THE MASTERS Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

“Do you focus on the subject or on the subject’s reflection in the mirror?” I am reposting this image, a favorite photograph in my archives, and emblematic of a problem with which modern photographers must grapple. But so did the Masters of old. Titian, Rubens and Velazquez each painted his own version of “Venus with Mirror,” and each chose differently. Titian and Velazques chose the subject, Rubens put the emphasis on the reflection. In my note to Kath (Featherstone), I gave links to those paintings. There the subjects are sensuous and voluptuous women, albeit depicted by great painters. I would rather not include them here and contaminate the innocence portrayed in this photo.

I saw the little girl fascinated by her own image on a massive mirror, and I in turn I was fascinated by her reaction. I imagined that one day, she might stand in front of a mirror, and ponder “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” And the magic mirror would have to respond, “You are, my Queen, you are the fairest of them all!” This was decidedly not a posed photo, but I did have to be mindful of keeping my own reflection out of the scene as the masters obviously had to do. In shooting this image, it was the reflection and not the subject that would become the unmistakable choice for the focal point.

ManuMay, feather, gervaso, Emile, paololg, BWJ, snunney, jafadabret, jhm, archimatica, ChrisJ, alvaraalto, Angshu, leonorkuhn, Vasa, jwmunro, gunbud, papagolf21, ciakgiak, stego, Didi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ManuMay (10770) 2009-10-11 12:13

Merhaba Bulent!!

For sure you are a Master!!

Your lesson of photography and your lesson of Art History, very well linked to the image and talking about your fascination for Great Masters, talking about your brain and immagination full of good art sense and good taste...Thanks for the lesson!!

Have a nice sunday...

Best regards

Manuel

feather (49858) 2009-10-11 12:18

Interesting question to which I don't know the answer. I suppose I would use a wide enough DOF to have both in focus, but one still has to choose the focal point. Certainly you made the right choice here as we want to see her face pin sharp. Excellent shot of a pretty girl.
Kath

gervaso (5158) 2009-10-11 12:24

Hello, Bulent!

That's the question! You made a wonderful job focusing on her face! Beautiful and interesting composition! Well done!

Emile (19947) 2009-10-11 14:15

Hola Bulent.
A riddle picture but as you say very well in your note the focal point had to be the girl in the mirror. Good work my friend.
I just returned home after a nice trip to Europe with 14 days in the Crystal Serenity, a pity you were not on this occasion, I would love to attend your lectures.
Best regards.

emka (21331) 2009-10-11 14:54

Hi Bulent, I remember this photo :)). Splendid reflected portrait of this girl. he focus is on the reflection adn it would be diffcult to guess if not the poster behind and the line on the left. Reflections are always so attractive for photographers - in mirror, in water, good and distorted - all.

Very interesting problem as usual.

warm regards

Malgorzata

paololg (13717) 2009-10-11 15:16

Ciao dear Bulent,
perfect explanation of the photo. Beautiful image, in which you have played well with the focus choosing that best. Compliments!
Ciao, have a nice week!
Paolo

BWJ (1773) 2009-10-11 18:13

Hello Bulent,
Looking away from the camera, this beautiful little girl reveals the excitement of seeing her reflection in the large mirror. Children are wonderful subjects because they are spontaneous, curious, and unpretentious. You captured her charm perfectly. It is a fabulous informal portrait. Thank you for the excellent accompanying note.
Kind regards,
Betty

snunney (34800) 2009-10-12 1:00

Hello Bulent,
I think you were right to put the focal point on the reflection, which is, after all, the centre of attention of both the viewer and the subject. An excellent portrait full of atmosphere.

delpeoples (5964) 2009-10-12 2:41

Hi Bulent, you pose the question well for us. The answer is anyone's guess, although here, the focus on the beautiful little girl is beyond question. What a lovely little imp. She's delightful. Nice shooting and thanks for your thought-provoking Note, Lisa.

CLODO (4170) 2009-10-12 3:05

Hi Bulent
I would have choosen the same focus as you, on the mirror reflection, but here it seems that with a small aperture, you get all sharp!
regards
CLODO

Morac (20347) 2009-10-12 4:34

Hi Bulent,
What I like about this picture is the tenderness and complicity between the girl and the mirror and finally between the girl and herself.
Regards
Marc

AROBN54 (10747) 2009-10-12 21:17

Warm greetings, Bulent,
this is such a whimsical shot. The lean, the placement of the hands, the questioning expression, small smile... Like - "Now.. don't tell anyone.." I really like how your main subject is the reflection. It is just so cute and the exposure is perfect. Really adorable. Many thanks and my best regards,
Shelly

Bluejeans (32173) 2009-10-13 10:57

Ola Bulent,
I don´t have a answer my friend :)
Gostei da simetria de foto a menina tem um sorriso lindo , parabéns !!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

jafadabret (39541) 2009-10-13 23:39

Bonjour Bulent.
Le miroir et ses mystères ont fasciné plus d'un peintre et beaucoup d'écrivains. J'aime l'expression de cet enfant qui semble dialoguer avec sa propre image. Elle semble s'aimer et c'est le premier pas pour l'amour des autres.
Du grand art !
Amicalement
Jacques

mursaloglu (5146) 2009-10-14 3:33

merhaba bülent beyciğim
Mesut bey'le ayrı zamanlarda Simi'de olduk maalesef.. Sağlık olsun... Harika bir kare özellikle yansımanın oluşturduğu anlatım biçimi mükemmel. ellerinize sağlık ihsan

jhm (82421) 2009-10-14 4:13

Hello Dear Bulent,

This is a artwork, alone great photographers take this type of pictures, what a lovely result.
This young girl is a nice model for you, certainly through the lovely smile.
Your light is very nice, I find these photograph enjoyable for look at.
Nice compostion and real colours. TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

archimatica (13262) 2009-10-14 8:12

Hi, Bulent.
Lively, friendly and curious picture and it mekes me happy. Photography is also this: communicate positive!
Best regards
Renzo

ChrisJ (70165) 2009-10-14 8:43

Merhaba Bulent

Good dof to get both the fg & girl's reflection in focus. I've tried this, & it's not easy. Excellent framing, color & sharpness. Tfs!

alvaraalto (5231) 2009-10-15 2:00

Hi Bulent,

Good observation and consideration about subjects and their reflections.
It is fascinating and inspiring, as many artist showed us in the past and will do in the future, to play with subject and reflection in one image.

Groet Rob

Angshu (33627) 2009-10-16 21:14

Hello Professor 'A'
A difficult question indeed...perhaps the mirror image is more attractive, because there you see the frontal. Of course if one has the subject at an angular profile, then the equation changes. Sculptures are different, in my opinion and if you see this famous Indian sculpture from the southern town of Belur, called Darpana Sundari which in Sanskrit means Damsel with the mirror, you might understand what I mean.
With Warmest Regards
Angshuman

[workshop] [compare] +

stelli (2941) 2009-10-17 10:56

This is a lovely and sweet photo! She is adorable and very natural and she looks like she is enjoying herself and the "contact" with the mirror! Great capture, excellent light management and sharpness! Thank you for sharing! Regards Stella

leonorkuhn (13559) 2009-10-18 4:46

Hi Bülent,

I think you made the right choice, because the girl's facial expression is only seen in reflection and then it should be the focal point. I like this beautiful portrait too.

Warm Regards and nice sunday
Leonor

mesutilgim (36733) 2009-10-18 13:01

Selam sevgili Bülent,
Ben bu güzel "yaratığı" tanıyor gibiyim !
Fikir de güzel,uygulama da sonuç da .
Tebrikler
Selam ve sevgiler
MESUT ILGIM

Vasa (5500) 2009-10-19 12:14

Dear Bulent,

your note is lovely. Your picture is lovely too. The most lovely is your model. I follow this star in your gallery with big interest. And emotions, friend!

Thankful and proud of you,

Branko

jwmunro (6571) 2009-10-19 19:10

Hello Bulent -

A cute image for sure. But the discussion of focal points and the masters is an interesting one. As photographers we follow the same general rules - as the masters developed the process of depicting a 3D world onto 2D media and defining the 3D perception. When ever I travel to places such as Paris and Amsterdam I am visiting the art museums an trying to study the masterpieces to see if I can incorporate or at least absorb some of the techniques. It wasn't until later in life that I discovered art, it never interested me even after an art history class in college, and how it influences us in our attempts of artistic expression. Well done!

Thank you for sharing.

John

I just thought of something very funny - my whole working career was spent transforming a 3D world into a 2D medium and making it understandable to map readers. I was a cartographer and made topographic maps for the government. I used text size, text placement, and shape to guide readers into the correct features. 3D world - 2D media.....

papagolf21 (56305) 2009-10-23 1:39

Bonjour, mon cher ami Bulent,
L'oeil ne se voit pas lui-même ; il lui faut son reflet dans quelque autre chose.
[William Shakespeare]
Tout à fait d'accord sur votre note d'accompagnement.
J'aime beaucoup cette image (elle parle beaucoup) !
Amitiés.
Philippe

ciakgiak (10666) 2009-10-23 11:39

Hello Bulent,
Thanks for the very interesting notes about subject and its reflection!
The image is very well composed, you had a great timing here and the result is a splendid expression of the girl.
Friendly regards.
Giorgio

windosil (770) 2009-10-24 15:00

Dear Bulent, I've enjoyed this picture several times since you posted it but tonight I am already signed in so have no excuse for not commenting. I am just mesmerised by the smile on that girl's face - as you were. She just had to be in sharp focus. The narrow DOF helps us to feel we are actually in the room with you, and that is interesting too.
Best wishes,
Winifred

stego (22352) 2009-11-04 14:42

Hello Bulent,

Looking to the thumbnail, one can think that it is just a family snapshot, but what a surprise when we open it! Just the expression of the girl would make the photo very interesting, but I like also the compo, with all the elements that could easily make it look cluttered and distracting. I like the "instability" created by the inclination of the body and how the colour of the clothes help the main subject standing out. I would hardly think of such a photo for illustrating the thoughtful note, but in fact it is very appropriate. A great batalayade!

Warm regards,
José

Didi (36074) 2009-11-08 0:42

Salam Bulent
Pretty girl, nice scene with the mirror who gives a good depht on the composition.
Greetings from Orléans

salvator (18797) 2009-11-09 11:55

Hello Bulent Bey,
The composition, the sharpness and colors, the little girl's brighness in her eyes look absolutely wonderful.
Best personal regards.
Salvator.

Dyerco (9058) 2009-11-29 9:34

Hi Bulent
I must say I like the innocent moment of this young lady as she is is engrossed with her reflection. I think that one can achieve different moods by focusing on either the subject or the reflection. By focusing on the reflection we see hers eyes but because the BG is on the same plane it too is in focus. I guess we have the option now with PS to blur the BG a bit if we so choose. Anyway this was a nice spur of the moment shot.
Phil