Portrait of an Artist Photo

Photographer’s Note

The Art gallery of New South Wales in Sydney has an important collection of paintings by aboriginal Australian artists. These works typically exhibit the vivid colours and bold abstract pattern of the sun baked outback. The gallery permits the use of cameras but not tripods or flash. I took this picture using a display case to steady the camera, but the motion blur enveloped the artist and who dissolves into the painting. It seemed appropriate that the painting should appear solid and permanent while the artist becomes fugitive and ghostlike.

cobraphil8, leo61, avallaunius has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ndb1958 (9248) 2008-08-11 21:09

Hi Kevin,
I love these colours of fire. They are amazing. Nice to motion blur of the artist. Something very different but nice from you.
Best wishes,
Nino.

cobraphil8 (11652) 2008-08-11 21:29

Hi Kevin,
excellent art shot, I like this idea of composition with this strange ghost !
A good tribute for this exposure of paintings.
Regards
Philippe

eversmile (6397) 2008-08-11 23:35

Hi Kevin,

That's well done! The background, with its colorful pattern, is wonderful and the blurred silhouette of the artist in front, who's face disappears in its creation, stands like a supernatural provocation that attracts, as much as it disturbs it, our attention.
Best regards
Marine

chirasak (575) 2008-08-12 7:14

Hello Ajarn
nice color of background, i was wonder how can you make this shot, do you took this shot by low shutter, nice shot TFS

Regards
Chirasak

capthaddock (28640) 2008-08-12 9:39

Strange one, but I like the effect, besides, the background is an excellent abstract. I would definitely crop a smidgen from the bottom, so that the horizontal interruption of the bg patterns is eliminated.

SteveH (3995) 2008-08-12 18:24

Hi Kevin, for me this image really works because of the movement blur, turning it from a straight forward image of the artist and her work, to something quite different and imaginative. well done. Cheers, Steve

leo61 (43686) 2008-08-13 12:28

Hi Kevin!
I loved this gallery and I spent hours there.I bought a nice placard there which is still in my livingroom.
Both is art here,the nice painting and your shot.I like the result very much.
The colorful background is perfect for this blurred ghost in motion.
Regards,Leo

skippy007 (7301) 2008-08-13 23:54

Hello Kevin, Very artistic both in subject & composition, the motion blur is very effective especially against the bright striped BG.
Well seen & very well realised.
Thanks
Santo

Stepan (27175) 2008-08-17 4:15

An arty compo, an arty style. A kind of abtract presentation. Works quite well.
Stéphane

ribeiroantonio (21967) 2008-08-26 18:10

Not many art galleries allow photography but many thanks to the NSW Art Gallery. And to you too for the excellent picture of aboriginal art with an anonym person in front. The end result is superb. Well done.
Antonio

goodwill (4033) 2008-08-29 9:29

Yes.........this is true. A fw days earlier I was in a photowalk in Hyderabad, where I was advised not to utilise flash....instead to increase the ISO speed.
The flash eats up the DOF.
This shot truly depicts what I learnt except that ISO here is very low..and thats why a steady shot.
TFS

Rajeev

avallaunius (982) 2009-01-08 1:22

i have had exactly the same idea of an artists portrait in front of his work link
this artwork seems very interesting and oddly enough, i could say, that it resembles to the colors and atmosphere of your "asian" fotos...
very nice
TFS

Merline (6578) 2009-01-09 8:57

Hi Kevin, very exciting work. The piece of art and the way you are showing it, with the passing artist almost a part of it ! A creative idea, for a striking result. Superb earth colors and also an intelligent homage to the Aborigenes. My compliments !

TFS and kind regards
Michèle