Mr. Mud Head - which compo?

Mr. Mud Head - which compo? · 11:54 AM

Hey gang-

I haven't been around much lately, the wretched PhD thesis is taking up far too much mental energy and time. But last weekend I had a chance to photograph my cousin Lib (an artist) sculpting a bust of Stefen (my husband). He's a former artist, and convinced her to try a "sketch" rather than the 2.5 hour sittings - all 5 of them - that she normally has her subjects do. Yup, that's 12.5 hours of model sitting, plus the time she fiddles without the model present. These were taken near the end of the single slightly more than 3 hour sitting that Stefen did.

She was set up in an old barn at the cottage, with a large west-facing door on a rainy morning. Lovely soft light, but not much of it. SR to the rescue! I wanted to get Lib, the bust, and Stefen in one shot, but that one looks busy to me. The second one, of bust and model, for various reasons, appeals to me. What do you folks think? Which do you prefer? And why?

These are very quick conversions from raw, variously cropped, resized and sharpened, so they could probably be better pped if I had time.

Here's just the bust, "gazing" out the door, just because I like the light.

Julie

foxglove · 07-23-2008, 01:00 PM

Okay... no responses after 24 hours. Is it the title - does "Mr. Mud Head" put people off? Are the photos not showing? Pbase seems to be having a little fit...

Anyway, here's my shameless bump, I hope the pictures show and someone has an opinion on them!

Julie

gawan · 07-23-2008, 01:28 PM

I like the first shot, Stephen and the bust do look alike! They have that same knowing smile on their faces

I like the surroundings and how well the red shirt suites in it!

pastorbbc · 07-23-2008, 02:14 PM

I like the all -- but the 2nd one is the one that causes me to consider the work of the artist and to know that she is capturing her subject. She does very good work.

Igilligan · 07-23-2008, 02:45 PM

Originally posted by foxglove

Okay... no responses after 24 hours. Is it the title - does "Mr. Mud Head" put people off? Are the photos not showing? Pbase seems to be having a little fit...

Anyway, here's my shameless bump, I hope the pictures show and someone has an opinion on them!

Julie

Ha ha... I actually like the title and that is what drew me in... But you may have got more hits if you had titled it "I kissed my hot cousin and I liked it"

I really like the first best, because it has the artist working with hands on... and nice colors...

But the second with the shallow DOF between subject and sculpture is also good

Damn Brit · 07-23-2008, 05:00 PM

I prefer the first shot, it shows where the artist works. It has a magazine photo look about it.

Gary

Gadget_Guy · 07-23-2008, 05:29 PM

Not so much a critique for the photos as I am in no way qualified to judge....

but WOW.... what an amazing talent that sculpter has. The time put in is simply amazing.

Being someone who has ZERO artistic ability I am simply amazed by those that have artistic skills.

When they talk about left and right brain people I know right off the bat I am a lefty....

D.

foxglove · 07-24-2008, 11:57 AM

Thanks for the feedback, folks!

Originally posted by gawan

I like the first shot, Stephen and the bust do look alike! They have that same knowing smile on their faces

Hah, he'll like that, and so will Lib!

Originally posted by Igilligan

I really like the first best, because it has the artist working with hands on... and nice colors...

Originally posted by Damn Brit

I prefer the first shot, it shows where the artist works. It has a magazine photo look about it.

Okay, two votes for showing the sculptor. As for "a magazine photo look about it", well, I blush! Thank-you.

Originally posted by pastorbbc

I like the all -- but the 2nd one is the one that causes me to consider the work of the artist and to know that she is capturing her subject. She does very good work.

Originally posted by Igilligan

But the second with the shallow DOF between subject and sculpture is also good

And two votes for the shallow dof treatment. The second is Stefen's preference, but then that sort of thing was also his suggestion, so he's biased, which is why I'm interested in other opinions. I really like the dof. I was trying to get the same composition but with Lib's hands in the frame, but they were both getting tired, and I would have had to be nearly sitting in her lap to get the shot!

Originally posted by Gadget_Guy

WOW.... what an amazing talent that sculpter has. The time put in is simply amazing..

I'll pass along this and the other compliments. I've yet to see her more polished works; she recruited a number of relatives to sit, and has one at about the 10-hour mark that I'd like to see. And photograph!

Thanks for the input, I'm hoping Lib (and whoever her "victim" is) won't mind if I take some more shots the next time I'm there. I will definitely try to get the shallow dof with Lib's hands, somehow. I don't take a lot of people pictures, but this is an interesting subject, plus they're absorbed in what they're doing, so nobody starts mugging for the camera!

Julie

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07-23-2008, 01:00 PM	#2
foxglove Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlantic Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,049 Original Poster	seem to be problems... Okay... no responses after 24 hours. Is it the title - does "Mr. Mud Head" put people off? Are the photos not showing? Pbase seems to be having a little fit... Anyway, here's my shameless bump, I hope the pictures show and someone has an opinion on them! Julie

07-23-2008, 02:45 PM	#5
Igilligan Guest	Questionable title? I think not Originally posted by foxglove Okay... no responses after 24 hours. Is it the title - does "Mr. Mud Head" put people off? Are the photos not showing? Pbase seems to be having a little fit... Anyway, here's my shameless bump, I hope the pictures show and someone has an opinion on them! Julie Ha ha... I actually like the title and that is what drew me in... But you may have got more hits if you had titled it "I kissed my hot cousin and I liked it" I really like the first best, because it has the artist working with hands on... and nice colors... But the second with the shallow DOF between subject and sculpture is also good Last edited by Igilligan; 07-23-2008 at 03:48 PM.

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07-23-2008, 01:28 PM	#3
gawan Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Helsinki Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,400	I like the first shot, Stephen and the bust do look alike! They have that same knowing smile on their faces I like the surroundings and how well the red shirt suites in it!

07-23-2008, 02:14 PM	#4
pastorbbc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Morganton, NC Posts: 148	I like the all -- but the 2nd one is the one that causes me to consider the work of the artist and to know that she is capturing her subject. She does very good work.

07-23-2008, 05:00 PM	#6
Damn Brit Guest	I prefer the first shot, it shows where the artist works. It has a magazine photo look about it. Gary

07-23-2008, 05:29 PM	#7
Gadget_Guy Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Burlington, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 374	Not so much a critique for the photos as I am in no way qualified to judge.... but WOW.... what an amazing talent that sculpter has. The time put in is simply amazing. Being someone who has ZERO artistic ability I am simply amazed by those that have artistic skills. When they talk about left and right brain people I know right off the bat I am a lefty.... D.

07-24-2008, 11:57 AM	#8
foxglove Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlantic Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,049 Original Poster	Thanks for the feedback, folks! Originally posted by gawan I like the first shot, Stephen and the bust do look alike! They have that same knowing smile on their faces Hah, he'll like that, and so will Lib! Originally posted by Igilligan I really like the first best, because it has the artist working with hands on... and nice colors... Originally posted by Damn Brit I prefer the first shot, it shows where the artist works. It has a magazine photo look about it. Okay, two votes for showing the sculptor. As for "a magazine photo look about it", well, I blush! Thank-you. Originally posted by pastorbbc I like the all -- but the 2nd one is the one that causes me to consider the work of the artist and to know that she is capturing her subject. She does very good work. Originally posted by Igilligan But the second with the shallow DOF between subject and sculpture is also good And two votes for the shallow dof treatment. The second is Stefen's preference, but then that sort of thing was also his suggestion, so he's biased, which is why I'm interested in other opinions. I really like the dof. I was trying to get the same composition but with Lib's hands in the frame, but they were both getting tired, and I would have had to be nearly sitting in her lap to get the shot! Originally posted by Gadget_Guy WOW.... what an amazing talent that sculpter has. The time put in is simply amazing.. I'll pass along this and the other compliments. I've yet to see her more polished works; she recruited a number of relatives to sit, and has one at about the 10-hour mark that I'd like to see. And photograph! Thanks for the input, I'm hoping Lib (and whoever her "victim" is) won't mind if I take some more shots the next time I'm there. I will definitely try to get the shallow dof with Lib's hands, somehow. I don't take a lot of people pictures, but this is an interesting subject, plus they're absorbed in what they're doing, so nobody starts mugging for the camera! Julie