Steady Hand
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Numfar wrote:
Thanks Steady - I'll definately take a look at the shadows and see what I can find.
And I hope that over the past few years I've shown that I will take criticism well, and often do respond with both a) and explanation of why things are like they are; and b) an effort to address the concerns/issues by going back over the image.
Sometimes when opinion seems split on an issue I'll fall on the side of 'liking it as is', but by and large, when opinion is overwhelming on something, I'm keen to accept the weight of input and make a change.
That said, for one of the first times on here, I'm going to greatfully accept the criticism, but stick with my original decision to keep the black, even given what I acknowledge as 'looking like an error' to photographers. I'm doing this, partly against my judgement as a photographer ('cause when someone mentioned a fast shutter speed, I immediately saw that too!). But using the other side of my brain (not a big side - not a big brain) - the artsy side - I'm going to keep the black. I do think that graphically it adds to the elongation of the neck, and ultimately bounces the eye back into the frame. Heck, I know I may be wrong, but at least it looks a bit different. If the model mentions it, I'll take it out for her, but in my book, the black bar error/graphic element is going to remain.
I do very much appreciate the feedback, however, and hope that not taking it on occasion isn't seen too much as stuborness.
I'm just saving a file from the editorial set we did just before the above shot, and I'll post it when I have it done - probably about 30 seconds, so the motivation for the background can at least be seen.
B
You have always impressed me here as a balanced and nice photographer. So, I will give you some "opinions" to consider. I offer them in a truly friendly tone of voice in order to help you. My "help" may be simply to reinforce your own decision, even though my comments may seem "opposed" to your decision. 
I am of the opinion that generally we all either:
A. build our own staircase to the stars/top/best/heights/improvement
or...
B. Dig our own holes. 
So...who is to know which way the "black bar" is going to take you. Whatever your decision is....make it YOUR decision and you will have no one else to blame but yourself...or no one else to challenge but yourself...or no one else to thank but yourself.
In short, follow your muse.
But, if this was one of my own shots, I would see the "black bar" as a mistake and evidence of sloppy work on the set and inattentiveness to details. But...that is just how I "see it."
Despite how "I see it" I can offer this advice: Don't let anyone else prevent you from expressing your own creativity. Try what you like. Try again. That there are "differences" of opinion is OK and perhaps a "good thing."
IF you can like a decision despite someone else having a different opinion (like mine stated above), it will make you feel better or stronger or more confident about your own creative direction. Just remember at all times, it is YOUR direction and YOUR decisions will take you down YOUR path.
Now...If I were the "buyer" (say an ad agency art director), I would question your logic on the choice of including the black bar in "my" photo I commissioned for "my" ad in "my" ad campaign for "my client" and for "my book." In fact, I would insist you fix the image or not pay for it. Or...I would have my own graphic artist cut the black bar off.
So...you can have a range of "opinions" and still I come back to my general belief that IF you want to express your own creative ideas, you will have to risk presenting ideas that others may not like and may criticize. That is just "part of the process."
I hope what I have written is taken as "encouragement" to follow your own instincts/gut/muse/ideas even if they do appear "misguided" "in error" or "wrong" to any number of people.
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