Market Town : Julie

[jimmyosram]

Well I certainly didn't mean to offend, but I didn't like the subject matter or the photographic depiction of that subject. My "I don't know what to think" comment did need explanation, and for that I am sorry. Don't however jump to the conclusion that my comment was aimed at the lady in the photo, it wasn't. I looked at the shots for a few minutes and couldn't find anything positive to say. perhaps I should have not commented.

I will take time to look at your other shots and will be happy to give my very layman opinions on them.

[J A Mortram]

Perhaps not indeed. Conclusions are easy to jump to when faced with such vagueness and I mean no offence saying that. If you'd said something of the exposure, composition, lighting etc I'd have been left in a much better position to access some idea of why you were left not knowing what to think.

I'm sure had the tables been turned and you were faced with two non specific seemingly reactionary comments to what were quite sensitive portraits that you'd invested time and effort in making your reaction just might have been similar to mine.

If you do go look at the other work I've been making, thank you and I hope you find something you like more that these posted here.

[J A Mortram]

PS Had you just said you did not like the shots due to bad composition etc I'd have been cool with that

[OldBoy]

Interesting reactions to both shots. I'm not sure I like either composition but then again, perhaps the second reflects how she feels isolated from others, if so then it does the job. I like the fact your picture people how thay are and not 'soft focus'. Keep up the good work.

[J A Mortram]

Thanks. Yes, the second is intended to reflect exactly that. 'People how they are' is exactly the sole aim of my photographs. Cheers.

[DigiDiva]

Im beginning to understand you, and I like your ideas.

[J A Mortram]

Thanks you for having the patience!... it's appreciated

An example of the type of work I really admire :

http://www.eugenerichards.com

[MattUK]

Hi James,

I like your previous photography, but I'm struggling with these shots. Julie is an evocative subject, but I don't really get what you're trying to say with these images.

The first shot gives me a hint, and since your explanation about her relationship with her birds I understand it a little better. but it required you to say that before I understood it. Perhaps if the shot was of her interacting with her bird or even looking at it, it might have conveyed that without needing to be described?

As for the second shot, I struggle with this one the most. Perhaps it's because she looks so uncomfortable in her own environment?

I hope my thoughts are taken well, as I find you one of the more interesting photographers on here

[Cathus]

I don't really like the processing, the contrast is too stark, there is no detail in the clothing, the second one looks like a black silhouette which doesn't fit with the detail available in the rest of the shot and the carpet morphs into the underside of the couch and bottom of the cabinet.

There is a very bright reflection in the cabinet which is distracting as are the very bottom of the lampshade top right and the two items sticking into the shot on the right, they lead my eye out of the shot and away from the subject.

The first shot appears to be a portrait shot rather than showing someone in their environment as she is clearly posing for you to take the shot. As such I wonder why you shot it from a low angle which doesn't put her chin in a very flattering position.

[J A Mortram]

Firstly, thanks for the critique, much appreciated.

Maybe a brief explanation of conditions might hand you some perspective for your observations and this is merely an explanation, not an excuse.

I was shooting in very cramped conditions for the portrait of Julie with her birds, a box room and only a chair to sit on in very low light, to compensate for this I was using a hand held flash with a D200, and the flash was not compatible with the camera, no iTTL so I was shooting somewhat blind, having to guess the exposure, flash speed and shutter speed all at once. (For example, the light area in the shot you refer to Cathus is bounced flash from the adjacent wall, bounced to soften the flash upon subject.)

Shooting in low light with a D200 is nigh impossible (Very poor ISO, very poor sensor, very poor tonal control and capture), coupled with a very slow f3.5 lens makes for a hard time every shoot I have, as I seem addicted to shooting within those conditions!... but it's always a chance to solve problems and not just switch the camera onto the idiot button and have it do it for me, which it seldom can while shooting in such tricky situations.

One thing I never do is attempt to flatter (Nor the alternative) during shoots, nor do I ever pose shots, compose yes but never pose, pauses in conversation become an opportunity, such as the portrait of Julie with her bird, I liked and waited for the look of defiance and also the shapes within the composition, also waiting for the bird to be in profile was a challenge, as was getting the white of the feathers exposed and not blown out. Shooting with a D200 in any ISO over 200 is almost impossible, it handles dark/light very poorly indeed.

Also, I'm using a really poor monitor, terrible backlight issues, just a fact, which in no way aids in working on images, however I would say as I've just had an exhibition none of the shots printed seemed to have suffered, in fact the range of tonality seemed spot on to me, it's why (usually) I spend a lot of time shooting ambient light and spot metering everything to ensure this. Lights a real passion of mine. A flash with iTTL compatibility is for sure a must as shooting without that is a real headache!. This shoot was very fast, maybe 15 mins and only our second together and were both looking forwards to more.

Do bear in mind, as with all my shoots the shots you see are part of a series and part of a much larger body of work, though for me, they work as stand alone shots too, that they may not for you is cool with me, if everyone agreed what a dull world it would be. I like my images to be divisive and in turn provocative and at the least to make people pause and think, I don't want to make chocolate box covers, I want to record live as I see it, just a lens and the truth is all I am for. Narrative is an intention of mine but never manufactured, I often record interviews and there are a hell of a lot more shots than I have time to post her to fully place these 2 images in context with the whole story, in time that will happen and be on my new website, when I can fund it!

One thing I am happy about is Julie loves the shots, loves our time shooting and were I to need any ones validation, hers or any subjects would be the sole one I'd seek.

Lastly, thanks for the comments