self portrait - Bob Michaels
recent assignment for photo class
Camera: | Contax G2 |
Lens: | Carl Zeiss Biogon 28mm f/2.8 |
Film: | xp2 |
Exposure: | 1/60 f4 |
Flash: | |
Support: | |
Filter: | |
Adjustment: | two images combined in photoshop |
Posted: | 10-Dec-2002 |
Rating: 8.44 (9 ratings)
Comments
-
Well, I'm not quite sure what to make of this. Clearly, conceptual shots such as this can take the viewer in any of a number of possible directions. I'd say this was a very ambitious direction of pursuit for a photo class. It does remind me somewhat of the work of Duane Michels. If you're not familiar with his work, you might enjoy a look at the following: http://www.photoinsider.com/pages/michals/michals.html
Bruce McKinney 10-Dec-2002 at 19:50Naked Spirit
Bob,I think your "spirit" on the left of your pic.should be unclothed as well,as it can float lighter?Anyway,good thinking picture.
Charlie Chua 10-Dec-2002 at 21:58Bob
I just looked over all your pictures on the site. I think that the best shots, in general, are those, that not only records, but include a comment on the documented itself, thus being able to lift the ordinary into the extraordinary. I find, that you have a good eye for that kind of photography. This one is, imo, utterly absurd, and I keep wondering, why I find the strongest elements in this combined shot, the pictures on the wall. Particularly the young girl at the rear of the picture, and the painted lady. They are the real spectators here. Not us. Well done, I would say :-).
Knut Skjærven 11-Dec-2002 at 03:28Duane Michals
is one of my favorite photographers.
Bob Michaels 11-Dec-2002 at 03:32-
I don't know why, but the image reminds me of William Eggleston's work (of which most is in color, I know), from the 1960s and 70s. Anyway, I like it. Perhaps it would benefit from more contrast, which could easily be done in PS - preferably by curves adjustment.
Wilfred van der Vegte 12-Dec-2002 at 06:50thanks for the comments
even better when they are positive. I'm honored with someone even mentions my work and that of Duane Michals & William Eggleston in the same paragraph. Wilfred, I went back and looked at more of Eggleston's work. Your comment is interesting. I'm still very new at this and never tried using curves, but played with them a bit with this image based on Wilfred's comment. I've got a lot to learn. This image was the first time I ever used layers.
Bob Michaels 12-Dec-2002 at 18:03Curves for contrast
Usually, to improve contrast, a slightly S-shaped curve works well, making the transition steeper in the middle of the curve (thus, more contrast) and less steep at the beginning and the end.
I think the resemblance I found with Eggleston's work is based on a portrait I remember of a man sitting on the side of a hotel bed - I always think of it as a self portrait, too, but I'm not completely sure. Somehow there's something in the atmosphere of this Eggleston image that I'm sensing here as well.
Far Out!
Bob, I have just seen this image for the first time and it's technically and artistically enlightening. Top technique and super imagination-What else could one want? Helmut Newton meets Photoshop.
Don 16-Jun-2003 at 17:20Very classy
Reminds me of some Duane Michaels stuff I sow a lond time ago. Very difficult to pull off. I like the contrat...naked live person...ghost with clothes...very odd. I like it.
Klamcake 22-Jun-2003 at 15:55I think everyone on the posts has said it all. A great shot....however strange and evoking emotions in the viewer.
Howard Tyree 08-Mar-2004 at 14:29