Jazz Vocalist Eleonor England - Nikhil Sarma






Camera:   Contax G2
Lens:   Carl Zeiss Planar 45mm f/2
Film:   Delta 3200
Exposure:   f/2
Flash:  
Support:  
Filter:   None
Adjustment:   Minor levels/curves adjustments in Photoshop CS2
Posted:   07-Nov-2007

Rating: 8.22 (9 ratings)

Comments

Excellent,

You have used this high speed film very effectively. Pleasingly grainy and also sharp. Well done. I wouldn't begin to know how to meter for a shot like this, Linc

Linc     08-Nov-2007 at 11:37

Very beautiful lady

Love the atmosphere that you have managed to capture. The lights and her expression really make the photograph for me. Good work.

Roger Wilcox     08-Nov-2007 at 15:35

Thank you, Linc and Roger!

Yes, she is indeed very beautiful and her concerts are a pleasure to attend. A very delicate and beautiful voice, full of nuance. I love Delta 3200. It has served me well at the few concerts that I have photographed so far. I love the grit and the emotion that the film conveys and it is a perfect companion for nocturnal photography. And Linc, yes you would know how to meter for such a scene... just compose with your G2 and let the camera's meter do the hard work! :) It's really amazing how flare-resistant the G lenses are! There was significant flare in the viewfinder (not overwhelming, but certainly apparent) when I composed the shot but I was confident that there would be none of that in the exposure itself. Remarkable! Nikhil

Nikhil Sarma     08-Nov-2007 at 23:14

Excellent capture of expression

I can *almost* hear the music and am in great anticipation of her voice. (I Googled her and she has a very enchanting style.) Only minor critiques - I an nitpicking here - 1) the highlights on her arms are a little too bright; 2) you could perhaps clone out the white area behind her. Apart from that, this is an emotional capture and you were brave in your framing.

Jarett Baker     09-Nov-2007 at 14:12

Jarett,

I can't say that I agree with you on the 'nit'. Since the 3200 film speed has more texture it gives the impression that the highlights are not 'blown out'- you can still see texture in the arms. As far as the lights in the background go- I think that is an aestetic choice. To me, it seems logical to see them and reinforces the environment. Diff' strokes , as they say. I know I want to get some 3200 film for this type of capture- although it has been a while since I have been to this type of concert I can see it is very effective. Linc

Linc     09-Nov-2007 at 22:05

Thank you!

Jarrett, thanks for your comments. I was wondering about the highlights on her right arm but apart from the lights that are visible in this frame, there were two other lights to the right of the stage (the left of the photograph as we view it) and I guess that it was these lights that caused the brighter regions on her right arm and left palm. I think that the white that you see immediately behind her is the shirt of the bassist. I agree with Linc that the stage lights add a sense of atmosphere and presence to the image and I would like to keep them. Linc, thank you too for writing. I like the term you used - "reinforces the environment". One of the pleasures of sharing photographs and comments in groups such as these, in my opinion, is that one is exposed to the numerous ways in which people analyze these creations and then articulate their thoughts. I am looking forward to your work with Delta 3200! Nikhil

Nikhil Sarma     10-Nov-2007 at 00:41

brilliantly taken photograph! I love the grain and the grit, so sharp yet so stylised! Ive never used such a fast film before and it's tempting. I develop my BW in Ilfotec DDX which is geared towards 'Delta' films, so I'll give it a go. But to capture such a pose and with such clarity at a concert in these conditions is simply splendid! I used a DSLR at a concert once, results which you can see here; http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1271/1208566930_d3d0d1f644_o.jpg And I spot metered for the highlights. Did you try any manual metering?

Ibbi     10-Nov-2007 at 12:01

Hey Ibraar,

Thanks for your kind words. Drummers present interesting possibilities to a photographer. Directional light is especially pleasing in such photographs and I like your shot (I am curious though about the seemingly random pattern between the drummer's forehead and the left tom!) I haven't manually metered any photographs that I've made with the G2 in complex light conditions. I don't own a spotmeter (it is on my list of equipment to invest in) and the G2's meter has not let me down so far. I do often manually set the exposure parameters when I use my DSLR since that format allows me the luxury of correcting less-than-optimal exposure either immediately or later in the RAW converter. Here's a link to three 'galleries' of photographs that I have shot in moderate to severe low-light conditions at concerts: http://photography.nikhilsarma.com/f146724368 I really like the grit and the atmosphere that the grain provides and I routinely bump up my DSLR ISO setting to 1600 or 3200 to try and recreate the feel of film. Of course, those attempts are still inadequate... there is nothing quite like shooting on Delta 3200 :) You should shoot a few rolls and share the results... I am looking forward to them! Nikhil

Nikhil Sarma     10-Nov-2007 at 12:59