Another assignment

terri · Apr 15, 2016

Off the top of my head, I can't recall what this photo assignment was called, but I think the main object was *opposites,* or extremes. (From a college photo class I took to get access to their darkroom while mine was still in boxes!)

This is one of the rare occasions I had to be my own model to get the point across. I usually avoid this at all costs. The first image is the "angelic" model, and the second is... less angelic.

The darkroom development played a part: for the soft image, I used the old *pantyhose stretched over the enlarger lens* trick for diffusion, and it's about a Grade 2. The other image, no diffusion, and at Grade 3, the increased contrast to make it grittier.

I had no makeup on for the first shot. For the second, I piled it on, smeared it, messed up the wet hair, and held a cigarette I had lit outside and extinguished. (I'm not a smoker, so I had to buy a pack of cigarettes for the shoot and had no idea they were so expensive.)

Anyway, the extra work for me made it fun. Comments welcome!

sleist · Apr 17, 2016

It would have been cool if the cigarette was lit in the second shot - veiling your face with smoke in a similar way to the fabric in the first shot.
Good stuff.

xenskhe · Apr 17, 2016

The 2nd picture I like very much, the contrast looks great to me. The softened effect in the first is a good technique, thanks for the tip!

Watchful · Apr 17, 2016

The second image wants badly to be Draganized.

JoeW · Apr 17, 2016

Thanks for sharing. I like the results--they're good.

Now...here's how you could have enhanced them...
1. Visually create more opposites. The first photo is light, not quite high-key. Make the second photo even darker, half of your face in shadow (and yes, the smoke is a good technique). Or one with a narrow DoF and one with a wider DoF. What you did was shoot opposites of YOU (good/angelic Terri, evil/mean Terri). Think of how to make visual opposites too.

2. Express emotions or feelings so that both photos so more contrast. In the first you smile more and hold a stuffed animal. In the second you look grim and you stick the cigarette in to the stuffed animal.

mmaria · Apr 18, 2016

I'm just glad to "meet" you

terri · Apr 18, 2016

sleist said:
It would have been cool if the cigarette was lit in the second shot - veiling your face with smoke in a similar way to the fabric in the first shot.
Good stuff.

You know, I actually considered that very idea. But, ended up deciding to be more directly in-your-face with that one.

Thank you!

xenskhe said:
The 2nd picture I like very much, the contrast looks great to me. The softened effect in the first is a good technique, thanks for the tip!

You are very welcome, though it's a very well-known darkroom trick for quick & dirty diffusion. But thanks!

Watchful said:
The second image wants badly to be Draganized.

I had to go look that up. :lol:

And I saw another thread where you have been experimenting with this technique, so I can appreciate where you're coming from. I think it stands well enough as it was developed in the darkroom, and tend to avoid photoshopping any of my work - but thank you for the comment!

JoeW said:
Thanks for sharing. I like the results--they're good.

Now...here's how you could have enhanced them...
1. Visually create more opposites. The first photo is light, not quite high-key. Make the second photo even darker, half of your face in shadow (and yes, the smoke is a good technique). Or one with a narrow DoF and one with a wider DoF. What you did was shoot opposites of YOU (good/angelic Terri, evil/mean Terri). Think of how to make visual opposites too.

2. Express emotions or feelings so that both photos so more contrast. In the first you smile more and hold a stuffed animal. In the second you look grim and you stick the cigarette in to the stuffed animal.

Great suggestions, Joe. Although I don't know about sticking a stuffed animal with a cigarette, but appreciate the added drama it would give.

I stuck with very minimal props, and just thought the veil was suggestive of timidity (to hide behind) and innocence (like a bridal veil), and the cigarette combined with the makeup and higher contrast grade, was sufficiently coarse. But clearly the concept could have been expanded on in a number of ways. Having assignments makes you get creative in ways you wouldn't normally consider, and having time pressure was a bit of a drag. But thanks so much for sharing those ideas. :icon_thumbsup: