burlesque

Last week, my 'Windows' competition entry didn't do very well so I thought I would share a couple of others and invite C&C.
The images below involved standing the model in a Tudor window and shooting from outside. I used the 16-45 and a radio controlled flash 20 feet away pointing at another flash inside which was doing 90 percent of the work.
This is the entered image:


And the other two I considered:


.


I haven't bothered changing the profile to sRGB so if you use Internet Explorer they may look a little desaturated.
Oh yes, I couldn't communicate with anyone inside so had limited control over the flash exposure.
Think that's everything... fire away

Mr Munk,

I liked your entry. There were a lot of entries and some were excellent. Also pushed for time, a good effort. I like images with human interest mostly more interesting than those without.

Of the three I like 1 best. Because the window is so prominent the photo is about the relationship between the women, the window and the viewer. The viewer is outside the attractive women inside. The window bars a full view but the women is looking directly at the viewer. Only one of her eyes is completly visible. The window frame looks likes bars either to keep her in or the viewer out. It asks questions.

My criticism would be about the lighting. A bit too harsh but it does let you clearly see where the eye is looking. You need semaphore for 1/2 the power on the flash.

I'm not sure if I'm bothered about the vertical frame or not? More not than bothered.

The other 2 don't add anything for me.

Doug

Thanks Doug,
That's interesting, I started veering towards the third one...

I would like these much more, if she was not so aware of being photographed.
If she was not "acting".

But this is matter of taste.

"Darkmunk - Come Inside
An interesting parody of a demi-monde world: there are both ‘Come hither’ and ‘Danger!’ in that glance. Did you know the lady? Was it posed or spur of the moment? Well captured – must have been quite difficult to take. Certainly not a usual wedding photograph! Looks slightly like an oil painting rather than a photograph."

Not too bad a review, I thought

Would definitely do well when the burlesque competition comes around

I prefer No. 1 out of the three.

I like the third, may be because in that one the model is not just trying to express a feeling with her face but is far more physically involve and for me this works much better than a posed expression. Also because she is further from the window it is more of a whole when it comes to the lighting and you are not getting a feeling she is posing un-naturally close to the window.

But well done for your efforts and working out how to manage to get what you required, not easy ever to photograph through a window particularly if you are having to use lights.

Thanks Jackie

Hyram - sorry for the delay - been photographing ink drops for my daughter
The writeup was fine and I had no problem with your decision, but when you gave out 16 'prizes' and my efforts didn't get in, I had to decide what the problem was with the image. Had I grossly overestimated its appeal? chosen the wrong one? Upset you? I didn't know.

I think I like the third one for its overall appeal and the first for all sorts of reasons, but particularly the untold narrative and grittyness. But it's all in the eye of the beholder.

Personally I don't think this will ever work due to the glass in the window interacting with the external lighting. If you light the exterior then the glass will reflect to some extent even if you clean it very well. Also the stonework will be lit and then I'm left wondering why the exterior shows daylight and the interior doesn't.

The leadwork of the window doesn't help as it frames parts of the model such as the lips and I don't find this a flattering effect. the only one that doesn't seem to suffer too much from dissection is the last one which will then force a tall and narrow frame on you which will not be flattering to the model.

It's possibly a nice idea but I fear doomed to too many compromises in quality and composition to ever work as well as you would want it to.

Then again I'm probably wrong and of course no offence meant!

Mike

I'm afraid I dont like them very much at all; I find the poses awkward and contrived especially that cliched hand/chin thing in the second one.

I think the interior flash is way too bright and might have been better warmed up with some half CTO giving the effect of candle light perhaps. I also think if you excluded the leaded window and, instead, used it to cast a shadow of itself you would really have someting pretty good.

Agree with Mike that the light is not helpful in the first two but adds to the image in the third, the light on the glass gives a sort of milky mist effect that for me gives atmosphere helped by the pose. The first two do not work for me and do not tell a story the third does and I enjoy looking at it. Think in this case the glass has to be dirty because it has to be visibly there and without the leading it would not work for me at all.

Must say my comments are not technical but an expression of my reaction to your work and the third shot stirs my imagination and for me that is what looking at others work is all about. Perfect execution it great but you also need imagination to create enough interest for the viewer to stop and look in the first place. Keep up the experimentation, it will work sometimes and then you produce a shot that everyone admires for it's skill and original thought.

Thanks folks, That's great, lots of good advice to go away with.
Thanks all.

I was asked to shoot 4 burlesque models and we did all the usual naughty but funny poses inside and had loads of fun, but I wanted to try this out too. Unfortunately, I was really pressed for time with wedding guests behind who might have been offended or felt upstaged, so I called time on it after about 15 shots.

hey ho

Parts of your life seem to be very entertaining

Mike

I've had worse weekends
I'm the one with no hair

It's a tough job but someone has to do it I guess ...

I love the doll-like quality in the third shot - would make a great poster!