• Photos

  • Level

  • Score

Charlie C

© John H. Siskin

Charlie C

Uploaded: March 23, 2006

Description

Made with a Mamiya C-330 and the wonderful 180 super lens. Used Normann lights an a large diffuser.

Exif: FNumber: , ExposureBiasValue: , ExposureTime: , Flash: , ISO: , WhiteBalance:

Comments

Sherry McClead June 18, 2008

Wow John... such emotion... wonderful capture of a great subject... I stand in awe.
Sherrybear :} #944327

John H. Siskin June 18, 2008

Hi Sherry.
I shot this with one light panel and a strobe. The combination is very effective, gives you lots of options. I had known the subject for a couple of years before I shot him. I think this helps a lot, give the shot more connection. He has a very expressive face, but his life has been hard. Thanks for your interest! John Siskin
#6076516

M.Christine Duncan June 19, 2008

John, I don't know how many times I've passed on to others the advice on making a light panel that you once gave me, it's so easy to make one and is invaluable. This is such a wonderful photo, the light is dynamic to say the least! The fact he's looking out of the photo adds to his tough and withdrawn demeanor. Great portrait! #6078300

John H. Siskin June 19, 2008

Hi Christine,
Thanks. It can be so satisfying to make a good photo. I really like turning people onto the techniques I’ve used to control light. I have seen a lot of people make this more difficult, like a magic show. Really there are two and a half important things: color, the size of the light source and the direction is important in relation to the size of the light source. The bigger the light source is the less direction is critical, which is why I think it is a half important thing.
Thanks,
John Siskin #6082255

Laura E. Swan level-classic June 20, 2008

The way you have positioned the light here looks to me like he is looking down. Out of a window wondering what his future will bring. He looks worried. I like how the light even hits his Adam's apple, John. As if part of his worries are ones a man alone holds. -Laura #6083141

Sherry McClead June 20, 2008

John, I would be interested in this light panel ... my son and some of his friends would like me to do their senior pictures for them.
Sherrybear :} #6083947

John H. Siskin June 20, 2008

Hi Sherry,
There is an article about building a light panel here at BetterPhoto, check it out:
www.betterphoto.com/article.php?id=156.
I think the light panels are really useful tools. I’ve built about five of them.
Thanks Laura, he was really interesting to work with. The sense of worry and depression seem built in with Charlie. I hope his future is kind.
Thanks,
John Siskin #6085824

marci D. July 10, 2008

Wow, very impressive, dramatic portrait! I'm going to go out on a limb here and ask an ignorant question: Other than the format (light panel is free-standing) is a light panel the same thing as a reflector? #6163747

John H. Siskin July 10, 2008

Hi Marci,
The light panel can be used as a reflector, but the primary difference is the size. The panel here is 3.5X6.5 feet, a large light source. You won't get the same light from a 2 foot reflector. What is important is the size, not the material. Each point in a light source lights each point in the subject, so large light sources give a very different light from the more common small light diffusers. Thanks, John Siskin #6163797

Jesse C. Plummer July 15, 2008

Impressive. I kind of thought there just wasn't much more that could be done with human subjects in the photography world. You proved me wrong. This is outstanding. The emotion, the burden, the weight of the world is on his shoulders. You captured it well. #6184455

John H. Siskin July 16, 2008

Hi Jesse,
I think this shot is particularly effective because I had known Charlie for a long time when I made the photograph. Portraits are about an intimacy, and that is hard to achieve instantly. Thanks so much for your feedback on this image. John Siskin
#6187093

To discuss, first log in or sign up (buttons are at top center of page).

Get Constructive Critiques

Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.


 

Did You Know?

Discussions by Category: You can view photo discussions on various themes in the Community > Photo Discussions section of the site.

BetterPhoto Websites: If you see an orange website link directly under the photographer's name, it's totally okay. It's not spam. The reason: BetterPhoto is the one that offers these personal photography websites. We are supporting our clients with those links.

Unavailable EXIF: If there is no other information but 'Unavailable' in the EXIF (meaning no EXIF data exists with the photo), the 'Unavailable' blurb is not displayed. If there is any info, it shows. Many photos have the EXIF stripped out when people modify the image and resave it, before uploading.


 

The following truth is one of the core philosophies of BetterPhoto:

I hear, I forget.
I see, I remember.
I do, I understand.

You learn by doing. Take your next online photography class.

1

You & 1

Love It!


Copyright for this photo belongs solely to John H. Siskin.
Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.