The Human Form

[stubbsy]

Had fun while visiting an old friend today. I've known their son James since he was about 12 months old. Now he's all grown up and a budding artist. The two of us had a play around with the camera and these are some of my results. Very different to my usual style, but there is something about them that really appeals to me. Click a pic for a larger version. More of these pics can be found here







........................................................................................................ and a ring in - Stuart

.......

[birddog114]

Peter,
A difference perspective!
Glad to hear you enjoyed your day, yesterday with your friend!

[Sheetshooter]

Peter,

To my eye you have excelled yourself in #1 and #2.

Not to take anything away from you, but I feel the influence of considerable collaboration here - not that there's anything wrong with that at all - but my advice would be to attempt to get yourself back into that mindset when on your own and apply a similar rationale to other motifs. ....... Or work with the fellow more frequently.

Congratilations,

[Heath Bennett]

Very cool Peter. Great artistic direction.

[Sheetshooter]

On closer inspection I should point out that by "#1" and "#2" I mean the first and second pictures presented rather than the numbering of the captions.

Those first two shots speak volumes in a simple and direct way.



Cheers,

[mudder]

Some very symbolic and brooding images there, it would have been fun to try something different like that. Loved the lighting in the B&W's. Great results...

[Killakoala]

Definately an interesting diversion from your normal work Peter. Well done.

[stubbsy]

Thank you all for your comments. I really liked these shots, but since they were so different to what I usually do I was uncertain if they spoke to others the same way,

To my eye you have excelled yourself in #1 and #2.

Not to take anything away from you, but I feel the influence of considerable collaboration here - not that there's anything wrong with that at all - but my advice would be to attempt to get yourself back into that mindset when on your own and apply a similar rationale to other motifs. ....... Or work with the fellow more frequently.

Walter - #1 & #2 were my pick also (knew which you meant BTW ). James has a P & S, but rarely uses it. I gave him my camera to have a play and he spent about an hour wandering around. One of his pics was a hand held shot from above pointing down his body. When we were reviewing his pics I suggested I stand on a chair and retake the shot. 60 or so shots later we had a number we were both happy with. That done, I was sitting down after we'd finished having a cool drink and James walked past just as I looked up and caught him silhouetted against those great clouds. I cajoled him into posing for another 30 or so shots in various poses and #1 was the result. So I reckon these are a 50/50 split creatively. There is no doubt in my mind I would not have done any of these without the collaborative process. The night silhouettes were similar - I was showing the guys what the Sb-800 could do off camera and these were my demo pics.

Loved the lighting in the B&W's. Great results...

Andrew, as said above these were done with the SB-800 remotely fired by the D70 (once I worked out how to do it).

---

An interesting sidenote to all these pics is that the only other "person" shot I'm happy with is one I took earlier this year of James' sister Emily:

[leek]

Congrats Stubbsy... an interesting series of images...
#1 is an excellent image, but has a little more bare flesh than I'm comfortable with. Personally I would also worry about possible unwelcome attention that that image might attract on the web...
#2 is an excellent shot and I wish that I had a head of hair that thick...
#3 doesn't do a lot for me I'm afraid...
#4 is very intense and is my pick of the series...
#5 would have benefited greatly from a little eye contact... - very menacing...

[marcotrov]

#1 and #2 also are my pick but I like them all. Very artistic indeed Peter and technically well executed. I would love to see #1 & #2 in B&W or Sepia with some fairly liberal contrast work
cheers
marco

[stubbsy]

Congrats Stubbsy... an interesting series of images...
#1 is an excellent image, but has a little more bare flesh than I'm comfortable with. Personally I would also worry about possible unwelcome attention that that image might attract on the web...

Good point John and to be honest one that didn't occur to me. Interestingly James was clothed, but like is the fashion these days, his pants hang so low you see the top of his boxers. I intentionally framed this immediately above the boxers since the hint of clothing distracted from the almost primal nature of the image. Now you have handed me a dilemma since I love the image, but don't want it to be misused.

Marco - Tried #2 and it didn't work in B & W (you lose the contrast between the warm tones of the body and the grey/blue of the floor) but here is #1 in sepia tonings and, having regards to John's comments, cropped a little higher in the hope it's less appealing to grubby men (sad world we live in!):

[Paul]

A great set Peter!
Your range is very impressive, just love the last one with the devil

[Alpha_7]

I really like this series Peter, it's nice to see you out of your comfort zone and trying something different. I personally see the first shot as art, and has very little to offer (grubby old men or women) that they couldn't find else where and far more explict. Thinking back to the last challenge we had exposed nipple, which may have got a few raised eyebrows, but no suggestions of "mis-use", that your shot has recieved.

I do like the final treatment with the B&W and great shadows.

[Glen]

Very impressive Stubbsy, like others I believe 1 & 2 are excellent, you have really excelled in an area you were not familiar with

[sirhc55]

Peter - In my normal manner and contrary to the popular response (i.e. James #5 and James #1), I view your James #8 as being a superlative example of film noir (not usually applied to still pics).

Although James #5 shouts Leni Reisenthal as a pose, it lacks a stark and thunderous sky to compliment the pose and give it dramatic finality.

James #8 is the winner

[Alex]

Hi Peter,

I really like these images. Very original.

Alex

[mic]

You are becoming a brilliant Photog Stubbsy, these are great.

Arty, Farty, The lot.

Well done.

Mic.

[stubbsy]

Gentlemen, Thanks for the comments. As I say - not my usual style, but I'm more than happy with them.

Craig - we get a bit paranoid about this stuff I guess. I certainly see that shot as art.

[Matt. K]

Peter
You don't happen to know their daughter do you?

[Alpha_7]

Peter
You don't happen to know their daughter do you?

Matt, their daughter featured in Peter's momento book, if I'm not mistaken her name is Emily, and was mentioned earlier in this thread.

[Geoff]

Peter - you are an artist with improving abilities that are witnessed on a daily basis! Great work and as you say, not the norm for you. I like all of them! Well done

[rokkstar]

Peter,

Only just seen these shots and like everyone has said, they are quite a departure from your normal style.
I really like James#6 and James#8 - I love the high contrast dark feel.

The shapes caused by the shadows on Stuart are interesting and I can see the effect you were going for but it doesn't work for me I'm afraid.

I like James #5 but feel that there is a bit too much space above his arms. If he filled the frame more completely, to my eye, it would balanace it further.

James #1 is interesting, and I like the opposing patterns created by the wooden floor and the round haircut. My only slight annoyance with this is the chair at the top of the frame. The curve is nice because it fits into the curve of his back and mimics the roundness of his hair but the downside is that his head is too far forward in the frame, again to my eye, unbalancing it slightly.

Nice shots though Peter and nice to see you continually experimenting. Your skills as a photographer are growing with every shot you take. Also, I am jealous that you had a model to practice on!!

[stubbsy]

Matt K - what Craig said

Geoff - Thanks for the praise. I'm not sure about the artist bit though

Matt B - I quite like feel in #6 and #8 and have a few more to do like that which I'll post soon. #5 - For me I like the feeling of freedom the space at the top gives the image rather than crowding the figure. Shows how subjective this is. James #1 - the chair is what I was standing on. In all the floorboard shots I had no idea what I was shooting since I was holding the camera above my head while standing on the chair in order to get the height. I guess there's a bit of the Leigh shooting blind influence there too. And yes, James was a really good model since he dug what we were doing and wasn't at all self conscious.

[marcotrov]

Peter I think the Sepia finish is the ONE. I like that a lot very artistic. You are almost tempted to keep playing with the dodging and burning on that promise of a brooding sky without losing that marvellous contrast you have engaged. A modernistic look at the 'crucifixtion' Great work Peter.
cheers
marco

[stubbsy]

Thanks Marco. I prefer the sepia too since it makes the shot more moody.

[Matt. K]

Peter 271 and 400 are the 2 that, for me, reach the realm of "fine art". The others are like sketchs or visualizations that got you to these fine images. Bloody well done and I am loking forward to seeing the prints.

[stubbsy]

Matt - 271 & 400 = James #12 and James #5?