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

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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 19:50

Naked 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 21:58

Bob

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 03:28

Duane Michals

is one of my favorite photographers.

Bob Michaels     11-Dec-2002 at 03:32

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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 06:50

thanks 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 18:03

Curves 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.

Wilfred van der Vegte     14-Dec-2002 at 11:02

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 17:20

Very 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 15:55

I 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