John's 'Wandering Soul' Series

[John.D]

These photos are getting on a bit, dating back to a year or so, and my lecturers despise them. But I still have a love for them, and I hope to continue the series in the future.


1.




2.




2 Alt.




3 - Landscape version




3 Alt.




4.

[Grumbledook]

love the pinks in the last one

did you use a tripod for them? I think the first would have benefitted from a longer exposure to smooth the sea out a touch

[Rhynome]

I take it these are of those Antony Gormley statues by the coast? I quite like the ones by the coast, especially from the look of them in your photos, but I couldn't stand the ones in London; this is as you may expect to see someone you don't know whatosever on the beach, but in London, well... you don't usually see people on top of buildings, etc. so it ruins the sense of being watched, or having these silent watchmen, as, well, no one would be up there anywhere, by the coast, however...

No. 4 is Brilliant, much for the colours, and the way the image just stretches off into the horizon, furthermore I like the little speck off in the distance. I also like no. 2. However, when it comes to 1 and 3, 1 may have a little too much space off to the left hand side of the figure, ruining the concept of the statue wading into the sea; I don't quite know why, but I get the impression that if the picture were narrower then it would add more of a sense of velocity to the little fella. Much like on a narrow road you get the illusion of moving faster than at the same speed on a wider road (hence the use of zigzag markings on the roads near schools*).
I also think that the portrait of 2, as opposed to the landscape of 3, gives more of a sense of regal standing, distance, the 'watchman' figure I described before; off in the distance observing you, yet also, due to the posture of the statue, somewhat like a man hanged off in the distance. In short, that sort of 'cold' sentiment ought to have distance associated with it, well, I feel so, at least. In 3 he's much more apparent, closer, it ruins some of the mystery.

As for the Alternatives, I much prefer the grey to the blue. The blueish tint photos feel far too harsh. In the grey the sky takes a back seat and you're able to concentrate more on the figure.

As for smoothing out the sea, it's often nice to see a nice soft sea, it makes the photos more mellow, but in this case I disagree, I think it ought to be choppy to add to the cold feeling that I mentioned above of the statues, after all, no.1 is practically killing himself. Also, it's Britain.

Okay, not full on crit-stick, but hey, it was something!

*Non-relevant information, yeah!

[John.D]

Thanks a lot, but they are real people, not statues. I'm glad you like number 4

[DIGme]

Hi !
Your jobs is interesting but i think you do not go until the end of the potential of your shoot. I'll try to explain with the first one that I really really love, in its tones, lights, feeling: the man is too on the right so we can supposed there something to see on the left of the horizon but, no boat or something else. May be with the foreground more centered you will more captive the spectator. So your picture will win in emotional and will invite us to join the lonely man. (i made a little drawing, I can send you it, if you're interested)

Idem for the other, the man is so on the left, that he is almost out of the scene.

Very good contrast on the last one, but the man yet. On the right rock, that would establish an excellent dynamic, a beautiful relation with the lighthouse of the background and it would add parallelism with the sand banns of the foreground !

Good work and good eye, it will surely be more and more effective, a thread to watch !

(My god, I hope that my translator is effective! )

[comusher]

#4 is a beautiful image!!

[alicat08]

very expressive
i like them

[EvrEst]

I think there are enough critiques to keep you working so I wont add anything! I like the alt versions better and vertical.

I would love to see some recent work from you!