A simple portrait - does it say more?

[srwatters]

I've been somewhat taken with the work of Timothy Greenfield-Sanders of late and last night tried to capture more than just the image of the subject I was photographing. This idea comes somewhat from his book XXX 30 Porn-Star Portraits. I'm not claiming to be anywhere near his skill, but here is my attempt in capturing something more with a simple portrait.

Model is Rene - a 34 year old mother of two and print model

Nikon D3, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR
ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/160 @ 170mm


Comments appreciated as always.

[akimartymar]

Did you put the nude version in the Human Form section? LOL!! Just kidding. This one looks a bit like the Jenna Jameson shot from the cover, which is I'm sure what you were going for. The one thing I will say that makes his better is the fact that Jenna has a bit of a smurk on her face. Here Rene doesn't seem to have any expression at all. She needs just a hint of a smile or something to give more life to the image.

[LoungeLizard]

Scott, I hate to say this, but I don't know what it tells me. She looks like she's at Waldgreen's posing for a passport photo.

Maybe that is what it's supposed to say.

[Concisus Cognatus]

Beautiful shot and beautiful model. Very good technically. I mean the lighting, composition, etc. are very spot-on. But it just kind of says "I'm here, so what". The face is not letting on to any hinted emotions. Nothing at all. Man, that lighting is so freakin good.

[mangosli]

Ditto on what everyone else said. I wish I could be that technically good. If anything, I kind of get a "I can be a real witch" attitude coming through, or "Don't mess with me". Is that her?

[srwatters]

I challenge you to make your own interpretation.

Perhaps a whole new career path has opened for me. I'll check the Walgreen's website for photography positions

[carrbowl]

Scott I looked at the website too..and it is defintely not my style, but to each their own!! And I have not even a hangnail to stand on compared to your photos!!! but since the website was in black and whitem, I wonder what yours would look like..just for comparisons sake (and because some of us don't have the talent to see it yet!!!)

[brad]

I recognize the style you were going for and I think you nailed it solid.... don't know that I *care* for it, but I think you achieved exactly what you wanted.

[Mixtli]

I am in love with the lighting >.< so perfect.

[Wes]

Very pretty model, lighting is spot-on (as usual). Purely a matter of taste, but the totally expressionless look makes her look kind of lifeless. A square-on-to-the-camera pose is not something I usually see in a female pose. Gotta look at it a bunch and mull it over.

[Scott A]

Hello Scott,
There is no doubt that the technical aspects of this photo are perfect however, the pose just doesn't do it. I've seen Timothy's work before and have even seen a show on photography where he was featured. Looking through his portfolio it would appear that all of this photos are virtually the same and he even knows that he has been accused of this as well. That being said, while looking through his online port a little more closely, everyone is posed just a little different. Just enough to keep the portrait unique to that individual. More importantly, rarely are they posed squared off with no expression. There is normally a turn of the head or somewhat of an angle. Even with the few that are shot squared off, there is usually a smile or smirk. I think that it would be easier to interpret this photo if there was just a little more (smirk, angle, turn of the head, arms crossed). Right now, I feel like I'm about to lose a hand of poker.

Additionally, there is something about his lighting that helps make his work quite unique and flattering to his style. The images just seem to have a dark feel to them. I think it adds to that serious feel that his images portray.

I see what you are going for here and I dig it. Timothy's work is obviously respected but we each have our own style would should be respected as well

Just my two cents. Keep up the good work.

Cheers!
Scott

[markperez]

I think your usual stuff capture more then a simple portrait then this one does.

[srwatters]

Thanks for all the opinions and comments.

I'll be working on images similar to this for a while.

For those who prefer my "other" style...

[Concisus Cognatus]

Mercy! I wanna work with you. Can I? Oh pleeze, pleeze, pleeze. LOL

[propellerhead]

And, hey, Richard, if you DO get to work with Scott...he's fantastic. Great teacher and mentor...patient and very helpful. He assisted me on a shoot and I loved what he did for my work.