Your Impression #67 Etude

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Steady Hand
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p.1 #1 · Your Impression #67 Etude

Hi,

I have another BW image you (or someone) might enjoy, and I am trying to "add" something to this forum (BW) since I usually shoot in BW and almost all of my images are BW. So I naturally feel an "affinity" for BW images like those displayed and discussed in this BW forum.

I am still not certain what is the best method for posting a photo discussion in this forum if the photo is also posted in another forum here at FM. In this case, the image is of a person, so I first posted it (today) in the People Forum here on FM.

Since I "guess" that it is "better" somehow to just post a link to the other discussion thread (I suppose that is forum etiquette "to save bandwidth") I will just post the link here now:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/713678

This image reminds me of an "ancient" 6x6 TRI-X shot. The tones are deep and luscious with little spots of specular highlights. It made a very lovely large print.

I hope you will share your impressions with me either here in this forum below or on the People Forum. Either way or place, your Impressions will be appreciated by me and the subject of the portrait, the pianist.

Dec 02, 2008 at 04:31 PM

Steady Hand
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p.1 #2 · Your Impression #67 Etude

READ THIS FIRST:
Please share your impressions. That helps me as an artist and will be appreciated and enjoyed by the subject too (i.e. the pianist) when I share your Impressions with her in a few days.

I take the time to write up many bits of technique and tips both here in my own impressions discussions (see below) and in 4,500+ posts put up by other photographers. So, while I do like helping others here, it DOES help me if you will write your impressions in this thread. It only takes a moment to give an impression that may be very helpful and will be appreciated by the subject or pianist too. And if you enjoy this image or this type of discussion, you are invited to visit any of the previous 64 Impressions images/discussions and leave your own impression on any of them too. Just type "Impressions" in the search field of this forum to find a list of them. Thanks in advance.

Put another way...Don't Just Lurk...Join In. Add value. Contribute. Share your thoughts. Help others. Post your Impression. : )

THE IMAGE LINK: Impressions Image #67 Etude"
http://www.steadmanuhlich.com/impressions67/index.html

Dec 02, 2008 at 04:35 PM

Tim ONeill
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p.1 #3 · Your Impression #67 Etude

Steadman
very cool interpretation. Same pianist. Same tones in the face, hands, and piano elements. Powerful imagery IMHO. as before, well done. I'd assume she'll be very pleased with your interpretation.

Dec 03, 2008 at 02:38 AM

eric kim
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p.1 #4 · Your Impression #67 Etude

Hello Steady. I love seeing your contributions to the FM forum, especially in the people forum.

What I notice at first is the deep stare of her eyes. Her eyes look like crystals that feel like they are penetrating my soul. I also am attracted by the glitter in her outfit as well as the necklace that is around her neck. And as I look lower on the image the smooth tones of the piano really make me feel peaceful and calm.

eric

Dec 03, 2008 at 03:06 AM

papageno
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p.1 #5 · Your Impression #67 Etude

Interesting snap. Did you consider minimal hairlight for separation of head and top from background?

I have to admit I'm curious; did the artist like the picture?

Dec 03, 2008 at 03:11 AM

Steady Hand
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p.1 #6 · Your Impression #67 Etude

Tim ONeill wrote:
Steadman
very cool interpretation. Same pianist. Same tones in the face, hands, and piano elements. Powerful imagery IMHO. as before, well done. I'd assume she'll be very pleased with your interpretation.

Hello Tim,

Thanks for starting off the discussion by adding your impressions.

I was beginning to think this BW Forum was an unfriendly place.

I am glad you sense power and that you like the image too.

Good light to you.

Dec 03, 2008 at 01:28 PM

Steady Hand
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p.1 #7 · Your Impression #67 Etude

eric kim wrote:
Hello Steady. I love seeing your contributions to the FM forum, especially in the people forum.

What I notice at first is the deep stare of her eyes. Her eyes look like crystals that feel like they are penetrating my soul. I also am attracted by the glitter in her outfit as well as the necklace that is around her neck. And as I look lower on the image the smooth tones of the piano really make me feel peaceful and calm.

eric

Hi Eric,

Thanks for the nice words of welcome. Made my day start off on a nice note.

Much appreciated.

I am glad you wrote your impressions too. Good ones too. I liked that "crystals" allusion too.

I always enjoy seeing the images through the eyes of the viewer (via these impressions comments) and I am glad you enjoyed the portrait as you did.

I am not sure if you have seen the other portraits in this pianist series. I believe I have posted 16 so far. The smooth tones you mentioned are really nice in "Arrangement in Gray and Black." It is a different style of portrait, but the tones in it are really lovely to see in a large print.

Good light to you.

Dec 03, 2008 at 01:32 PM

Steady Hand
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p.1 #8 · Your Impression #67 Etude

Much appreciated.

I am glad you wrote your impressions too. Good ones too. I liked that "crystals" allusion too.

I always enjoy seeing the images through the eyes of the viewer (via these impressions comments) and I am glad you enjoyed the portrait as you did.

I am not sure if you have seen the other portraits in this pianist series. I believe I have posted 16 so far. The smooth tones you mentioned are really nice in "Nocturne in Gray and Black." It is a different style of portrait, but the tones in it are really lovely to see in a large print.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/709775

Good light to you.

Dec 03, 2008 at 01:36 PM

Steady Hand
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p.1 #9 · Your Impression #67 Etude

papageno wrote:
Interesting snap. Did you consider minimal hairlight for separation of head and top from background?

I have to admit I'm curious; did the artist like the picture?

Hello papageno.

Thanks for adding your impression too.

I am glad you found it interesting.

You asked a good and valid question regarding a hairlight. I understand.

I understand the use of hair lights but I do not like their use in most cases.

I think when hair lights are applied to a person, they seldom look natural.

My core preference is to see and make images or portraits that are very "natural" to the person and the situation or scene.

I understand the "reasons" they are often suggested, but I do not agree with the aesthetic results (in most cases).

For example, in my Pianist series (one shown here) there are images of the pianists made at two different locations (and different pianos). The light in the locations was of a different type and style and direction and source and number.

In one location, the look shows an "overhead" "hair light" look. This was because the pianist was sitting in a spotlight. So it appears "natural" for the venue/location/setting. But...I don't like the look on the hair.

That does not mean I don't like the portrait/image or the "general" light on the person. I just accept that in THAT kind of lighting situation, I have to expect overhead artificial light to have an effect on how the hair appears. But, it is not my preference.

In the other location, there is no "hair light" added to the natural light (natural sunlight coming through a large window). In those images the hair looks much more natural (to me) and much more pleasing (to me as an artist/painter).

I don't expect every photographer (or most) to share this opinion or POV. But, it is mine and one that has been considered for many years of careful observation of figures, forms, and faces (and hair).

I will post a few more from this series here and it will probably be clear to a close observer which images were made in a light scenario that included artificial overhead (hair lights) and which used natural sunlight.

Is one better than another?

I really think that is a matter of taste.

I hope that helps.

Lastly, you asked if she liked the image.

Yes she did. We both liked it (so did her sister) and we both got a laugh from it too. You see, she is a very "sweet" young woman who is also very intense (at times) and this revealed a "look" that was totally natural to her, but seldom captured in a photograph. She was surprised by it, pleased, and amused too. I think it is one of her favorites.

I have a question for you too.

Where are you located (what city/state)?

I always like to know how these images (and the net) connect with people from different places. I am in Birmingham Alabama USA at this time.

Dec 03, 2008 at 02:02 PM

santos
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p.1 #10 · Your Impression #67 Etude

Hello Steadman,

I am glad I read your last comment before writing my own comment.

From a visual perspective, words that come to my mind when I see this portrait are elegant, sophisticated, impeccable.

From an emotional point of view, I would say this portrait is cold (the tones characterizing the pianist's skin; her beauty, seemingly unapproachable), intense to the point of becoming intimidating (her staring eyes and her leaning face), daring and perhaps even forbiding (her eyes daring the viewer to express something about her).

I understand that this is but one facette of the pianist's complex personality. There are many other facettes, and without this one she wouldn't be whole.

santiago

Dec 03, 2008 at 02:45 PM

Steady Hand
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p.1 #11 · Your Impression #67 Etude

santos wrote:
Hello Steadman,

I am glad I read your last comment before writing my own comment.

From a visual perspective, words that come to my mind when I see this portrait are elegant, sophisticated, impeccable.

From an emotional point of view, I would say this portrait is cold (the tones characterizing the pianist's skin; her beauty, seemingly unapproachable), intense to the point of becoming intimidating (her staring eyes and her leaning face), daring and perhaps even forbiding (her eyes daring the viewer to express something about her).

I understand that this is but one facette of the pianist's complex personality. There are many other facettes, and without this one she wouldn't be whole.

santiago

Greetings Santiago!

Thanks for adding your very nice and interesting Impressions too.

I enjoyed reading them and I do believe you "see" the intended emotion/expression very well. You put into words what I saw (and hoped others would see) too.

IF you get a few minutes of spare time, follow the link back to the image post in the People Forum. I think you will enjoy reading some of the comments there on this image. I did.

And some of them are similar in initial response to yours too. So you will probably smile as you read them.

Thanks again and please feel "Invited" to join the impressionist parties any time (past, present, or future)!

Steady

Dec 03, 2008 at 03:59 PM

T-bone1
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p.1 #12 · Your Impression #67 Etude

I must say, in all honesty this expression intimidates me! Much different than the shot of her surprising you with her skills.
She intimidates me in the sense that the stare, clothing, hair, posture, and hands all are very "hard" in apprearance (at least to me they are).

I would approach the woman who surprised you with her skill and gives a smirk. I would probably watch this woman from afar.
It's the same woman, so there's a testament to the power of impressions!

Dec 04, 2008 at 02:27 AM

sjkk
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p.1 #13 · Your Impression #67 Etude

The woman's hands appear to be a rest but her eyes and the tilt of her head say she is intently looking for an answer to some question. Actually the eyes are quite demanding. The impression I have of the image is that it is a mixture of unresolved opposites.

Dec 04, 2008 at 02:45 AM

Steady Hand
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p.1 #14 · Your Impression #67 Etude

T-bone1 wrote:
I must say, in all honesty this expression intimidates me! Much different than the shot of her surprising you with her skills.
She intimidates me in the sense that the stare, clothing, hair, posture, and hands all are very "hard" in apprearance (at least to me they are).

I would approach the woman who surprised you with her skill and gives a smirk. I would probably watch this woman from afar.
It's the same woman, so there's a testament to the power of impressions!

Hi Tbone.

Thanks for adding to these impressions discussions.

This impression of yours is very good and was fun to read.

I know JUST what you mean.

I love the last line of your note. "a testament to the power of impressions."

Thanks. And keep an eye open for more Impressions images here.

Dec 04, 2008 at 03:25 AM

Steady Hand
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p.1 #15 · Your Impression #67 Etude

sjkk wrote:
The woman's hands appear to be a rest but her eyes and the tilt of her head say she is intently looking for an answer to some question. Actually the eyes are quite demanding. The impression I have of the image is that it is a mixture of unresolved opposites.

Hi Sonja,

Welcome to impressionism.

I liked reading your comment. The two aspects (hands at rest, eyes inquiring) is a good thing and a good observation on your part.

I also liked your words "demanding" (eyes) and "unresolved opposites" too.

Good "stuff" for the Impressionist in me.

I hope you will participate in other Impressions discussions (past, present, and future).

Dec 04, 2008 at 03:28 AM


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