Long time readers will know that for the last eight years my business cause has been the performing arts at Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS) and the Gulf Islands School of Performing Arts (GISPA) at GISS. Incredibly talented ‘kids’ and amazing staff. Aina’s finished at GISS but we managed to get in a portfolio shoot before she headed off to Spain this week.
The photo above is a processed image (the digital equivalent of darkroom and printing).
This is a cropped version; in the version above I found the far right bump of the dress distracting. And a square-like crop more dynamic and engaging. In addition to the crop, this version has been further processed as a black and white image. In the days of film, each film had a ‘look’. This image has been processed to emulate the look of Fuji Neopan ACROS 100; grain and all.
Below is a closer look, a 100 percent view on the monitor and shows the detail that would be seen on a print about 30 inches square.
* see more images from Aina’s photoshoot
I would have cropped it a bit differently but it is a fine portrait.
Aha! I thought that was “Exuberant Reader” (a spectacular image by the way). Thanks for sharing other images from the photo shoot – they are great. I especially like the final one in which that amazing athlete/dancer is revealed as just a girl.
Good insight. In a series of images, often the ‘strongest’ images are presented first and last. In this case I think there’s a strong image first and, as you say, the last image indicates, “Yes, dance is a strength, but it’s only a glimpse into part of me.” Aina is a strong academic student as well as a strong fine arts and performing arts student.
Hi John,
Thanks for sharing these. Great subject. I like the colour of the first one and after you pointed it out, yes the bump on the right is distracting and I think I would have noticed that had I stared at these longer. I was wondering what it would look like (although it would be smaller) without any bump in there under the fabric at all which would mean a closer crop on the first shot. I enjoy reading the thought processes and technical stuff that go into your photographs when you feel like sharing those on the day. Cheers.
I follow your thinking and went that way myself in this image and several others (that you haven’t seen). Even with that there are lots of options in cropping tighter, particularly for web size images. With prints the importance of accurate focus, exposure and file size become obvious. Perhaps a crop something like this:
Very strong portrait shots of her, John. Well done!
Thanks!
Yeah. Interesting. I’d like to see it in colour. I think in colour it would work better cropped like this. Picky. Picky! :-)
Colour:
Oh yeah. This one works for me but it’s a subjective thing. Very nice. Thanks for accommodating so I could see it. Cool.
WOWZERS!
Thanks!