2009-08-19

scott and gabriella

6 comments:

Barbara/myth maker said...

It's always good to see a photograph where the photographer remains invisible, as if ths subjects were alone in the room. You achieve this with your people photographs.

Ken Bryant said...

Thanks. I give them scenarios to act out, and most of these models are superb improv actors; they get going in their roles, and really do forget I'm there (except when the strobes go off).

J. Evan Kreider said...

I keep returning to this photo, thinking about the differing light values on the two faces. Scott is lit with such an intense light, which of course accentuates the character of his personality/persona. Gabriella's understated lighting possibly goes with her eyes not being visible. The intense shadow on Scott's chest almost seems like an invisible third person, possibly the spirit of that about which they are conversing. I find his hand possibly overly emphasized by the lighting (the hand was likely moving and the lighting unpredictable). This powerful shot grants no middle ground . . . viewers will either adore or abhor it. I like it, but (and I don't know how to articulate this) it is still almost too powerful for me.

Ken Bryant said...

Interesting take! What appealed to me about the composition was that there is a triangle of him, her, hand -- he looks at her, she looks at the hand, and the hand...? For this, the hand needs to be bright, or we'd ignore it and look at the faces...I think.

What people are looking at interests me more and more as a variable in portraits. With two people or more, there are endless variations. That's what I like most about the photo of Verena on this same page.

Ken Bryant said...

Interested in the "some will abhor" and "too powerful" comments. Play the devil's advocate and tell me the "abhor" position. I had thought "bore" would be more likely than "abhor"; I would of course rather be "abhoring" than "boring"...

J. Evan Kreider said...

Why did those words spring to mind, other than because they rhymed . . . possibly I see the photo as being almost sinister. I find his expression calm and even passive, whereas his arm exhibits extreme strength, while the lighting on Gabriella portrays her as being more submissive, or at least less powerful. Her eyes and tilt of the head suggest that she disagrees but will keep silent to keep the peace (does she fear the brightly-lit hand?) He dominates by his strong physical features, the stronger lighting and powerful arm position. She is so much weaker that we cannot even see her eyes, her face is lit softly, and only her feminine hair is highlighted. I'm reading far too much into things, but the background offers nothing to assist our interpretation, other than utter darkness pierced by a shaft of light (and reflected?)