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Archive 2008 · #295: Laughing at myself
  
 
Steve Spencer
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · #295: Laughing at myself


Sometimes I find that I can take things so seriously that I have to learn to just laugh at myself. Comments and critiques are most welcome.

Made a couple of little tweaks


Edited by Steve Spencer on May 19, 2008 at 09:22 PM GMT

A couple more tweaks as suggested by Endre

Edited by Steve Spencer on May 20, 2008 at 05:01 AM GMT

Edited on May 20, 2008 at 05:01 AM
May 19, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Carrol
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · #295: Laughing at myself


Steve,
Hey! This is very clever!
I really like the contrast of expressions.
If I were to offer one idea for improvement, it would be that the Laughing You should be looking at the Sitting You (not the camera.)
Good job!
~ Carrol
May 19, 2008 at 08:04 PM
Steve Spencer
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · #295: Laughing at myself


Hi Carrol,

Thanks so much for your encouraging words. I am glad you like the contrasts in expressions. I tried it both way looking at the camera and at my other self. I liked this shot better as it was hard to see the laughing expression (which I think makes the shot) when I was looking at the other self.

Best wishes,

Steve
May 19, 2008 at 08:31 PM
laokai
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · #295: Laughing at myself


I really like it Steve---clever idea. I'm not a lighting expert, but the shadows cast by laughing self are distracting. I also find the exposure a tad flat or dark or something that I can't quite put my finger on.

Incidentally, seeing the shadow gave me the idea for a portrait of shadow of someone's laugh. Someone who hasn't entered yet should try that and see how it works.

Chris
May 19, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Steve Spencer
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · #295: Laughing at myself


Hi Chris,

Thanks for your kind words and for your advice. I made a couple of little tweaks and I like it a little better now. I actually like the shadow for the symbolism it provides and I like the effect it creates. Thanks again for your very thoughtful response.
May 19, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Steven Roberts
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · #295: Laughing at myself


The man himself!!! Good to meet you. Hard to shoot yourself better yet exposing it. You did a wonderful job and a nice refreshing take on the WA. Should do well. Good luck buddy

Steve R
May 19, 2008 at 09:29 PM
Steve Spencer
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · #295: Laughing at myself


Steven Roberts wrote:
The man himself!!! Good to meet you. Hard to shoot yourself better yet exposing it. You did a wonderful job and a nice refreshing take on the WA. Should do well. Good luck buddy

Steve R

Thanks, Steve. I appreciate the support and encouragement.

Kind Regards,

Steve S.
May 19, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Strad
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · #295: Laughing at myself


Very clever take on the WA, Steve! I like it a lot. I rather like the shadow in that it obviously comes from multiple light sources and therefore looks like it's laughing. The biggest thing that bothers me, is the little bit of chair sticking out on your left. It's unnecessary to tell the story and so it just act as a tiny visual distraction. It's easy to clone out if you want to. You might also try bumping up the contrast a tad just to make it pop a bit more. See what you think. It's a wonderful shot either way.

All the best,

Endre

Edited on May 19, 2008 at 11:36 PM
May 19, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Steve Spencer
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · #295: Laughing at myself


Strad wrote:
Very clever take on the WA, Steve! I like it a lot. I rather like the shadow in that it obviously comes from multiple light sources and therefore looks like it's laughing. The biggest thing that bothers me, is the little bit of chair sticking out on your left. It's unnecessary to tell the story and so it just act as a tiny visual distraction. It's easy to clone out if you want to. You might also try bumping up the contrast a tad just to make it pop a bit more. See what you think. It's a wonderful shot...Show more →

Hi Endre,

Thanks for your very helpful advice. I agree with everything you said and made the changes you suggested. The chair sticking out bothered me as well. I had to hit the self-timer on the camera and get into place pretty quickly for these shots and on that take I wasn't sitting quite in the center of the chair. Don't know why I didn't think to clone it out earlier. I am glad you like the shot.

Best wishes,

Steve S.
May 20, 2008 at 05:04 AM
Yakim Peled
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · #295: Laughing at myself


Great idea and great execution.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.
May 20, 2008 at 05:14 AM
Steve Spencer
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · #295: Laughing at myself


Hi Yakim,

Thanks for the kind words.

Best wishes,

Steve S.
May 20, 2008 at 08:12 AM
georgefun99
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · #295: Laughing at myself


Good job Steve. You obviously have a high concentration of creativity blood cells flowing inside you. I think you should be a finalist with this photo, but if not it could be because of one of these 2 items..

1) I agree with the comment about you looking at yourself instead of the camera.

2) Let me preface my upcoming comment/suggestion with the statement that if I were attempting the same shot, my natural tendencies would probably create a facial expression nearly identical to yours. So here goes... I think the expression looks more like a big smile than a laugh, a little more over-the-top expression will seal your fate and put you way ahead of the other "smiles" that are posted.

Since you have a good chance at being in the finals and I have no entry, take it for what its worth, just one persons opinion. I still like it very much.

Best of luck at voting time!
-George
May 20, 2008 at 01:37 PM
Steve Spencer
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · #295: Laughing at myself


georgefun99 wrote:
Good job Steve. You obviously have a high concentration of creativity blood cells flowing inside you. I think you should be a finalist with this photo, but if not it could be because of one of these 2 items..

1) I agree with the comment about you looking at yourself instead of the camera.

2) Let me preface my upcoming comment/suggestion with the statement that if I were attempting the same shot, my natural tendencies would probably create a facial expression nearly identical to yours. So here goes... I think the expression looks more like a big smile than a laugh,...Show more →

Hi George,

Thanks so much for your kind comments and very thoughtful feedback. I really appreciate your taking the time to offer such a detailed response. I hear what you and Carrol are saying about the laughing self looking at the serious self, but I made a different artistic decision based on what I would rather convey in the image. For me, I think that both self-evaluation and laughter, which is really what this shot is all about imply an imagined audience. That is the feeling that it invokes and the laughing self looking toward the camera captures this imagined audience for me. It is as if the laughing self is saying, "look at this dolt taking everything so seriously." So I like the camera as a participating audience more than a passive observer of the scene, but I can see why others would prefer the image portrayed the other way, which in my view would make it a bit more introspective. For that type of shot I think I would have moved the camera closer and to the right, and shot at a wider angle. Perhaps I will try that and see how it comes out.

The laughing expression is a tough one. I actually was laughing quite hard during that shot. I laugh easily and my wife and I were being quite silly when I was shooting this. In the end I did pick the shot with the biggest laugh. One thing that I have noticed in all the shots this week is the similarity between smiles and laughter. They are quite similar expressions, but I noticed too big differences. In a laugh you have an open mouth and the eyes are more crinkled. I'm not sure that exaggerating these features works, but I might give a try for a more exaggerated laugh as well.

Thanks again for the wonderful feedback.

Best wishes,

Steve
May 20, 2008 at 03:45 PM
jban99
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · #295: Laughing at myself


Great picture Steve, I think the expressions and body language really tell the story!
The multiple shadows also complement very nicely the loud laughter…
May 21, 2008 at 05:33 PM
Steve Spencer
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · #295: Laughing at myself


jban99 wrote:
Great picture Steve, I think the expressions and body language really tell the story!
The multiple shadows also complement very nicely the loud laughter…



Hi John,

Thanks for your encouraging words. I am glad you liked the shot.

Best wishes,

Steve S.
May 21, 2008 at 08:47 PM
itchniba
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · #295: Laughing at myself


Wow a distinguished lecturer and photographer. Nice take on Laughter. Contrasts in expressions are very nice. And if you don't mind me saying, your bobo doll pounce is totally unexpected and hilarious. It would definitely make a nice photograph


Jun 02, 2008 at 02:59 AM
Steve Spencer
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · #295: Laughing at myself


Hi,

I am glad you liked the shot and the lecture. I have so much fun doing that lecture, I am glad it is memorable for most students. Stop by my office some time if you would like and we can chat about psychology or photography. During the lecture, I am too busy tackling the Bobo doll to get a shot of it, but if you want to come to class in the fall and try and get a shot yourself, that would be great.

Best wishes,

Steve S. (a.k.a. Dr. Spencer)
Jun 02, 2008 at 09:22 AM





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