Sunday, September 30, 2007
Self Portrait
Yours truely, and yes I am not in as sharp focus as the background, which was done intentionally;- ) A recent request from a photo magazine (Photo Techniques, a US magazine) for an image of me, which I am sure that they will crop!
Permalink / posted by and copyright of Doug Stockdale : 7:56 PM
Comments:
Would you mind elaborate on why you intentionally put the background in focus and not the main subject?
I like the pose, the straight, almost passport-photo like attitude.
If they do crop it it'll be interesting to see how they do it. You haven't left many options with those lines leaving the side of you head. They make perfect sense in the full photo, but...
Well - there could be two reasons for the focus priority: first is that the magazine is more interested in the print on the wall (and would crop heavily to the left) and, second, that like a Hollywood actress you wish to keep yourself in soft focus!
Anyway, thanks for putting this up.
I think that John has found me out, as I wanted my feature to be softer. Conversery, I think that if you really do want to know me, then it is very important to see and understand the background print, a graphic symbol for a creative and artistic person. As you might tell, I am not big on taking portraits or being in one, but I have spent some time trying to understand what it means to create an insightful portrait, to go beyond the surface;- )
Pleased to "meet" you, Doug. Your straightforward, direct gaze at the viewer makes it feel very personal and immediate.
Focusing on the photo in the background seems to have served a couple of purposes! It definitely connects you to your work.
The thought had occurred to me that the sharp background added to its importance, but I wonder if the subtlety of that will be obvious to all viewers. At first look I didn't twig that the image on the wall was yours.
I wonder what you'd say about my self-portraits!!!
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No subtlety there.
Rex, do you really wear those orange glasses?
Doug, I understand the intent, but I'm not sure it works. The focus shift does not bother me nearly as much as the clutter - the bowl, the pictures of the grandkids(?), the vertical line of the corner molding, the reflection on the glass. My eye doesn't know where to go, and I'm afraid it doesn't ever settle on the print.
Possibly with your learned audience the subtlety of your OoF will be observed, understood and even cause a wry smile, however it is neither one thing nor t'other for me.
I more in the rex school of self portraits so thumbs up for the 'normalcy' of your contribution. I'm with Matt though on some of my deeper thoughts of the shot. I'd like to see much more of the photographs in the background, a little less of the empitness middle/top left and the subject a little more to the left to balance this all out.
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I like the pose, the straight, almost passport-photo like attitude.
Anyway, thanks for putting this up.
Focusing on the photo in the background seems to have served a couple of purposes! It definitely connects you to your work.
I wonder what you'd say about my self-portraits!!!
One
Two
Three
No subtlety there.
Doug, I understand the intent, but I'm not sure it works. The focus shift does not bother me nearly as much as the clutter - the bowl, the pictures of the grandkids(?), the vertical line of the corner molding, the reflection on the glass. My eye doesn't know where to go, and I'm afraid it doesn't ever settle on the print.