Mary's Photoblog
The Guitar Man.
Posted by MaryB (Staffordshire, United Kingdom) on 21 April 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
I thought I would get some practice in taking a few portraits. I like this but there are a few things i'm not happy with, I don't think I'll point them out but I'm sure some of you will know what they are :)
Thanks to my wonderful hubby Ian, for posing for me and for taking me to places that are not accesable by public transport to take photographs :)
After everyone went to bed here last night I sat at the computer to answer and comment on my blog and others, I was overwhelmed by the comments on my last post and the series as a whole, needless to say I didn't have the time to do both, so I tried to get to as many blogs as I could. Sorry if I didn't get to yours but thank you each and everyone :)
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Any tips or constructive criticism are welcome :)
I really appreciate all your comments, thank you so much. I'm only sorry I've not got time to respond. I do read all the comments and will try to answer any questions you have
Dimitrios from ATHENS, Greece
the shot shows sensitivity and has class, the atmosphere reminds a bit of the 60´s, you are a romantic photographer and this shows here.
21 Apr 2008 6:10am
Alun Lambert from Cheshire, United Kingdom
Thats a great portrait it could be bob dylan, my eye keep going to his hand and you can almost hear him strum, well done
21 Apr 2008 8:07am
Illuci from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands
:) Making good pictures can be a burden :)! This picture cheers one up, singing the song of Spring! I like the way the guitar is "jumping out of the picture", without depreciating the guitar player himself, and the Spring connection is raised by the background flowers, in combination with the coat (too cold for a T-shirt).
21 Apr 2008 8:45am
Ina from Krugersdorp, South Africa
Nothing wrong with this portrait! Excellent work
21 Apr 2008 9:45am
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Totally agree with Ina, nothing wrong with this portrait, it's fantastic, and not just 'cause hubby is gorgeous ;)
21 Apr 2008 10:34am
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
Super shot, perfect framing, great details!! And a very nice guitar :-)
21 Apr 2008 11:47am
Tracey from White Hall, United States
Great portrait! I like the position of his hands and the concentration on his face. The guitar makes a wonderful diagonal across the frame.
21 Apr 2008 12:05pm
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
I have no problem with this portrait; it's good. No, it's very good.
21 Apr 2008 12:11pm
Kris from Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
Nice,
Portraits are proving to be a inherent weakness for me (confidence i suppose), Seeing shots as good and obviously personal such as this are incredibly inspirational.
21 Apr 2008 12:57pm
Man With 101 Names from Hamburg, United States
B&W shots are always my favorite , well captured Mary B :o)
21 Apr 2008 2:32pm
e. from New York, NY, United States
Beautiful! This is such an incredible portrait.
21 Apr 2008 3:19pm
Observing from Chester, United Kingdom
It's a brilliant portrait Mary, and great monochrome tones, one last thing...... well done !
21 Apr 2008 3:32pm
Michael from Wuppertal, Germany
A great bw portrait, Mary! You captured the mood.
21 Apr 2008 4:04pm
Melissa W. from Warsaw, Indiana, United States
Mary, this is a great portrait. Love the focus and detail of the guitar. Wonderfully framed...great dof.
The b+w really makes it feel timeless. Can't find anything bad about it. It really is wonderful. :)
21 Apr 2008 6:03pm
danthro from Suburbia, United States
excellent portrait. like the black and white, and composition/framing, and the detail. and i think also how it sort of gives you a feel for how the person moves and is, without him actually moving.
21 Apr 2008 7:03pm
Earnest from Oklahoma, United States
Looks very good to me... I'm certainly no critic...
21 Apr 2008 7:40pm
Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa
Great shot, the bw adds a powerful quality to this shot.
21 Apr 2008 8:04pm
standley from brou-sur-chantereine, France
Wonderful portrait of your hubby. I can't see anything wrong here Mary. Well done!
21 Apr 2008 8:15pm
ManuelaR from Hainburg, Germany
As far as I am concerned, no need for much practising.... this is perfect, you caught the guitar man's soul!
21 Apr 2008 8:19pm
Ron from Saint Louis, United States
I think you've captured a moment that speaks volumes ... love the B&W ... love the soft DOF but I think the background may be a bit distracting for my tastes!
21 Apr 2008 9:02pm
Mandy Provan from Johannesburg, South Africa
Gorgeous Mary - I agree with all the other comments above...you've got it down pat. This is Excellent!! You certainly have the eye for great pictures no matter the subject! Love the black and white
21 Apr 2008 9:15pm
Stefan from Nassau, United States
very nice I love the texture on the guitar, very well captured!!!!
21 Apr 2008 9:22pm
DaveB from Exeter, United Kingdom
Excellent B&W shot, well done Mary. Check out http://www.chromasia.com/galleries/ for some great portrait shots, especially of Dave Nightingales kids!
21 Apr 2008 9:43pm
Gary from Cochise County, United States
Mary, I think this is a wonderful portrait. I tried but could not find anything that I would change. Really.
21 Apr 2008 10:04pm
bronzebilly u.k. from Barry,Vale of Glamorgan, United Kingdom
Hey MarB..you'll have to point out any imperfections you think you can see in this portrait,as you can see from the comments made,everybody agrees that this is a superb study,pal.....oh,I do also..
BillyB...
b.t.w. glad to see he's still got the hair going on,
http://through-a-lens.aminus3.com/image/2008-02-14.html
BillyB...
22 Apr 2008 12:01am
akarui from Kagoshima, Japan
This a very good outside portrait Mary. The light is good, it seems to be an overcastday as the shadows are soft. The pose of the man playing guitar is good. About the suggestions (I can be wrong): I like the white flowers in the background but the branches growing from his head or shoulders is not so good. If the man was not against the trunk but a few meters before you could have that part blurred (you could try a Gaussian blur). Post processing in BW is a very good option. You seems to concentrate on the hands and the guitar, then the flowers in the background. If it was my picture I would lighten a bit the face to pop up more and darken a bit the flowers. I hope that this helps. I love your portrait and I might do some portrait training too :)
22 Apr 2008 12:47am
@akarui: Thank you akarui, I agree with you about the branches coming out from his head and side, they are what I dislike the most about this shot. When I uploaded the pics, I was annoyed with myself when I saw the couple of shot's by the tree, it's usually one of the first things I check for before shooting ( that there is nothing growing from the person, that shouldn't be)
Thank you also for the suggestions, I will try them.
Jen from Alpharetta, United States
I like it very much...the sense of music coming from his hands and the guiter...wonderful!!!!
22 Apr 2008 12:51am
amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada
I think it's tremendous!! But having read akarui's comment... yep, I can agree with a bit of it; mostly the dof aspect of having the tree blurred a bit in the background. However, it is an outstanding image with that excellent b/w conversion which is what I think really makes this image (and that gorgeous husband of yours... meeoowww!)
22 Apr 2008 1:04am
@amy: I agree with you and akarui totally Amy, It bugged me from the minute I uploaded it, with the suggestion to blur the branches (Oh! why I never thought to do that is beyond me lol ), I think I can salvage a few more shot's taken by the tree :)
Ian was really flattered by your comment, he went off to work with a spring in his step lol and has offered to be my model again this weekend, bless him :D
Stunner from Kingston, Jamaica
Wonderful portrait and the B&W was a very good idea.
22 Apr 2008 4:52am
Eric Fry from Houston, TX, United States
The B&W treatment gives the wood of the guitar an even more vibrant quality.
25 Apr 2008 8:41pm
drphoto from Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
I like this! The depth of field is perfect and the light is good. portraits are definitely my weak spot but you have made it look easy =D)
Dan
5 May 2008 7:17pm
@drphoto: lol Dan :) I've checked out your model shots and they are fabulous, and your models are prettier than mine lol (hope my hubby doesn't read this!) my fave is the last one, I love it.
Cheers Dan, :)
MaryB
Nikon D40X
1/100 second
F/4.5
ISO 400
135 mm (35mm equiv.)