Andre Labonte
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · Confirmation

Edited by Ferigan on Sep 08, 2006 at 09:18 AM GMT

Sep 07, 2006 at 10:24 PM

SWMorales
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · Confirmation

why? whats the point? what did you like so much about it that you said "I have to post this on FM" i dont want to dissmiss your image or your attachment to the image so i want to know, why post it here?

Sep 07, 2006 at 11:17 PM

elader
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #3 · Confirmation

I am mildly interested in learning how you were allowed to fire the flash right in their faces at this particular moment. Was the conformation at 'Our Lady of Flash Photography'?

Sep 07, 2006 at 11:33 PM

canerino
Online
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · Confirmation

W.

Instead of posting that response, why not tell him why you feel it doesnt belong here. I think that would be more beneficial and maybe help him grow as a photog.

As for my take on the photo, its a nice 'snap', thats it. But in this scenario, not sure you could have done any better for the type of photo you wanted to capture. I am sure they were walking up and getting blessed. Seems like you nailed the exposure and focus and was able to capture a moment that is significant to you.

Sep 07, 2006 at 11:35 PM

Andre Labonte
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · Confirmation

Chuck,

Thank you for the useful comments. The photo is what I was after. I find it interesting that you see it to be a "snap" and I wonder if this is a question of perspective (no pun intended). It seems to me that there are three types of photographs when it comes to people, those which are art for arts sake, basic portraits and those that document a moment that is meaningful. Any Catholic, for instance, would see this picture and find it to be powerful, even if they did not know anyone in the image! Why? There is power in this event, it can be seen in the faces ... three of them, all focused on this event ... all three faces with different expresions over this event.

Let me ask this, why is this image any less powerful to all of you then the pics I see all the time on this post of homeless people or a nude woman?

C&C on technicals and composition would be welcome too!

Sep 07, 2006 at 11:46 PM

canerino
Online
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · Confirmation

"Any Catholic, for instance, would see this picture and find it to be powerful, even if they did not know anyone in the image! Why? There is power in this event, it can be seen in the faces ... three of them, all focused on this event ... all three faces with different expresions over this event."

Interesting point here...

I am not religious at all, so to me this is a snap. I guess what I mean by that is that there really isnt any art in it, it was taken for the purpose of documenting a meaningful event. On top of that, the composition is kind of uninteresting...with that said, I dont think you could have done it any better here. Maybe wider? But I know you wanted the faces, so that wouldnt have really worked.

"why is this image any less powerful to all of you then the pics I see all the time on this post of homeless people or a nude woman"

I cant really answer this as I dont see many of these shots as 'powerful'. However, I can see some of the photog's vision come through on SOME of these shots. BUT, maybe only because the vision is interesting to me? Does that make sense?

Sep 08, 2006 at 12:00 AM

Andre Labonte
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · Confirmation

Chuck,

Good insight. You are quite right, there is no "art" in this picure and it was not meant as a portrait. Thus, unless the topic is of interest to you (i.e. the moment of Comfirmation), it may be hard to relate to it. This is helpful!

Composition has bugged me to some degree. Any ideas on how to make such images more interesting? You mentioned wider ... what should I try to include that would expand the interest in the image and/or event?

Thanks again for the insight,

Cheers,
Ferigan

Sep 08, 2006 at 12:09 AM

elader
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #8 · Confirmation

perhaps some photoshop magic to reduce the clutter. Would of course be easier on the full sized image....

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Sep 08, 2006 at 12:11 AM

Andre Labonte
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · Confirmation

elader wrote:

perhaps some photoshop magic to reduce the clutter. Would of course be easier on the full sized image....

Oh wow! Now I just did not think of that! I like it! I'm also impressed at how fast you did it! I'm just learnig PS now ... did film as a casual photog until a year ago. Thanks Eric.

This is cool, I've learned a couple of things tonight.

Sep 08, 2006 at 12:22 AM

SWMorales
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #10 · Confirmation

canerino wrote:
W.

Instead of posting that response, why not tell him why you feel it doesnt belong here. I think that would be more beneficial and maybe help him grow as a photog.

I never said it didnt belong here, and actually my assumption of why he would post it was right.

I think its borring. If I had taken it, I would throw it away. Again no offense, just my honest opinion. Maybe even just changing the orientation from Horizontal to Vertical would have made it more interesting? I dont know.

Sep 08, 2006 at 12:51 AM

canerino
Online
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · Confirmation

SWMorales wrote:
canerino wrote:
W.

Instead of posting that response, why not tell him why you feel it doesnt belong here. I think that would be more beneficial and maybe help him grow as a photog.

I never said it didnt belong here, and actually my assumption of why he would post it was right.

I think its borring. If I had taken it, I would throw it away. Again no offense, just my honest opinion. Maybe even just changing the orientation from Horizontal to Vertical would have made it more interesting? I dont know.

Sorry, I took it the wrong way then. I assumed your "why post it here" comment meant that it doesnt belong here.

Sep 08, 2006 at 12:59 AM

sino408
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · Confirmation

Ferigan wrote:
elader wrote:

perhaps some photoshop magic to reduce the clutter. Would of course be easier on the full sized image....

Oh wow! Now I just did not think of that! I like it! I'm also impressed at how fast you did it! I'm just learnig PS now ... did film as a casual photog until a year ago. Thanks Eric.

This is cool, I've learned a couple of things tonight.

You can certainly make it more "artsy" by letting people focus on the faces and not the flash-assisted exposure through a B&W conversion. I find that B&W conversions allow the viewer to focus more on the forms and meanings compared to a color image.

Sep 08, 2006 at 01:03 AM

Andre Labonte
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · Confirmation

sino40B wrote:

You can certainly make it more "artsy" by letting people focus on the faces and not the flash-assisted exposure through a B&W conversion. I find that B&W conversions allow the viewer to focus more on the forms and meanings compared to a color image.

After seeing other people do this, why do I not think of this for my own images?

I guess it's hard to know when to go B&W and when not to.

OK, do you recomend doing this to the origninal image or a modified image like the one Eric posted with all the "distractions" removed?

Sep 08, 2006 at 01:13 AM

carels
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · Confirmation

Was there enough natural light to take the picture? Maybe bumping up the iso and using natural light would be a nice way to document the moment. Even if the depth of field was really shallow it might have helped to create a Photographt that would seem to be more "true"to the moment. Then a BW conversion would really work. Other than this suggestion, I think the photo as is is special and will be cherished in the future as a reminder of this boy's step in faith.

Sep 08, 2006 at 01:17 AM

sino408
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · Confirmation

I quickly cropped it and did some minor tuning. I also added a little soft focus effect.

8x10 ratio for easy framing too

Sep 08, 2006 at 01:30 AM

Andre Labonte
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #16 · Confirmation

carels wrote:

Was there enough natural light to take the picture? Maybe bumping up the iso and using natural light would be a nice way to document the moment. Even if the depth of field was really shallow it might have helped to create a Photographt that would seem to be more "true"to the moment. Then a BW conversion would really work. Other than this suggestion, I think the photo as is is special and will be cherished in the future as a reminder of this boy's step in faith.

Nicely said, thank you.

To be honest, I've only started playing with ISO recently (i.e. the last two months) and am finding how useful it is. Before that I kept it at ISO 200. This church was dark and I'm not sure if bumping ISO alone would have been enough. This pic took a full pop from my SB-800. I certainly prefer not to use flash when I can avoid it. Thanks again for the suggestion...it is something I am working on.

Sep 08, 2006 at 01:31 AM

Andre Labonte
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #17 · Confirmation

Oh Sino! That is fantastic! That has so much more impact and focus! And much of the harsh effects of the flash are gone too! I see now why Carels said to bump the ISO. I can't wait to reproduce this on the full-sized original and show my sister ... it's my nephew getting comfirmed.

Thanks again. All your comments have been most helpful.

Sep 08, 2006 at 01:41 AM

LDRider
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #18 · Confirmation

A nice snapshot for the family albumn

Sep 08, 2006 at 01:58 AM

SWMorales
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #19 · Confirmation

Ferigan wrote:

Any Catholic, for instance, would see this picture and find it to be powerful, even if they did not know anyone in the image! Why? There is power in this event, it can be seen in the faces ... three of them, all focused on this event ... all three faces with different expresions over this event.

Let me ask this, why is this image any less powerful to all of you then the pics I see all the time on this post of homeless people or a nude woman?

C&C on technicals and composition would be welcome too!

Id beg to differ. I was brought up in the Godly faith and find this image to be less than powerful. The even is no doubt important but the image is not representative of how significant the event is. Just my opinion, i could be wrong.

The even is not any less powerful than the event of a woman being naked or the tragedy that is the life of a homeless person, HOWEVER your capture of this even is less than stelar.

The composition would probably benefit greatly from you being lower and the shot being taken vertically. That would fill them more into the frame. I dont knwo what lens you were using but maybe shooting wider would help too. The photoshop that the other poster did worked well, but still its not that great, we cant all miracles (sorry for the pun).

If you can i would try it again, with a diffuser on the flash and vertically, maybe, if you wan that is.

Sep 08, 2006 at 02:25 AM

SWMorales
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #20 · Confirmation

LDRider wrote:
A nice snapshot for the family albumn

Exactly.

Sep 08, 2006 at 02:25 AM

Andre Labonte
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #21 · Confirmation

SWMorales wrote:

... The composition would probably benefit greatly from you being lower ...

... If you can i would try it again, with a diffuser on the flash ...

Thanks for the comments.

I was crouched with one knee on the ground and I had a diffuser on the flash. So, at least I had that much right

The shot was taken with a 70-200, I would have to check to see what focal length it was at for this shot. Comfirmations are a once-in-a-lifetime event. The anointing portion (i.e. what is pictured) takes about 3 seconds, so there's not much time.

Cheers,
Ferigan

Sep 08, 2006 at 02:51 AM

emandavi
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #22 · Confirmation

I'm catholic, and I know why you took the photo. I'd love to have taken a similar one of my sons when they had their confirmation.

There is nothing significant about a nude woman, or any photo that's posted in this forum.... it is the photographer and the viewer that gives it significance, based on their beliefs, preferences, and profession (some are wedding photographers, some are fashion photographers, and some just prefer to photograph the moment as it happens).

Sep 08, 2006 at 05:25 AM

Andre Labonte
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #23 · Confirmation

emandavi wrote

I'm catholic, and I know why you took the photo. I'd love to have taken a similar one of my sons when they had their confirmation.

Thank you, that's the best compliment anyone could give!

There is nothing significant about a nude woman, or any photo that's posted in this forum.... it is the photographer and the viewer that gives it significance, based on their beliefs, preferences, and profession (some are wedding photographers, some are fashion photographers, and some just prefer to photograph the moment as it happens).

I share your view on things. I'm beginning to realize how much "audience" and the subject matter have to mesh. Most good photographs have basic elements in common, but then again, if people can't relate to the subject matter or if they do not understand the context, the picture has minimal impact. That said, I have recieved some great feedback that will make me think about shots I take in the future.

Sep 08, 2006 at 12:57 PM

keatlim
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #24 · Confirmation

It's an average looking snapshot. You absolutely love it because you can relate to it. It happens all the time.

Here's a question, would you blow this picture up to a poster sized 24"x36" print and hang it over your fireplace (or anywhere in the house for that matter) or would you put it in a really nice 4x6 frame on the mantle? And why?

Sep 08, 2006 at 01:57 PM

CarlG
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #25 · Confirmation

BTW - it's Confirmation...

Sep 08, 2006 at 02:02 PM


FM Forums \| People Photography \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 end