Environmental & Standard Portrait

Lilly, i'm sorry but I seriously question you on this.

This crop is a total ruination of the image I feel. This crop is not leavin' much of a character study.

I suppose I could have gone in much closer, but then it wouldn't have said much about the guys environment.

Thanks for your input and comments, appreciate it.

Regards, Paul.

When I first looked at this image on page 1, I agreed with Lilly and thought it could use a bit of a crop. Now seeing the crop I agree with Paul. Lilly, I am not knocking you in any way of course

The eyes are perfect and Paul, I know I have said this about your images before but I will say it again, those eyes can tell a story. I feel dragged in and want to know more.

I really admire your photographs and would give anything to come and see your exhibition.

Keep up the good work mate!

Paul

Thanks Paul.

Paul, have you checked out my blog in regard to these homeless images of mine?
Here it is: http://paulyrichard.wordpress.com/

It is updated regularly. Every image has an insight into some these guys, I try to get as much info from them as possible without annoyin' 'em too much about they're history.

[quote:3496ace15f="paulyrichard"]Lilly, i'm sorry but I seriously question you on this.

This crop is a total ruination of the image I feel. This crop is not leavin' much of a character study.

Hi Paul,Great shot but,without your commentary/explanation of this young mans situation,it could be a picture of any young mans forlorn expression.His surroundings/background tell us nothing pictorally.And on the last point i agree with Lilly,and i personally would crop even more than she does,the eyes tell the story here,nothing else.Tony.

An unsolicited example.

I'm sorry Tony, it does nothin' for me. It goes against what I am tryin' to do in my photography, as well.

This is not documentary at all. No disrespect.

I appreciate your view of course.

Regards, Paul.

It's quite interesting, though, how the image changes when you take it out of the context.
Still a good portrait but I have to agree with Paul that it is the much stronger picture without that crop...

Prieni

Tony, personally speaking, your crop does nothing for Paul's portrait. You have taken out the surroundings and the guys clothing, to me that looks like a studio portrait and totally defeats the object.
Although in Paul's original shot you can't make out where the guy is, you can see that he isn't in a controlled environment like a studio...I hope that makes sense.

The sepia effect does not look right, it makes the guy look older.

These are my views though and others may disagree


Paul

Pauly... I got a canon ae1 with 50mm1.8 I might donate to that kid.....
3 conditions.....
1) somebody's gotta get him some film..
2) somebody's gotta teach him to use it.
3) somebody's gotta help him set up an online account to sell his photos, to sell his work if he is interested.

Don, that would be a fantastic thing to do.
But I don't think it would be appreciated in the way you'd like it to be.
It would jus' get sold on for cash, bearin' in mind the needs that these people have.

Don, you should donate it to a charity organisation in your country, one that hosts workshops for the homeless. I think this'd be a good idea too.

interesting sidenote:
link

Excellent to see this, thanks Don.

To me the cropped images do draw your attention into the eyes more but I think the orignal puts the picture in the context that Paul was trying to portray.

Jason

I think it's well framed and a powerful portrait. I'm trying to decide if I'd think 'homeless' without the context of the first picture. I'm maybe thinking widening the field of view to set more context might have portrayed 'homeless' better but really I'm being slightly churlish as I think it's very good (my acid test is would I have liked to have taken that picture and the answer is yes).

Jason, Dogpaws - thanks for lookin' and comentin'.