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.. but old gents are so photogenic!

The first is an old gent on the Manly ferry.



And the second, is our dear neighbour, Laurie, who is 88 (and still plays two rounds of 18 holes of golf a week!)



Now I know that some folk might not like my PP but I believe that it works in these cases. You comments, pro and con are welcome.
Cheers
Sheila

2 amazing photos
i have never seen such texture on someones face

Sheila,

Did you print these first, then crumple the prints, then rephotograph them?

The lighting and texture on the first is wonderful, but the contrast range is perhaps a tad too much for the camera? I would like to see just a bit more shadow detail pulled from the near side of this gentleman's face.

I would also like to be able to see the blown section on the bridge of this person's nose pulled down a bit, but I while I suspect that the shadow deatil is there, I fear that the blown section is way gone.

I think the lighting in the second is a bit too strong and direct; I'd like just a smidgeon more modelling here to bring out even more depth and detail.

And I have no issues with the PP at all.

Sheila two amazing shots. In the first in a perfect world it would be nice to pick up a smidge more shadow detail, it looks like what you have done already due to the window is pretty amazing.

wow.
i love both photos. excellent portraits!!
and your neighbour has such an excellent name!

Sheila

The second image here works wonderfully well. The face and shirt collar floating in that sea of black really focuses the eye on all the wonderful character in Laurie's face.

#1 doesn't grab me so much other than a foretelling of my future...

Love #2 - I think this would print extremely well. It's a beautiful portrait. Do you also have colour? I imagine he has great faded blue or green eyes?

Justin wrote:#1 doesn't grab me so much other than a foretelling of my future...

Love #2 - I think this would print extremely well. It's a beautiful portrait. Do you also have colour? I imagine he has great faded blue or green eyes?

You're right, Justin. Laurie does have blue eyes. Here is the original coloured version



But somehow I still prefer the mono.

And here is Laurie in his favourite place - his shed.

And that is a portrait!

That last photo is awesome Shiela. I'd like to know more about it. It looks like it was shot using natural light - was there any flash? Also how did you achieve such a lovely b/w conversion? Would you mind sharing your PP technique on this?

Laurie was sitting in his shed repairing an old vacuum cleaner head. Laurie is one of those folk who think that anything can be fixed regardless how useful it will be when fixed I asked him if I could take a few snaps - I did not want any posed shots. I got my tripod (which is a rarity with me!) and took various shots with my Canon 135 f/2 while he was repairiing the cleaner. I have yet to buy a flash (one on order for Christmas ) so I used natural light, which I much prefer any way. I converted the RAW image and then used Fred Miranda's Black and White filter - http://www.fredmiranda.com/software - and the rest, as they say, is history. I would have preferred a better contrast between his sweater and the background but I certainly was not going to ask him to change his top!

Cheers
Sheila

Sheila, terrific photos. Just curious, did you know the old bloke on the ferry? If not, did you ask him if you could take the photo. I was out taking photos this morning and came across this old bloke walking his dog. He was such a great subject for a photo, but I just didnt have the guts to go and ask him if I could take his photo.

Thanks for sharing Sheila

great shots, b&w works so much better i feel...

Hi Sheila I like the colour shot - the eyes have more impact in the colour version

norbs wrote:Sheila, terrific photos. Just curious, did you know the old bloke on the ferry? If not, did you ask him if you could take the photo. I was out taking photos this morning and came across this old bloke walking his dog. He was such a great subject for a photo, but I just didnt have the guts to go and ask him if I could take his photo.

No, I didn't ask him. It was a candid shot and if you ask, it no longer becomes a candid. Most folk don't mind their photo taken and I have yet to be challenged (it helps being a female ). If you feel uncomfortable about this, I suggest you take a candid snap and then ask him if he would like a copy. I carry short form model releases with me and I sometimes ask (after the event) if the person would sign it. I have yet to be knocked back. I tell them that I would like to put the image on my stock library site and need a model release to do so. The first time you ask is a bit nerve wracking but most are happy to oblige.

Cheers
Sheila