Does This portrait Work

Lukep · Dec 28, 2011

Posted this in the wrong forum earlier? I like it as a photo but am unsure as whether this unusual portrait works.

KmH · Dec 28, 2011

That's not a portrait, it's known as a candid.

The white balance is off quite a bit which is why his skin has such a strong orangeish cast. The camera being set to sunlight for the white balance, even though the light source is actually tungsten/incansdescent, gives the orangeish cast to a photo.

kundalini · Dec 28, 2011

Please refrain from double posting. :er:

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/general-gallery/267450-unsure-about-unusual-portrait.html

LuckySe7en · Dec 28, 2011

I don't like it very much. The background is really distracting. It doesn't work as a portrait thats for sure.

c.cloudwalker · Dec 28, 2011

KmH said:
That's not a portrait, it's known as a candid.

:thumbdown: Based on what assumption? I can tell a few stories about this person based on the photo. They may all be wrong but I still can and that is enough, to me, to qualify it as a portrait.

The white balance is off quite a bit which is why his skin has such a strong orangeish cast. The camera being set to sunlight for the white balance, even though the light source is actually tungsten/incansdescent, gives the orangeish cast to a photo.

I agree with this but only so far as I don't know a darn thing about the shooter. For all we know, whether we like it or not, it was off on purpose...

DiskoJoe · Dec 28, 2011

this portrait does not work but that guy sure does look like he does. makes me tired just looking at him.

thierry · Dec 28, 2011

kundalini · Dec 28, 2011

This shot....... no. But the guy is definitely worth working with. There is plenty of character in his face.

Lukep · Dec 28, 2011

Hi FOlks.

Thanks for the thoughts on this. The character is my dad and yes he has quite a few stories to tell. He was mid story when this was taken. You are right about the white balance being off. he was meant to be off centre as the baackground the other ide of him was busier than what was in this.

unpopular · Dec 28, 2011

the character works, but the image doesn't. The wall isn't so much the problem for me, but the window is.

CarolinaChuck · Dec 29, 2011

New to this forum and photography, but moved to register and post because of your picture (my first post). I like your photo and here is why: it screams humanity.

I like the old glass in the old yellow window along with the worn red cupboard, and your fathers blue eyes-all prime colors. The wash out in the upper right on the cupboard and the blurred hand in the lower left both seem to pull me back into the dark shadows under your father’s eyes wearing a plain gray neutral colored T-shirt. To me it builds on the human nature of your subject; an imperfect man, taken by an imperfect picture in an imperfect room in an imperfect world.

The hot nature of the overall picture is cooled by three things: the yellow and red do not somehow blow off the picture past your subject; the shadows on your fathers face and color of his hair and 5 O’clock scruff; but the slight softness in his face and his expression seem to throw ice water on the picture as a whole again drawing you back into the subject..

I somehow find more to like about your picture than dislike; thanks for sharing.

CC

Bitter Jeweler · Dec 29, 2011

It's quirky and kinda odd (not your dad, but the colors, bold shapes, and how it's composed).

I really like this image. A lot!

If it were my image, I would perspective crop the wee bit of black window on the very edge (left), and the black line/seam of the cupboard door(right).

But, for a quick thought to take a shot, this is VERY INTERESTING! I love the bit of motion blur on his hand.