Environmental Portraits

[dperez]

Here is my most recent:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8268922118_9229eb0978_b.jpg
[View Large (http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8268922118_ee2639e2ea_o.jpg)]

It looks best viewed large.

Whittier, CA
Ebony RW810, 300mm f/5.6 Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-N, Arista .EDU Ultra 100 8x10
Processed in a unicolor drum, Kodak Tmax RS 1:9, Composite image assembled in CS3.
Made using bits from 3 negatives.

[mdm]

Is it possible for a portrait to be made from bits of 3 negatives. I suppose so, if a portrait can be painted or sculptured.

[Peter Lewin]

I like the image a lot, but like some of the recent threads in the "On Photography" forum, it raises a philosophical question: must Cartier Bresson's "decisive moment" be captured, or can it be constructed in Photoshop? In your image the "key" is the three children. Were they there, or are they added?

[stradibarrius]

I don't know the answer to the question but I like the shot. It captures a moment in real time.

[dperez]

Peter,

Thanks for your comment.

I made four exposures of this scene. I liked elements in three of the four negatives and thought it would be cool to put those elements together. Yes, the kids were there. All I did was mask the other elements into the picture. I didn't change where they appeared or anything like that. So, instead of being a single snapshot in time, it's essentially three moments in time.

The three negatives were aligned and then I masked in the girl on the mattress, and in the bottom right. I also included her brother, who appears on the mattress next to her and on the right side of the image. In reality, the boy was on the mattress on one negative and the girl was on it in another, and it just so happened that they would both be able to fit on it at the same time, when I masked them in. The one on the swing only appears once, he's another one of the brothers.

The funny part was I was talking to their father the whole time and at at one moment the girl did something really funny and I snapped the shutter immediately, but being that I was yapping with their father in between exposures I neglected to pull the dark slide, so that moment was lost.

The fact that it was masked in PS means nothing, it could have been done in the darkroom as well as I'm sure most of you are aware. I've never added something in a picture that wasn't from the scene (such as adding clouds that were from some other place, or people that were not at the location). I've just never thought about doing something like that and doubt that I could pull it off successfully despite my years of experience using PS.

-DP


I like the image a lot, but like some of the recent threads in the "On Photography" forum, it raises a philosophical question: must Cartier Bresson's "decisive moment" be captured, or can it be constructed in Photoshop? In your image the "key" is the three children. Were they there, or are they added?

[Peter Lewin]

DP - Thanks for the story! My mind boggles: three children (oops, just found a fourth half hidden behind the tree, center of photo), appearing six times, in an image which is a "decisive moment" in virtual time, an image I'm drawn back to again and again; there is a true story being told...

[dperez]

Thanks again Peter.

-Daniel


DP - Thanks for the story! My mind boggles: three children (oops, just found a fourth half hidden behind the tree, center of photo), appearing six times, in an image which is a "decisive moment" in virtual time, an image I'm drawn back to again and again; there is a true story being told...

[Vaughn]

A couple I have shown before...

My three boys.
8x10 negs
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

[dperez]

Vaughn,

I really admire these. The last one you posted recently, I think it was in the portrait thread, took me a while to find all of your sons. Great group portraits that I'm sure your sons will enjoy for many years to come.

-DP


A couple I have shown before...

My three boys.
8x10 negs
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

[Andrew]

in the original post, I absolutely love the ghosty figure swinging in the doorway...

[Vaughn]

Thanks DP -- your multiple images is something I have thought of doing with my boys -- have them stand in various places in the landscape (in front of areas with darker backgrounds. Fun! migth still do it one of these days. At almost 16 yrs old, the boys do not have the patience with their old man like they use to!

[dperez]

Ah, they'll come around... You just have to wait out some of those rebellious teen years. I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of them picks up an LF camera at some point. In any case those are really cool pictures, I'm a fan.

On another note I am really interested in learning more about the techniques that photographers like Jeff Liao, Andreas Gursky, and Scott McFarland employ. I don't want to copy their styles, but I would like to learn more about their techniques so that I can expand my toolbox so to speak. I have many ideas for some future work, but I'm not sure about the technical aspects. Maybe I should just try different things with a my 4x5 first until I get some answers. We'll see.

-DP


Thanks DP -- your multiple images is something I have thought of doing with my boys -- have them stand in various places in the landscape (in front of areas with darker backgrounds. Fun! migth still do it one of these days. At almost 16 yrs old, the boys do not have the patience with their old man like they use to!

[Vaughn]

Nothing better than spending time behind the ground glass!

[Scott Schroeder]

My son up on the cliff.

http://www.schroederworks.com/Wetplate/JamesFeb2011002.jpg

[Scott Schroeder]

Posted this one before but it's one of my favorite plates.
Wish I would have made some prints with it before I painted the back black.....

http://www.schroederworks.com/Wetplate/GirlsDay001.jpg

[dperez]

I can see why this would be one of your favorites. An excellent group portrait.

-Daniel


Posted this one before but it's one of my favorite plates.
Wish I would have made some prints with it before I painted the back black.....

[Scott Schroeder]

Thanks Daniel.
I'm not sure if this one works. I wanted a little detail in his face but collodion had other ideas.

http://schroederworks.com/Wetplate/JamesPeakingWindow001.jpg

[Mark Sawyer]

Wish I would have made some prints with it before I painted the back black.....


Couldn't you scrape off the paint with a razor blade, make prints, then paint it black again?

[Scott Schroeder]

Mark I could but I'm the type that once I've finished it I won't go back..... ;-)

[ImSoNegative]

A couple I have shown before...

My three boys.
8x10 negs
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.


I really like these, nice work!

[C. D. Keth]

This category needs more content! I met this guy at the park today. He and his friend were practicing "slacklining" which is like tightrope walking but with lighter equipment and less tension.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8296286536_4b0ae4941a_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79873735@N03/8296286536/)
Slackrope Walker (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79873735@N03/8296286536/) by CKeth (http://www.flickr.com/people/79873735@N03/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8296287426_54a3ba144d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79873735@N03/8296287426/)
Slackrope Walker 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79873735@N03/8296287426/) by CKeth (http://www.flickr.com/people/79873735@N03/), on Flickr

[ImSoNegative]

very cool

[Vaughn]

I really like these, nice work!

Thanks -- a couple more...

[C. D. Keth]

One more of the slackrope walker:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8299056422_17762014a3_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79873735@N03/8299056422/)
Slackrope Walker 3; 2012 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79873735@N03/8299056422/) by CKeth (http://www.flickr.com/people/79873735@N03/), on Flickr

[dperez]

That first one is really well done. Those people are nuts. I saw a guy doing that in Joshua Tree earlier this year. He was about 150 feet or so in the air, walking between two boulders.

-DP




This category needs more content! I met this guy at the park today. He and his friend were practicing "slacklining" which is like tightrope walking but with lighter equipment and less tension.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8296286536_4b0ae4941a_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79873735@N03/8296286536/)
Slackrope Walker (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79873735@N03/8296286536/) by CKeth (http://www.flickr.com/people/79873735@N03/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8296287426_54a3ba144d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79873735@N03/8296287426/)
Slackrope Walker 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79873735@N03/8296287426/) by CKeth (http://www.flickr.com/people/79873735@N03/), on Flickr

[dperez]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/9725745099_686da92a9f_b.jpg
[View Large (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/9725745099_bc1e619956_o.jpg)]

Randsburg Photo Studio, Randsburg, CA
Ebony RW810, 300mm f/5.6 Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-N, Arista .EDU Ultra 100 8x10, Processed in a unicolor drum, Pyrocat HD 1:1:100, Bronze toned in CS4.

I set up to photograph this building and I was about to go under the focusing cloth to check my composition when I noticed a man approaching from the town bar. He walked up to me and asked, "Do you have permission to photograph this building?" I pointed at the asphalt and replied, "I don't need permission to photograph this building, I'm not on private property, I'm on the edge of the road." The man shot back, "Well, do you have a permit to be on the road?"

I saw where the conversation was heading so I immediately offered my hand and we shook. I calmed him down and talked with him for a good fifteen minutes. He went on to tell me about himself; how he had been in many movies as an extra, and how he does odd jobs around town. I convinced him that my picture would be much more interesting with him in it, so he agreed to have his portrait made against the building. If we had stubbornly stuck to our guns, I might not have come away with any pictures from Randsburg that day.

-Daniel

[ghostcount]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/9725745099_686da92a9f_b.jpg
[View Large (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/9725745099_bc1e619956_o.jpg)]

Randsburg Photo Studio, Randsburg, CA
Ebony RW810, 300mm f/5.6 Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-N, Arista .EDU Ultra 100 8x10, Processed in a unicolor drum, Pyrocat HD 1:1:100, Bronze toned in CS4.

I set up to photograph this building and I was about to go under the focusing cloth to check my composition when I noticed a man approaching from the town bar. He walked up to me and asked, "Do you have permission to photograph this building?" I pointed at the asphalt and replied, "I dkon't need permission to photograph this building, I'm not on private property, I'm on the edge of the road." The man shot back, "Well, do you have a permit to be on the road?"

I saw where the conversation was heading so I immediately offered my hand and we shook. I calmed him down and talked with him for a good fifteen minutes. He went on to tell me about himself; how he had been in many movies as an extra, and how he does odd jobs around town. I convinced him that my picture would be much more interesting with him in it, so he agreed to have his portrait made against the building. If we had stubbornly stuck to our guns, I might not have come away with any pictures from Randsburg that day.

-Daniel

I recognize him!

He's the mayor.:p

[dperez]

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5507/9732369681_02aee850fc_b.jpg
[View Large (http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5507/9732369681_32e1ba4809_o.jpg)]

This is a closeup of the man that hassled me while I was preparing to photograph the Randsburg Photo Studio building (See above). He could hold a pose very well. As I took a meter reading near his face, he reminded me that he'd been photographed many times. "How would you like me to pose?" he asked. I said, "Just relax, and be yourself," and with that he gazed off into the distance and held his pose like a statue.

-DP

[ghostcount]

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5507/9732369681_02aee850fc_b.jpg
[View Large (http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5507/9732369681_32e1ba4809_o.jpg)]

This is a closeup of the man that hassled me while I was preparing to photograph the Randsburg Photo Studio building (See above). He could held a pose very well. As I took a meter reading near his face, he reminded me that he'd been photographed many times. "How would you like me to pose?" he asked. I said, "Just relax, and be yourself," and with that he gazed off into the distance and held his pose like a statue.

-DP

Man... I hope we get to see him at "Old West Days".

[AtlantaTerry]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mcf1ni7ukdrzlhe/a.%20Denis%20K.jpg

Once again I am having problems trying to get a photo posted here via link from Dropbox.

[Peter Mounier]

Terry
When I view the source code, I see that when you previously linked the photo in the Sept. Portraits thread the link was "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/40499026/a.%20Denis%20K.jpg"
If I put that within the img tags it will render your image.

But when I view the source code for the Environmental Portraits thread (above) it looks like this ...
"https://www.dropbox.com/s/mcf1ni7ukdrzlhe/a.%20Denis%20K.jpg"

The significant difference seemingly being "dropboxusercontent.com" which is in the first displayable link but is missing from the broken link. Apparently the method you used to copy the link worked the first time, but whatever you did the second time was in error. I wasn't able to duplicate your method for a similar result so I don't know what you did to produce the broken link in this thread.
When I select my image in the Public folder, then right click or control-click on the image and go > Dropbox > Copy Public Link, and paste that within the img tags it works. In any event, look for the phrase dropboxusercontent.com in the link and it should work.

[AtlantaTerry]

Peter, thank you for the help, again.

When I went to my Dropbox / Public folder I clicked on the photo of Denis.
The photo comes up with a black border. At the lower right there is an icon that says "Share a Link".
When I click on the icon a different page opens. This time with a white border around the photo. Then a dialog box opens that says "Share this image" and a button that says "Get link".
When I click on the button I am told that the link has been copied to my clipboard.
Then I come back here and paste whatever was in the clipboard to your dialog box "Insert Image / From URL" and untick the checkbox. When I click "OK" this website inserts the pair of IMG/IMG codes.

This is the URL that Dropbox automatically copied to my clipboard:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mcf1ni7ukdrzlhe/a.%20Denis%20K.jpg

All CRTL+click does is pop up a dialog box that says "Download" or "See Original".

So where am I going wrong?

UPDATE: I just figured it out. Do not click on the photo in question in the Public folder to allow it to open. Instead, with a Windows computer, right click on the title of the photo and a list of choices appears the first one of which is "Copy public link". That one includes the DROPBOXUSERCONTENT.COM URL!


Would you delete my posting #30 from this thread? There is no point in it being there now.

Thanks.
Terry

[AtlantaTerry]

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/40499026/a.%20Denis%20K.jpg
© 2013 Terry Thomas Photos; Atlanta, Georgia USA

Denis is from Russia and now lives in Atlanta. He must think we Americans are nuts because he now participates in a group of folks who go out on weekends to chase and bash each other with padded weapons. These folks dress up as characters from fantasy films such as "Lord of the Rings".

This past spring on my way home from church, I noticed these strangely dressed people chasing each other around a park. So I stopped to talk to them about some day coming back to photograph them with my 4x5 equipment and they said it would be OK. Then, it seems, just about every weekend it rained and it rained and it rained. Finally one Sunday in early September it was not going to rain so I packed up my gear and headed to the park. The portrait of Denis was the very first one that I ever created with my Rodenstock.

film: Shanghai
ISO: 50
exposure: 1/2 second @ f/16 (the next time, I think I will use f8 to soften the background)
camera: Cambo
lens: 300mm f/5.6 Rodenstock Sironar-N in a Copal 3 shutter
tripod: Manfrotto video sticks with fluid head in a 75mm bowl
lighting: open shade with a 20x30 inch black card just out of frame to his right to add dimension
developer: D-76 stock
processing tank: HP Combi
scan: Epson V700 to TIF then reduced to JPG for here
editing: absolutely no Photoshop post-production (but it needs some)

[Peter Mounier]

Nice environmental portrait Terry! I see some folks doing that role playing around here too. They call themselves the society for creative anachronism. I've seen them with their padded weapons as I drive by the park where they answer the call to arms, but I've never driven by while they are pummeling each other with them. Maybe they've been told that you can put an eye out with something like that, and to be careful not to hurt each other.

I can't help you delete a post. I'm just an observer, and occasionally a participant.

[AtlantaTerry]

Thanks, Peter.

[Jody_S]

The Ghosts of Film Students Past:

101822

4x5, 150mm Symmar-S @f11, w/IR720 filter, 30 seconds, on Arista 125.