Steady Hand
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Dedicated FM
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 p.2 #3 · Your Impressions #51 Pianist 1 | |
Mitchell Carter wrote:
Hey Steady,
When I first saw your post I immediately clicked on the link and looked at the picture without reading your copy. Her expression was mischievous and said to me: "This sounds pretty good, huh?"
Then I figured I'd better read your instructions first, so I returned to FM to read your booklet, er, post. In it you describe what actually happened at the shoot, which pretty much confirmed my initial impression. But it was a plot-spoiler. It's difficult to give what you ask - a purely personal impression of a photo - after the photographer describes it.
Maybe a warning up top that says 'please look at the picture before reading further.' Or did you assume we'd click the link first since it's at the beginning? (Which is reasonable.)
Anyway, your narrative of you saying "Wow" and her looking up at you did affect my impression of the picture. Now I see her attention as split between her music (occupying the bulk of her mind) and an audience that's demanding attention (I think we've seen this look in musicians). That's what I see in her eyes now - it's all in the eyes - and can't shake the impression: her eyes are aimed toward you but the brain is preoccupied.
And by the way, I love this picture. Face, keyboard, hand, and the rest black. Especially the position of the right hand, at some musical moment, is lovely.
Hi,
Thanks for adding your impressions too. I liked your impression as I think it fits the image well too. That "Satisfaction" with the sounds or how the pianist finds the music on this instrument. I like that.
You bring up a good point about whether my description of the person has perhaps influenced your "take" on the image. I understand. I had thought about that several times. I do believe it is a good idea (and recommend it to everyone) to clearly state the "intent" of the image. So, I will generally tell something about the person I am photographing and the situation or something about how I see them and what I am trying to 'capture.' As I see it, it is a matter of stating something like a goal. Then, when one looks at the image, one can get a feel for how the goal might have been reached or how close the photo comes to the goal. Of course the other viewers may have very different "impressions" based on just the image. That is OK with me too. But....in general I think stating "intent" is a very good practice and so I include them.
How I "see" the image is something a bit different. That is my own impressions. It may be very different from how others see it.
I do know what you mean though. Most of the images posted in this forum never have a backstory or "intent" posted with the picture. Sometimes...people will post something about the picture later if the image is critiqued. But...I think it is better up front.
Anyway...it is a matter of choice and compromise. 
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