Don't Try This At Home Photo

Photographer’s Note

Don’t Try This At Home - (colour version in workshop)

“He’s mad” I hear one kid say – the theme is picked up by others echoing the words. The fire eater moves closer to the crowd – milking their dismay for all it’s worth. He runs his fine paraffin soaked sticks along his arms – stroking them slowly as if this is fine silk he’s running across his skin - and not flame. The kids gasp – someone says loudly ‘don’t do this at home’ to nervous laughs and another, concerned parent adds, to his kids – ‘he’s been training for years’.

Closer he comes and closer still – he falls to his knees and plants the fine burning sticks in the ground. He lights a short staff, the flame large against his face, he lets it subside a little and slowly moves it towards his mouth – the crowd’s eyes are widening – this is too big a flame for him to put out with his mouth – he then does something I have never seen before. His teeth close around the end of the staff, the flame licks across his face …….the crowd gasps…….

distant fireworks –
the faintest hints of raindrops
ride an eastern wind

Fixfocus, Galeota, efigesta, everlasting, Isabelle, alekpet, don_narayan, nwoehnl, bertolucci, designsoul, Rinie_Hoff, bantonbuju, wilkinsonsg has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

entrelec (8342) 2005-11-07 3:57

Hi Kev
I like this one very much; it make me think to a one I posted "Wayang kulit" because of this fire close to the face.
Yours is really impressive, nothing but face and fire...
joel

bnallama (3755) 2005-11-07 4:11

Dear master of light:-) Yep another shot showing your materful 'mastering' of the light. I really like how you just captured the fire and man's face.... I prefer the BW much better. TFS. Balab

Fixfocus (9377) 2005-11-07 4:18

Morning Kev,
Another good one of the fire eater but this time in B/W.It´s great how a B/W choice can change the mood.I think the pose of the artist is better than in your posting from yesterday.Did you use the spot-metering here?
Greetings,
hermann

Galeota (10334) 2005-11-07 4:23

Hi Kev. Particularly impressive, and even more scary because of the dark around him, forcing us to focus on his face, teeth and the flame. I like your B&W conversion choice. Would even seem stranger if you had completely burned his arm, living only his face coming out of the dark.

efigesta (12181) 2005-11-07 4:58

Hi Kev, nice pic in b/w, i like it so much, regards manuel

eco (84) 2005-11-07 5:49

Hi Kev

fantastic scene and very spectacular moment. Curious decision - choice bw. good quality and topping shadows. good work, best regards, rafal

Furachan (0) 2005-11-07 6:03

Oh, tis works great in B/W, kev, wel seen, and I like that you're still working with these pitch black backgrounds. There is something propoerly demonic about this one.
Great work!
Francis

everlasting (10898) 2005-11-07 6:11

Very impressive photo and stunt. Personally I like the colour version beter, it looks more vibrant and gives more warmth (?) but this shot in B&W works, I like how we just see his ghostly outstretched arm in the darkness.

Cos (1562) 2005-11-07 6:41

Hi Kev
I couldn't really tell what this was going to be from the thumbnail. It's a very striking shot, with added impact due to the fact that most of the frame is dark.
Regards
Sarah

Isabelle (9014) 2005-11-07 7:15

Splendid, Kev!
I prefer the b&w version, although imo the color one is very good too.
excellent dramaticity, excellent use of negative space. and you thought nothing extraordinary would happen that night ;)

alekpet (4657) 2005-11-07 8:11

This one is even better than the previous one, Kev.
It is very wise of you chosing B/W.
But kids, don't try this at home, Kev is a professional...

rbcy1974 (20742) 2005-11-07 8:27

Hi Kev,
AMazing the isolation of the fire within the surrounding shadows, really ghostly looking shot,
Well done
Regards
Daniel

pilpel-adom (3016) 2005-11-07 11:13

Good moment you captured here, Kev! Real bravery but some would say, stupidity (they say the line between bravery and stupidity is a thin one...). I tried to do a WS on the face, to tighten the framing, but your version is still better as you can see the torso and hand that holds the torch. Good choice of B&W here!
Chen

don_narayan (2014) 2005-11-07 12:28

Hi Kev. Awesome shot, again. the b/w makes it very different. but the way his face is illuminated is just amazing, really, great capture.

Quentin (5278) 2005-11-07 14:57

Hi Kev
You took a very original and very beautiful picture! I like
the compisition with this big black space. Your "luciferian
cry" is beautiful.
Regards
Quentin

bantonbuju (48574) 2005-11-07 14:58

kev, this is AMAZING, AWESOME, GEORGEOUS, FANTASTIC;
man you excelled yourself beyond any imagination - this shot is a kind of a photo that reminds in the memory for long long time;
i am speachless!
j.

nwoehnl (120) 2005-11-07 15:22

Yes, an apt title, Kev - after all TE also has an educational purpose to fulfill :-P Good continuation of the ongoing story about the fire-eating guy. I like the blackness around his head and the flame; the b&w definitely cuts the edge on this one. Also one of the rare justified uses I have seen of the 'decisive moment' category on TE.

bertolucci (11976) 2005-11-07 16:40

Hi Kev, What a dramatism here. And what a strong set of lines forms the combination of his sharp features and the licking flames. The light is magic and the framing too.
Xcellent,
Regards from Rotterdam,
Bert

designsoul (21394) 2005-11-07 17:10

What could I add now, close to the day's end, Kevin? I cannot "uber" all these wonderful praises, even if I tried... I am just in awe... you are a master of darkness, you bring light out of dark, Kev! And with what eyes...
Though I love both, I would lean towards the colour version, I prefer that one, as the hues there are so warm, which I am starting to crave now as the leaves are almost all fallen here... now comes a season of subdued pastel hues for 5-6 months.
Good night,
Sarolta

AnimeshRay (8886) 2005-11-08 0:59

Kev, it is getting real hot in TE these days! Not just in temperature but also in sheer number of fantastic shots. This one included. Superb!

arindam_thokder (3946) 2005-11-08 10:24

Hi Kev, This is excellent picture, The expression and the use of light. Really really Hot.

wilkinsonsg (8646) 2005-11-08 12:12

I think on balance you were right in desaturating this image - it seems to make the whole thing stand out more.
BTW - very good note too :)

lollie (0) 2005-11-30 12:13

One more superb photo, His expression is very impressive, is a real masterpeace, very wellseen.

verde (957) 2006-02-20 17:54

I like this one in b&w a lot. It really emphasises the face of the "fire eater". His face really makes it look like this is hard work. The composition is wonderful too, face coming out of the darkness.

well done
b