Headman 2, a photo from Kunene, North

Photographer's Note

A different portrait and treatment from yesterday's upload. I have worked this with various crops and finally decided on this one .... but I'm still not sure! I like the B&W as I think the portrait is far stronger and details and textures become emphasised. For more information on this venerable gentleman please see my last post.
I would be interested in any comments/suggestions you care to make.
This photograph is copyright of Rosemary Walden - © Rosemary Walden 2012. All rights reserved.
Any redistribution or reproduction of the image in any form is prohibited.
You may not, except with my express written permission, copy, reproduce, download, distribute or exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system

maloutim, tyro, bukitgolfb301, Angshu, CLODO, InasiaJones, delpeoples, adores has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

leo61 (0) 2012-08-20 9:45

Hi Rosemary!
B&W works very well here.
Fine details and textures and an interesting facial expression.
Regards,leo

Highmountains (1834) 2012-08-20 10:11

Of course this is a much stronger portrait that the previous one. Its not just the B/W treatment. I believe its more to do with the side view with light enhancing the muscles of the jaws and the shine of the garland around his neck. The connect of the vision / sight with the feather remains - but here too - its less angular and goes parallel with the jaw bone.
The head gear is so much more enhanced and the white and black strands which create an angle with the other B/W strand around the neck - impresses on the straight and erect neck - which reflects a certain amount of pride.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful portrait.

emka (58140) 2012-08-20 10:13

Hi Rosemary, The same man as yesterday, but this time in b&w. Here we can see his strange striped cap. I like this tight crop, enhancing all important features. Excellent portrait. Thanks!
Warm regrads

MAlgo

williewhistler (7283) 2012-08-20 15:09

Hello Rosemary,
I really enjoy your treatment of this character,every pore and detail is apparent in his face and dress,a little more light around his eye might have been nice,but with such a bright light creating strong shadows of course it`s not always possible.
A lovely study of an obviously very proud gentleman.Well done indeed.
Best regards Les.

tyro (13073) 2012-08-20 16:50

Hello Rosemary,

I've looked and looked at this picture several times over the course of today. I can really understand that you have pondered long and hard over it too and that you have experimented with several different crops and so forth. It is indeed a striking photograph and I think you have cropped it well.

But, somehow, to me this picture (of the same man, of course) does not have quite the appeal of your portrait of him which you uploaded yesterday. But why is that? As you say, the conversion to black and white has certainly emphasised textures and contrasts and they are striking.

Personally, I think the reason that this portrait does not appeal to me quite so much as your last one is that I don't feel I can "connect" with this man - I certainly could in yesterday's picture - I almost felt I could look into his soul! And perhaps that was because I could see all his facial features and his somewhat doleful and serious expression: in this picture his face is largely in shade and I can only really see his profile.

Yes. I think that's it - I can't see his eyes - and they, after all, are the window to the soul. Without that view of his eyes, I think we lose a lot. Does that make sense?

Technically this is a superb photograph but aesthetically I don't think it's quite in the same league as yesterday's one - it was wonderful.

So, Rosemary, I hope you're not offended by my remarks! I'd love to hear what you feel after you've received all your critiques on this one!

But still worth a full deux points!

Kind Regards,

John.

ACL1978 (5775) 2012-08-20 19:18

I'm having a similar reaction that John is, Rosemary - this is a technically excellent shot with exceptional light and clarity, and you've captured the whole face more here than yesterday, and yet I can feel more emotion from yesterdays shot. That, I don't think, has anything to do with the black and white/color issue and more with the more intimate framing and angle of yesterdays. I also find the arrowlike headpiece more distracting here, whereas yesterday it was more complementary to the whole. Both shots are wonderful, but were I to have to choose, yesterday's would be my choice.

Andrew

jjcordier (62328) 2012-08-20 22:34

Rosemary
Le noir et blanc est impressionnant (il rend peut-être le visage de l'homme un peu dur?). Superbe lumière sur la peau dont la "matière" est parfaitement rendue.
Amicalement
JJ

bukitgolfb301 (30065) 2012-08-21 0:48

Hello dear Rosemary

Another significant portrait from another side. Very sharp and clear presentation due to F.11. B&W description is so tasteful this time. Thanks for your sharing with finest shot and have a good day!

Takero from very hot Tokyo

dkmurphys (36801) 2012-08-21 0:53

Hi Rosemary,
I guess this one is more artistic. I like the profile better, well taken!

Daniel

Angshu (51174) 2012-08-21 1:00

Hello Rosemary!
You used f length of 85 mm & using a fairly narrow aperture...yet the sharp focus on his face, especially on his high cheek bone has been well achieved with the blurred BG avoiding any possible distractions.

The portrait works well as a profile shot.... though I would have preferred a slightly angled view in which his eyes would be more visible to us; but then we would have lost seeing the small arrow which juts out from under his cap directly covering his right eye...

The B&W conversion is good with high contrast & sharpness
Best Regards
Angshu

CLODO (24726) 2012-08-21 2:06

Hi Rosemary

A superb B&W profile of this black man, and I appréciate the white arrow ornating his hat and the big collar around his neck. The sharpness is OK and we can see his skin; his eyes are in the shadow, but it's not important, we feel he is an important person.
Much better than your previous post by the man's position and the superb B&W transformation!
Congratulations
CLODO

timecapturer (30324) 2012-08-21 6:39

Hi Rosemary
another superb shot of this amazing character. Love it in B&W it takes on a completely different atmosphere and effect but is no less impressive than yesterday's post. Awesome imagery! Love it!

Regards - Brian.

InasiaJones (29337) 2012-08-21 17:38

Hi Rosemary!

I really like this photo, with a nicely done black and white conversion.

I sincerely can't decide which one is the strongest, as they are both conveying a different approach, a different style, a different feeling.

But one thing that I can say about this one, is that I appreciate the bold approach to go for the profile, as if you were depicting the features of this man, more than a facial portrait. All the traditional elements that this man is wearing are certainly worthy of interest and for me, this is more like a documentary shot.

You have spent time with this guy, and therefore, you were able to explore different aspects of its personality and to recognize the fascinating potential that he has to offer for a photographic eye.

I like that tight cropping, the detailed textures and its neutral look. Don't compare the two versions, enjoy them both.

Cheers!

André

delpeoples (44904) 2012-08-22 3:49

Hello dear Rosemary

Having read some of the other critiques, what astounds me most is how different personal taste can be. I can understand why (and almost picture you) mulling over which angle, crop, and post process you would choose. John prefers the colour photo for the eye contact and connection with the viewer, which of course is perfectly valid (and interesting to read). I on the other hand prefer this one for the diametrically opposite reaso": the aloofness that a profile portrait usually evokes. This man seems so proud and independent. This photo says so much more about him than the previous one, but I am so glad to have had the benefit of seeing both photos. The B&W also accentuates this sense of isolation and independence. You have achieved an amazing depth of field and I just love his necklace, which has stunning textures perfectly suited to B&W. The tight cropping and play of light on his face is a masterstroke. Congratulations.

Warm regards
Lisa

anupam06 (745) 2012-08-22 5:07

Hi Rosemary,

I seem to have missed this one earlier. Love the treatment with high contrast and BW conversion. A determined face with lot of character and your chosen framing does complete justice to it. Love it!

TFS & WR,
Anupam

COSTANTINO (42746) 2012-08-23 9:17

Hello
nice and different portarit from the usuals
I like the expression of his face so
impressive and interesting,
shot with great sharpness and lightness
fine details from his strong face
regards
Costantino

adores (28210) 2012-08-25 18:31

Hi Rosemary!
They are surely different portraits and in a way I guess they complement each other!I like them both but somehow I find this one really impressive!- guess it's the profile, the b&w and specially the light that shows us the texture of the skin.
The adornments are great! It must be a fantastic experience to be in contact with them!

Nard (6913) 2012-09-17 12:18

Hi Rosemary
Great B&W, very good framing, the contrast is perfect and I like the light on his face. His skin looks like a mixt of black and silver. The sharpness on the man and the bokeh make also the great quality of this portrait.
Regards
bernard

fabbs99 (5441) 2012-10-01 3:47

Hello Rosemary,

This is an excellent portrait in B&W showing explicitly the details of the face of the gentleman including the growing stubbles.The crop is perfect along with sharpness and clarity.Well done.TFS.

Best Regards
farhat