People Tough Reflections

Xilfet · 07-05-2014, 07:20 AM - **1 Like**

I interpreted the theme "Tough Reflections" as an older woman wandering back in her mind to times before, remembering the beauty she once was and facing the tough realization that she no longer looks the way she did.
I used the action of brushing hair as it is a menial task that one would do on a daily basis and is usually done in front of a mirror. I can only imagine that ones mind would wander off while doing so and perhaps finding it in this current situation

I used my mother-in-law and wife for the models as its the closest i could get to a younger version of oneself without actually going back or forward in time to achieve perfect result. I used a speedlite with a bounce back umbrella to light each model. and my camera with a wireless transmitter i used high-ish f stop in order to darken the surroundings and the same lens for both models to get similar perspectives. then used photoshop to merge the two images.

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Last edited by Xilfet; 07-05-2014 at 08:10 AM.

**jac** · 07-05-2014, 07:47 AM - **1 Like**

I really like it but do wish the amber end of the brush did not distract. An excellent theme and effort!

Xilfet · 07-05-2014, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by jac

I really like it but do wish the amber end of the brush did not distract. An excellent theme and effort!

Thanks very much for the helpful crit there Jac! amazing what we miss when we rush :/

Darrell Raw · 07-05-2014, 08:24 AM - **1 Like**

Excellent, I love how you've interpreted the theme. Good luck!

Xilfet · 07-05-2014, 08:30 AM

Originally posted by Darrell Raw

Excellent, I love how you've interpreted the theme. Good luck!

Shot Darrell!

**jac** · 07-05-2014, 09:22 AM - **1 Like**

Superb!

Xilfet · 07-05-2014, 02:57 PM

Originally posted by jac

Superb!

Thanks for your help Jac!

Usuqa · 07-07-2014, 01:28 PM - **1 Like**

nice concept and good execution.

Xilfet · 07-08-2014, 05:22 AM

Originally posted by Usuqa

nice concept and good execution.

thanks

CeciProAm · 07-10-2014, 08:56 PM

I wish you had done it with men....it is almost cliched for a man to examine what he thinks women
are thinking but it would have been an entirely new realm for you to examine how men feel about
losing their beauty; their loss of hair, the skin turning jowly etc etc....
Still, a lovely idea & image.

Paul Pheiffer · 07-11-2014, 05:23 AM - **2 Likes**

Lovely image - a good idea well portrayed. Well done.
Just my take on things: I think I would have taken the ring off the younger hand and put it on the older hand and thereby maybe enhanced the perception of youthfulness in the younger figure and the other one as being older.

Xilfet · 07-12-2014, 06:42 AM

Originally posted by Paul Pheiffer

Lovely image - a good idea well portrayed. Well done.
Just my take on things: I think I would have taken the ring off the younger hand and put it on the older hand and thereby maybe enhanced the perception of youthfulness in the younger figure and the other one as being older.

Thanks Paul... very good catch.

CeciProAm · 07-12-2014, 11:24 PM

I thought the ring on the blondes finger was the joy of newly wedded bliss &
the ring missing from the "older" woman was the hand of a seasoned divorcee~

& I realize why this photo doesn't work for me...the lighting is terrific, the idea is
imaginative & everything should work for me...but it doesn't because the beauty
of the younger woman is too over processed in PP...why gild the lily of youth?
For me, rather than bringing the image to life~it kills it!
& I am giving my opinion openly so that perhaps you will take the original & relook
at it with new eyes~her face looks doll-like & botoxed & almost plastic~this was so
close to brilliant but fails the test of true art by not embracing the flaws of nature~

Xilfet · 07-13-2014, 11:10 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by CeciProAm

I wish you had done it with men....it is almost cliched for a man to examine what he thinks women
are thinking but it would have been an entirely new realm for you to examine how men feel about
losing their beauty; their loss of hair, the skin turning jowly etc etc....
Still, a lovely idea & image.

Thanks for your thought Ceci, I see what you mean regarding the Cliche. As a man of 35 with greying hair, wrinkles in places i did not have before and a receding hairline to match. It does not concern me at all. This is why I played the women card., that and I think they are more beautiful than men

totsmuyco · 07-14-2014, 02:27 AM - **1 Like**

Great shot. Everything about it is really great. Thanks for sharing.

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07-05-2014, 07:47 AM - 1 Like	#2
jac Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada Posts: 2,364	I really like it but do wish the amber end of the brush did not distract. An excellent theme and effort!

07-05-2014, 08:07 AM	#3
Xilfet New Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pietermaritzburg Posts: 21 Original Poster	Originally posted by jac I really like it but do wish the amber end of the brush did not distract. An excellent theme and effort! Thanks very much for the helpful crit there Jac! amazing what we miss when we rush :/

07-05-2014, 08:24 AM - 1 Like	#4
Darrell Raw Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Surrey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 134	Excellent, I love how you've interpreted the theme. Good luck!

07-05-2014, 08:30 AM	#5
Xilfet New Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pietermaritzburg Posts: 21 Original Poster	Originally posted by Darrell Raw Excellent, I love how you've interpreted the theme. Good luck! Shot Darrell!

07-05-2014, 09:22 AM - 1 Like	#6
jac Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada Posts: 2,364	Superb!

07-05-2014, 02:57 PM	#7
Xilfet New Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pietermaritzburg Posts: 21 Original Poster	Originally posted by jac Superb! Thanks for your help Jac!

07-07-2014, 01:28 PM - 1 Like	#8
Usuqa Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scotland Photos: Gallery Posts: 348	nice concept and good execution.

07-08-2014, 05:22 AM	#9
Xilfet New Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pietermaritzburg Posts: 21 Original Poster	Originally posted by Usuqa nice concept and good execution. thanks

07-10-2014, 08:56 PM	#10
CeciProAm Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 698	I wish you had done it with men....it is almost cliched for a man to examine what he thinks women are thinking but it would have been an entirely new realm for you to examine how men feel about losing their beauty; their loss of hair, the skin turning jowly etc etc.... Still, a lovely idea & image.

07-11-2014, 05:23 AM - 2 Likes	#11
Paul Pheiffer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bushveld, Ellisras - South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 202	Lovely image - a good idea well portrayed. Well done. Just my take on things: I think I would have taken the ring off the younger hand and put it on the older hand and thereby maybe enhanced the perception of youthfulness in the younger figure and the other one as being older.

07-12-2014, 06:42 AM	#12
Xilfet New Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pietermaritzburg Posts: 21 Original Poster	Originally posted by Paul Pheiffer Lovely image - a good idea well portrayed. Well done. Just my take on things: I think I would have taken the ring off the younger hand and put it on the older hand and thereby maybe enhanced the perception of youthfulness in the younger figure and the other one as being older. Thanks Paul... very good catch.

07-12-2014, 11:24 PM	#13
CeciProAm Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 698	I thought the ring on the blondes finger was the joy of newly wedded bliss & the ring missing from the "older" woman was the hand of a seasoned divorcee~ & I realize why this photo doesn't work for me...the lighting is terrific, the idea is imaginative & everything should work for me...but it doesn't because the beauty of the younger woman is too over processed in PP...why gild the lily of youth? For me, rather than bringing the image to life~it kills it! & I am giving my opinion openly so that perhaps you will take the original & relook at it with new eyes~her face looks doll-like & botoxed & almost plastic~this was so close to brilliant but fails the test of true art by not embracing the flaws of nature~

07-13-2014, 11:10 PM - 1 Like	#14
Xilfet New Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pietermaritzburg Posts: 21 Original Poster	Originally posted by CeciProAm I wish you had done it with men....it is almost cliched for a man to examine what he thinks women are thinking but it would have been an entirely new realm for you to examine how men feel about losing their beauty; their loss of hair, the skin turning jowly etc etc.... Still, a lovely idea & image. Thanks for your thought Ceci, I see what you mean regarding the Cliche. As a man of 35 with greying hair, wrinkles in places i did not have before and a receding hairline to match. It does not concern me at all. This is why I played the women card., that and I think they are more beautiful than men

07-14-2014, 02:27 AM - 1 Like	#15
totsmuyco Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Iloilo City Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,276	Great shot. Everything about it is really great. Thanks for sharing.