Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/02/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Guy, Many thanks for the nice comments. I am not familiar with the particular picture by Rodchenko, but I am naturally attracted to this type of shot. In this case I was walking around the Vespa, taking shots of it from various angles, and then I noticed the chromed surface and the potential for a reflection shot. I must admit that the composition was improved by some cropping in Photoshop, but that is within my self-imposed limits on manipulation -- I permit myself to do only those things in PS that I used to do in the wet darkroom, i.e. overall exposure and contrast correction (Levels and Curves), spotting the image (Rubber Stamp), occasional dodging/burning, and cropping. Kind regards, Nathan Guy Bennett wrote: > Nathan, > > I like your self-portrait. The subject itself doesn't give anything away at > first glance - the eye gets caught on the smooth black and gray shapes and > surfaces that - cropped in close - create a powerful composition that > borders on abstraction. Only a moment later is there a glint of > recognition: the photographer himself appears in the reflection. Nicely > done. I think this is my favorite of your PAW shots. > > There is a rich tradition of photographic self-portraits, many of which - > this one included - are "specular" self-portraits. This piece seems to be > the grandchild of Rodchenko's 1933 "Chaffeur" in which a pipe-smoking > chauffeur is caught - in reflection - in the mirror of his car. At second > glance, one notices the photographer taking the shot over his shoulder. > > Guy > > P.S. There's a wonderful book of photographic self-portraits that I'd like > to recommend: "the camera i" (L.A./N.Y.: L.A. County Museum of Art/Abrams, > 1994). It includes a great series of self-portraits of everyone from Nadar > to Witkin. > > >Last Wednesday I went to see a motorcycle show at Zurich's Messe. While > >drooling over all the nice new bikes inside, I also kept an eye on what was > >parked outside and noticed a classic Vespa, with a beautiful coat of black > >paint and lots of chrome. I used its headlight as a mirror for a > >self-portrait of sorts. Have a look at: > > > >http://www.geocities.com/belgiangator/pawindex.htm > > > >Comments welcome and appreciated as always. > > > >Nathan - -- Nathan Wajsman Herrliberg (ZH), Switzerland e-mail: wajsman@webshuttle.ch General photo site: http://belgiangator.tripod.com/ Belgium photo site: http://members.xoom.com/wajsman/ Motorcycle site: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/1704/