Author Topic: [Portfolio] Impromptus - H  (Read 17990 times)

Olivier

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[Portfolio] Impromptus - H
« on: September 06, 2015, 20:34:09 »
I need to bond with my X-T1 and have decided to work on an informal project, somewhat similar to what I already started a few years ago. I meet many people that I think would by a good subject for a portrait, now I actually ask them for one. I will not run this as a daily or weekly project, but rather post something whenever I am happy to.
It will be b&w mostly (so much easier for me!) but maybe not only.

Today we went to a music festival at the castle of Villarceaux. This year's theme was Morrocan music.
We pique-nique'd next to a stage in the gardens and there he was, Ali Chouhad, who attracted the crowd with his deep voice and captivating melodies. We had a blast.
Based on the Morrocan's reactions around the stage, I guess he is a famous artist in his country. I met him later in the gardens and asked for a portrait after we chatted for a minute or so. He accepted to pose briefly under a nearby tree.

1. Ali the sorcerer
X-T1, Nikkor 105mm f/2.5, Lens Turbo.


Akira

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Re: improptus
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2015, 21:19:37 »
Olivier, this is an exemplary portrait.  The expression on his face tells a lot of stories.  You surely set the bar for your new project very high.
"The eye is blind if the mind is absent." - Confucius

"Limitation is inspiration." - Akira

Olivier

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Re: improptus
« Reply #2 on: September 07, 2015, 11:53:05 »
Thank you Akira. The man is very warm and easy to approach. Obviously he draws a lot of respect from people around him.

Mikes

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Re: improptus
« Reply #3 on: September 07, 2015, 13:21:38 »
Beautiful portrait, Oliver. There is an endearing softness of the facial features that seems to suit the subject, other than the eyes which are in sharp focus.
Mike Selby - Sydney

Jørgen Ramskov

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Re: improptus
« Reply #4 on: September 07, 2015, 15:17:24 »
This is a wonderful start of your project. I do think I would like it even more with a bit more DoF.
Jørgen Ramskov

Gary

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Re: improptus
« Reply #5 on: September 07, 2015, 19:52:44 »
A great start for both you and the XT1. (My Fuji's are my go to cameras.)
"Everywhere you look there are photographs, it is the call of photographers to see and capture them."- Gary Ayala
My snaps are here: www.garyayala.com
Critiquing my snaps are always welcomed and appreciated.

Olivier

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Re: improptus
« Reply #6 on: September 07, 2015, 21:00:47 »
Indeed, f/4 would have been a better idea than f/2.5. Too late now and one of my goals was to work on MF with this combo. I set the lens to the most difficult aperture in order to see how I would perform. The sharpness is where I wanted it, it could of course expand to the whole face. Next time...

Erik Lund

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Re: improptus
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2015, 11:25:04 »
The eyes are too dark IMHO
Erik Lund

Olivier

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Re: improptus
« Reply #8 on: September 08, 2015, 15:15:37 »
Thank you Erik, you are probably right and I will try to rework the file. Now I am off to the airport for a business trip to Bosnia.
Olivier

Olivier

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Re: improptus
« Reply #9 on: September 24, 2015, 22:32:54 »
I need to work more on this... but my wife and my boss will tell you that without firm deadlines I am not really reliable...

So here is Julie, growing much too fast for my taste.
She was n.12 in my 52 weeks projects three years ago, 7 years old then and now already in middle school.
http://52bwportraits.blogspot.fr/2013/04/week-12-dancing-princess-julie-is.html

She is also getting too smart for me!

2. passe, passe le temps, j'ai du dormir vraiment longtemps


Fons Baerken

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Re: improptus
« Reply #10 on: September 24, 2015, 22:34:47 »
my thought on number #1 un meme-selfie

Olivier

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Re: improptus
« Reply #11 on: September 25, 2015, 10:27:47 »
Sorry Fons but i don't get it!

Fons Baerken

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Re: improptus
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2015, 10:45:53 »
the guy looks like you

Jacques Pochoy

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Re: improptus
« Reply #13 on: September 25, 2015, 14:39:07 »
Nice portraits... :-) Ali the magnificent... ;-) And your daughter is perfect... C'est vrai que le temps passe si vite ... :-)
“A photograph is a moral decision taken in one eighth of a second. ” ― Salman Rushdie, The Ground Beneath Her Feet.

Olivier

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Re: improptus
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2015, 15:43:14 »
Fons: this thought never occured to me! I will check again next time I find a mirror.

Jacques: the problem is that she knows she is perfect...

Thank you
Olivier