Sunset Years
By raxeffect. Filed in EOS 1000D, raxeffect |Tags: B & W, Black and white, Old-age home, People
Av: F/5.6; Tv: 0.040s (1/25); f: 55mm (35mm-equiv:89 mm); ISO: 100
This is a photo I took on my visit to an old-age home. I just loved the way it came out as soon as I took it.
Highlights of the photo would be the Soft Focus with 1 person in full focus and others in varying degrees of lens blur. The expression on the face of the old man is a good catch. With the subject looking directly into the camera, it helps to relate well with viewer of the photo conveying a lot of emotions.
The black and white mode of the photo adds more to the emotions and brings in a hint of classicism. The angle of the photo is also a little different than the usual ones we see. It has got a good upward inclination.
I did not have to resort to much post processin. However, I added the Vignette effect using Photoshop. The Vignette effect is a sort of Lens Distortion which adds the Blackish touch to the edges of the photo. I love that effect as I find that it adds a lot more emphasis to the centre of the image.
I also added a thin border to just try out the framing effect.
Sunday, April 5th 2009 at 7:25 pm |
Firstly I would like to say….I love the caption….also love how u have captured his expression…and the black and white adds more meaning to the photo somehow… i think expressions are more defined in black and white…is it so?
Rakshith : Thank you, Aishwarya. Well, this photo was taken in Black and White itself and not edited to make it one (although, I don’t know if it makes that big a difference as regards the final outcome). You have made a very valid observation. I think it does make a huge difference. I’m not certain about the reason, but I think it is because the contrast is made out best in B & W; without other colours to steal the attention or dilute the effect. Another observation I’ve made is that, even in colour photographs capturing great emotions, there is a good amount of contrast variation which can be noticed. I guess that extra touch of black has a more pronounced effect.
Sunday, April 5th 2009 at 8:03 pm |
wow! awesome capture, excellent composition!
Also nice to see that you’re well past the 3000 pictures mark pretty quickly with the 1000D…!!
Rakshith : Thanks Arjun. Yes, good observation, although the speed has reduced drastically ever since college started.
Monday, April 6th 2009 at 10:39 pm |
First of all, nice new web page. Though it seems a little bit cluttered with many ingredients (so is my blog too), it is nice.
Now coming to the picture, the first thing that I would say is that it was a good endeavour. The subject was of consequence and you surely must have had a few striking portraitures. At least you should have had.
This picture, though shows the sensitivity of the photographer, fails to put up a good composition. I had not been there and I do not know how the composition could have been better. But the composition here is not encouraging. I have found it weak. In fact the picture seems to be very arranged. I know it was not so. But it seems like it is arranged. And the bluring of the background has not helped. In fact it has rendered the image dull. My opinion is that the depth of field had to be deeper and a little bit of expressions of those in the background would have helped. Pictures like this need to be shot as a natural picture. If the subject is conscious of your presence, the story is lost. And if you have to show the subject to be aware of your presence, that picture has to be remarkable in quality, composition, detailing and clarity to make it a vibrant one. The highlights are perfect. You should have made much better use of it. I think capturing a natural portraiture of the man in the foreground with great clarity of his skin textures and highlights without making him aware of your presence would have rendered a great picture. But of course you need good lens and high ranged lens for it. Anyway, nice effort. Effort is the most important thing. The perfect picture comes by chance in the process of your effort. Good luck.
Regards,
Subhanjan Sengupta.
Rakshith : Thank you for your comments, Subhanjan. Well, I’ll take up your criticism positively and look into improving my photography skills. This photo was not arranged in any sense of the word, however. And I do feel this photo conveys a good amount of message. Yes, having the subject looking elsewhere would’ve made it a different story, but, this in itself is a story open for reading and understanding. and about the increased depth of field, I feel with a sharp background, the photo would’ve lost its touch and importance of the subject in the foreground.
And as you said, with better equipments it would’ve turned out to be an even better photo with a lot more effects, but, alas, as for now, this is all I ‘ve got.
Tuesday, April 7th 2009 at 12:57 am |
hey, a very nice and meaningful pic u have here.
it conveys lots of msgs….
Rakshith : Thank you, Nadira. Yes, that is one of the things I liked about this photograph.
Sunday, April 12th 2009 at 9:29 pm |
Hey Rakshith,
I really liked this photo.
Cheers,
Ashish
Rakshith : Thanks, Ashish. Same here.