Anon. Xmas
I took some shots at a friend's holiday party last night and most of them were friendly smiling boring shots of folks getting their drink on. The only ones I liked were the faceless ones.
Allow me to ramble a bit. It got me thinking a little about anonymity within my shots. Often I think I am attracted to what looks like cleavage but is, in fact, just a cropped head. I don't think it's a gender specific thing anyway. Sure, there is some allure to the bodies but the more I look at some of my favorites, the more it seems the faceless ones stand out. Perhaps because it is easier to make those shots or perhaps it is because I won't have to get releases down the line. It could simply be that the face is such an expressive thing that it is easier to keep some mystery without showing it.
Either way, it's something I will be on guard for down the line. If I get a chance, I'll show some shots with and without the face and you'll see just what I'm talking about. There is a good opportunity to shoot some holiday images at a party I'm attending tomorrow night. I'll see if some examples come from that.
Take pictures of torsos.
Allow me to ramble a bit. It got me thinking a little about anonymity within my shots. Often I think I am attracted to what looks like cleavage but is, in fact, just a cropped head. I don't think it's a gender specific thing anyway. Sure, there is some allure to the bodies but the more I look at some of my favorites, the more it seems the faceless ones stand out. Perhaps because it is easier to make those shots or perhaps it is because I won't have to get releases down the line. It could simply be that the face is such an expressive thing that it is easier to keep some mystery without showing it.
Either way, it's something I will be on guard for down the line. If I get a chance, I'll show some shots with and without the face and you'll see just what I'm talking about. There is a good opportunity to shoot some holiday images at a party I'm attending tomorrow night. I'll see if some examples come from that.
Take pictures of torsos.
5 comments:
Clay - I know this is not the most approriate location to ask a question - however I admire your work and would like to know your opinion. I'll make it easy too =) Cokin filters? Yes or No.
I agree with 'leaving out the head' Just looking at the pic my mind can wander and create it's own visual of what the head should like. I think this way everyone sees the picture diffrent.
Clay,
I think it is a visceral thing. Not seeing a face encourages the voyeuristic nature of photography.
It is the same as admiring a stranger in a public place. If your eyes meet, you avert your stare out of modesty and social convention. If there is a low risk of getting caught in the act and embarrassed, there is no stigma to holding your gaze and taking it in.
The lack of a face means the subject cannot see us and not being "seen" by the subject gives us free reign to stare without fear of being caught.
We of course know that the picture is inanimate, but our vision systems and brains still process looking at a human subject as looking at a human. There is no getting away from it.
James
adam, i only use a UV filter. i have no idea who makes it.
go james, that's one thoughtful comment. thanks.
FYI,
I caught your podcast interview. Great stuff.
I think you caught the studio lighting guys a little flat footed.
They really wanted to talk equipment and you kept coming back to the work, I loved it.
It reminded me of the soapbox I get on when talking to studio photographers about natural lighting and keeping the equipment to a minimum.
Good art is usually inspired by a constraint of resources, rather than unlimited resources.
Good art is more often discovered than created.
smoke a joint.
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