Chetster wrote:
Well while I'm not YET at the technical expertise show with this series. I did look at all 5. My impressions are that based on the five shown.
1) This attractive woman is very serious / passionate about her piano. While I understand the caption I don't like the stare off with her right hand "caught" in mid?
2) I see a very quiet confidence and strength based on her posture and engaged look.
3) I see a more playful side of her. I see a very attractive woman having some fun at the piano and great depth in her eyes.
Hi Chetster.
I don't recall seeing you in an Impressions discussion before, so "Welcome."
Also, I do appreciate your impressions. They will help me help the woman and I am sure she will enjoy reading your words and comments. Thank you for adding them and considering the images.
I hope you will participate in future Impressions discussions, and I encourage you to start your own with your own images too.
If you would care for impression from a less than professional photographer:
This is a person deep into something they enjoy - neither a forced concentration nor absent mindedness. The person is aware of the surrounding elements, but doesn't let them take over the mind and disturb. This affects the way she poses - naturally elegant, relaxed and confident as opposed to rehearsed, exagerrated pose and forced facial expression.
This actually reminds me of my mother and her friends - most of them studied in the music school (something I had to endure for 7 long years to my dismay). Every time one of them played something I noticed that look.
As for everything else - you thought of everything there was and there is nothing left to add.
Steady, thank you for the personal invite here, I wouldn't have made my way to this thread without it.
With the preface you provided, I understand that the woman is playing the instrument while you made the photograph. I can "hear" the beauty she is making, even though my monitor is silent I feel there might be pain associated with someone making a photo of her but the music allows her to open her heart and soul to let the camera see an almost existential beauty. She "wants" people to see the other side of her, and the music is the key. Thank you for sharing this. Ill look our for more from your series here.
My impression is one of calm intensity--someone who meters the exact amount of effort into her music, but never too much. She is in control of her piano and not the other way around--the piano is an extension of herself, not an instrument to be played.
If you would care for impression from a less than professional photographer:
This is a person deep into something they enjoy - neither a forced concentration nor absent mindedness. The person is aware of the surrounding elements, but doesn't let them take over the mind and disturb. This affects the way she poses - naturally elegant, relaxed and confident as opposed to rehearsed, exagerrated pose and forced facial expression.
This actually reminds me of my mother and her friends - most of them studied in the music school (something I had to endure for 7 long years to my dismay). Every time one of them played something I noticed that look.
As for everything else - you thought of everything there was and there is nothing left to add....Show more →
Welcome to this Impressionist discussion.
Yes...you are very welcome. The "Impressionsist" approach to image discussion is OPEN to everyone, regardless of skill level, experience, pro/amateur/retired/newbie, and for anyone from anywhere on the planet. All it takes is a set of eyes (or one), a few moments to consider how the images affect you or what you "sense or see" and a few moments to write those "impressions" down for others to read and enjoy.
And...you are a good writer and a good Impressionist ALREADY.
Thanks for adding your impressions. I enjoyed reading them.
I enjoyed reading how you associated this with your own mother and her friends too. Classical music (and piano) is highly appreciated in Russia (and former USSR) and so that means something to me, along with your own personal piano experience. Keep your eyes open for a future Impressions thread showing a beautiful young pianist from the former USSR.
I hope you will participate in future Impressions discussions, and as always, I encourage everyone to start one of their own using their own images. It can be very satisfying to see that people see and sense something about the people in the photographs.
One last thing, please send me a PM with your first name and city. That helps in my Global Impressions Project, as I identify a comment with a place on the planet.
Justin Huffman wrote:
Steady, thank you for the personal invite here, I wouldn't have made my way to this thread without it.
With the preface you provided, I understand that the woman is playing the instrument while you made the photograph. I can "hear" the beauty she is making, even though my monitor is silent I feel there might be pain associated with someone making a photo of her but the music allows her to open her heart and soul to let the camera see an almost existential beauty. She "wants" people to see the other side of her, and the music is the key. Thank you for sharing this. Ill look our for more from your series here.
That is another nice impression. Thanks for adding it to the discussion/mix. I liked your words about her music allowing her to open her heart and soul. Very nice thoughts there. Really. Got me thinking about this image from another POV...and that is one of the wonderful things about an Impressions discussion. Truly...those insights or "shared feelings" and responses are what make these valuable to any artist.
So, please feel "invited" to join in any of my Impressions discussions.
Daniel Heineck wrote:
My impression is one of calm intensity--someone who meters the exact amount of effort into her music, but never too much. She is in control of her piano and not the other way around--the piano is an extension of herself, not an instrument to be played.
Best,
Daniel
Howdy Daniel.
I really like your impression too!
Wonderful way of describing the image. I am sure she (the pianist) will really identify with your comment...and enjoy that she projects that kind of image too.
Thanks for taking the time to help on this project and to add your view to this discussion.
My impressions of the impressions thread #52:
1. Very leading and controlled.
2. You wrote a short book of directions/rules/wishes and then the very first post ignored and broke them all.
My impressions of the person in the photograph "Pianist #2":
1. Intelligent.
2. Warm and fun.
3. Loyal.
4. Stable but fragile.
5. I think she leads a simple and pleasant life but has complex inner emotions about self, society, spirituality, etc.
6. I wish I had more friends like her.
I was affected by all three photographs even though I made a conscious effort to mainly concentrate on the B&W "Pianist #2" image.
Bifurcator wrote:
My impressions of the impressions thread #52:
1. Very leading and controlled.
2. You wrote a short book of directions/rules/wishes and then the very first post ignored and broke them all.
My impressions of the person in the photograph "Pianist #2":
1. Intelligent.
2. Warm and fun.
3. Loyal.
4. Stable but fragile.
5. I think she leads a simple and pleasant life but has complex inner emotions about self, society, spirituality, etc.
6. I wish I had more friends like her.
I was affected by all three photographs even though I made a conscious effort to mainly concentrate on the B&W "Pianist #2" image.
Thanks for joining the conversation and for adding your Impressions too.
And...I was glad to see another participant from Japan. Domo arrigato.
You made a comment about the posting style (the introduction) too. I understand your POV. The lengthy introduction is something I feel is necessary here in this forum because so often new people drop by and have no clue how these Impressions discussions are different (by intent) from the typical C&C found on this forum. So...it contains the "backstory" on what an Impressions discussion is all about. As for the other content of the introduction? Some of it is added to help others understand the techniques and tools used for this creation of this image. Some is sharing the photographer's intent, goals, challenges, and experiences. Some is added to "keep the discussion on course" (as some participants in the past got far off topic and became hostile). That is why it may appear "leading" to some and "wordy" to others. OK. I understand and agree. But...it is "wordy" and "leading" with a purpose to start and maintain a different (and I think valuable and fun) type of discussion of an image. Something that is not so common on this forum.
Thanks for adding your own impressions on image #2. I will share them with the pianist.
You are welcome to participate in any other Impressions discussions too. In the future, you will know why the intro is so long and can skip it if you want. Just try to keep the participation on impressions. That keeps the flow going and keeps it fun for all participants.
I've looked at both pianist portraits and in both i find that she is Calm, confident and beautiful. In the crescendo image, her subtle smile looks like she knows that she is impressing the listener by her music.
Kurt Paris wrote:
I've looked at both pianist portraits and in both i find that she is Calm, confident and beautiful. In the crescendo image, her subtle smile looks like she knows that she is impressing the listener by her music.
Kurt
Malta
Greetings Kurt,
Thanks for joining the discussion and adding your impression.
The lighting is very beautiful and luminous, with a Cecil Beaton quality to it. She looks very peaceful and serene here, happy to be behind the piano maybe?
ngm2000 wrote:
The lighting is very beautiful and luminous, with a Cecil Beaton quality to it. She looks very peaceful and serene here, happy to be behind the piano maybe?
Nicola
Manchester
England
Hi Nicola,
Thanks for adding your impression to the mix here.
But...it is "wordy" and "leading" with a purpose to start and maintain a different (and I think valuable and fun) type of discussion of an image. Something that is not so common on this forum.