A Couple of Environmental Portraits.

[John 2]

Not had much opportunity to develop studio skills but I do occasionally like to photograph people in context. Two mono portraits. I have a feeling that I may have posted the train driver before but as a colour version (not sure?). I thought I might pursue some more mono next year and this one seemed a natural. Converted in CS6 with the gritty feel coming from Silver effects. Seemed appropriate.

The second shot is of a stall holder in the Seville general Market. He enthusiastically posed for me when I asked if he minded. Straight forward conversion in CS6

Comments very welcome as always.

1. Waiting for the Whistle


2. The Garlic Peeler.

[Shadowman]

Nice captures.

[Manfred M]

Two nice environmental portraits, John.

I like the grittiness of the first shot. Stark, contrasty and quite fitting for someone operating one of those steam driven beasts. You've left enough of the train in to identify the setting, without it detracting from the subject.

I also like the garlic peeler portrait, but wonder about the crop. I understand why you cropped where you did, but if it were my image, I probably would have taken some 15% - 20% off the top to make this more about the person than the environment he is working in.

[John 2]

...................I probably would have taken some 15% - 20% off the top to make this more about the person than the environment he is working in.

Can't disagree with you Manfred. My problem was slicing off the top of the basket handles but there is more than one way of skinning the proverbial cat. Also has the advantage of a bit of de cluttering.

[Manfred M]

Definitely an improvement and I'm not sure you even had to clone out the handle on the one basket. I didn't mind the look when I played around with your shot in Lightbox.

Regardless, I think the closer crop really strengthens this image.

[Shadowman]

Interesting alternatives to the re-edit, I think once you start removing items it becomes an obsession.

[thegman]

Nice shots John, like the re-work of #2.

[John 2]

Thanks Manfred, John and Gerry for the continued comments.

Regardless, I think the closer crop really strengthens this image.

Manfred I agree.

John, your right. To be used with discretion and care.

[bnnrcn]

Hi John, I like both images very much, IMO they are not just portraits and the environments add to the both images. Re-edit of #2 looks excellent to me

[IzzieK]

I agree...I love the original image but the edit on the second looks stronger...

[DEAN01]

Both nicely done, John.

[Mike Buckley]

Terrific images, John!

Personally, I would have gone with the revised crop of the second photo but I wouldn't have eliminated the partial display of the basket handles. The first reason is that when making an environmental portrait, it's important to me to be realistic about the person's environment; perhaps that person has never sold a basket that doesn't have handles, possibly as an example because he was selling baskets that are stylistically and historically specific to his area. The second reason is that the basket handles look just fine with their tops not included in the image.

[John 2]

Thanks Binnur, Izzie Dean and Mike for the additional comments. Sorry about the delayed response. I seem to have contracted a seasonal bug which is proving difficult to shift.

Mike, in comparing the two, I wouldn't argue with you but had I posted the second version from the outset, would any one have been any the wiser. His baskets were merely display aids. Had they had some other significance (traditional or historical etc.), I would never have dreamt of altering them. That being the case, my reason for seeing the crop as a good call why I was happy to clone as I did was that de cluttered the image allowed more attention to be focussed on the subject.

[Mike Buckley]

Sorry that you've been under the weather, John. Hope you're getting back to full recovery soon!

my reason for seeing the crop as a good call why I was happy to clone as I did was that de cluttered the image allowed more attention to be focussed on the subject

Now that I have revisited the two versions with your thought in mind, I'm actually leaning to liking the first version better. That's because of the foreground that makes his little shop seem crowded; I also want the rest of the scene to be a bit cluttered.

Consider that one reason the viewer's eye is more focused on the man's face in the second version is because you have displayed his face at a larger size. It would be interesting to see the two versions displayed with his face at the same size.

[IzzieK]

Hope you get well soon...I am not one to get sick often and a couple of Advil or Aleve will make you feel better all day...and though boring, stay warm inside the house...

[Dave A]

That first image is stunning, well done.

Dave

[John 2]

Thanks Mike, Izzie and Dave for the continued comments. This bug is taking it's time but hopefully will depart prior to Christmas.

What surprises me Mike is that no one has mentioned the dark blob top left. I am fairly relaxed about most of the surrounding bits but that bothered me from the outset. Cropping reduced the impact of that for me. But there you go.