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Archive 2013 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.

  
 
silvawispa
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


Make up your own stories around this one and let me know your ideas for an additional element that will complete it.
The idea I like most will end up in the image

Heh, crowdsourcing inspiration, got to go with the modern methods I suppose...

...and of course any critique/niggles you feel like bringing up will be appreciated.




Oct 10, 2013 at 10:53 AM
RustyBug
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


Any input regarding the person, i.e. occupation, philosophy, religion, reason for portrait, lifestyle, hobbies, etc. ... or is this a promotion piece with a non-descript subject/person?

Overall theme strikes me in the realm of "liberation" ... from what and/or to where could be anything form liberation from the cares of this world into heaven/afterlife to just about anything such as breaking away from the "rules" of composition into following your own vision by guiding light or quitting your day job and striking out on your own.



Oct 10, 2013 at 03:05 PM
AuntiPode
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


Interest, although I confess the dominate vision it suggests to me involves a side view of an automobile bonnet and grill.


Oct 10, 2013 at 03:22 PM
eeneryma
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


You've given us an intriguing assignment, a little off the beaten path from usual photo critique requests. Using the Edmund Feldman method of analysis, let's start with description:
I see a man who appears to be in his 30's who has dirty blond, long hair with flowing locks. He has a muscular build and you can see the veins protruding from his outstretched arms which give the impression that he is floating or flying. He's dressed in a drab olive t-shirt. We only see his torso from waist up. Soft lighting illuminates his face, hair, neck, and front arm. His gaze is transfixed straight ahead toward the upper left corner of the frame. There is a blank expression on his face. His uncombed hair, unshaven face, and dress give him a somewhat disheveled appearance.
Behind the man appears to be a dark, cavernous wall, with writing which is illegible to the viewer. The background also has the appearance of old, discolored parchment. The bottom of the photo starts in total blackness, and about a third of the way up the background appears. The area of interest is limited to the top half of the frame.
Per Antipode, he does have the appearance of a hood ornament from antiques cars.



Oct 11, 2013 at 10:20 AM
gregfixit
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


I would like to see a little bit more of the woman on the right side. Her jawline and lips give nothing away in terms of emotion and I think this is the missing detail.

So my suggestion, for the additional element, is a tear-filled eye to complete the story.
Greg



Oct 11, 2013 at 11:18 AM
RustyBug
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


The background could appear to have a couple of head stones side by side ... could be in the realm of en route to eternal companionship.

Still could use a tad more insight/info as to intent/purpose for piece.



Oct 11, 2013 at 03:45 PM
FarmerJohn
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


The implied movements here are somewhat contradictory to me. At first look, I think "Surreal, and I like it." But then I stare at it more and get perplexed about what is going on.

The appearance of the guy is that he is moving or flying right-to-left "across" the picture.
The grain and shading and vignetting all imply motion or fading "into and out of" the picture, perpendicular to my monitor, which is odd compared to the "flying across."
If I stare at it a little more, I see that his legs and feet are blurry but bent upwards as if he is falling, which is again odd to what I first noticed.

I didn't notice the lips until greg's post mentioned it. They seem out of place compared to everything else I saw.



Oct 11, 2013 at 04:05 PM
AuntiPode
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


Let's also not over-look the conscious or unconscious possible elements of crucifixion as well as freed spirit.

In terms of composition, in addition to the principle subject and the secondary face/lips, consider adding a compatible third compositional element to the lower left for a three/triangular composition. Particularly if you are going for a sub-rosa Christian motif, three is a potent composition form.



Oct 11, 2013 at 06:41 PM
oldrattler
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


I am at a lose as to what you are attempting to convey. I see the man, two forms in the background, and the parchment. But I am not drawn in. There is so much here that I keep searching for the next hidden element. What were you going for? Jim

Edited on Oct 12, 2013 at 10:51 AM · View previous versions



Oct 11, 2013 at 10:20 PM
silvawispa
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


More info:

I'm aware of the missing element, I'm also at a loss to what it is.

'figurehead' is a response I've had already, maybe I need to find something appropriate to that. A way of portraying travel perhaps.

FarmerJohn, thanks for the insights into the cross purposes of the direction, I can use that.

A tear filled eye apeals, but I suspect I'll find a different emotional cue more appropriate.

The overall image should be uplifting in tone, possibly with a feeling of coming from a dark place.

Thanks for the responses so far, they're much appreciated. Keep them coming



Oct 12, 2013 at 03:20 AM
AuntiPode
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


Some suitable inspiration? A musical instrument? A tattoo artist at work? A cornucopia? A sketch artist at work? An infant? An infant in a mother's arms? A writer composing? A musician composing? A quill pen scribing? A winged cherub? A cropped portion of two naked bodies pressed together? A shadowed passionate kiss? A caress of a cheek?



Oct 12, 2013 at 04:07 AM
JHut
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


There are probably alot of variations or elements that can be added but for me..... This particular version may be stronger with a higher crop and with more neutral skin tones.

http://www.littlepawsontheprairie.com/fred-miranda/flying.jpg



Oct 12, 2013 at 10:30 AM
RustyBug
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · something missing. surreal portrait needs help.


silvawispa wrote:
The overall image should be uplifting in tone, possibly with a feeling of coming from a dark place.


Relief, removal of burden, tipping the scales, transition, liberation, enlightenment, knowledge, progress, moving forward, arrival, .... phoenix rising from the ashes @ lower/right side, morphing into the subject flying ahead, with small background/lower left corner/ bottom liberty holding scales of justice tipped toward the light with a sphere of light on one side and a dark sphere / pile of ashes on the other.



Oct 12, 2013 at 11:20 AM





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