Darren, Thank you for your comments. You do not sound crass, that is for sure :)
Yes, she is not in focus. That was a choice. As you might know, Olympus XA is a rangefinder with many nice (even exceptional) features but with a rather poor viewfinder. So, one usually uses a ISO 400 or 800 film at f/8 and focuses somewhere sensible (!) while shooting on the streets. This is with ISO 100 film, inside a poorly lit house, at night. I had to use a wider aperture setting and make an estimation about the distance. I chose to focus on the flowers; without using the viewfinder. I was expecting to catch her even more blurry (because of the long exposure time). Neither she nor anybody else in the room was aware that I was taking photos. The camera was not in my hand (hence the low camera angle) and I was taking part in the conversations, most of the time. I was using the self timer. The direction of the camera, like the focus point, was estimated. Of the three photos I took that night, only this one survived; mostly by chance, I must say. The others were too blurry to be of any use. I believe she was looking nowhere at that moment and was rather lost... She may never know that I took this photo of her that night as I still think it may not be a good idea to share this with her. By the way, below you can see her in a better day, looking into my eyes/camera (well, a Voigtlander!): http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=9849452 Bulent --------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.flickr.com/photos/bc_the_path/ http://photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=2226822 http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/bulentcelasun 2012/1/7 Darren Addy <[email protected]>: > My condolences to your family on the significant loss. > > At the risk of sounding crass, I would like to address a couple of > points about the photo for discussion: > > As a portrait of grief, I would expect the grief-stricken subject to > be in focus. Instead, the flowers are sharp when nothing else is. This > makes sense to me if her eyes are on the flowers (which I think would > improve the photograph). But they're not. They are looking into the > camera (or at least at the photographer). > > The obvious awareness of the camera makes this shot more uncomfortable > for me (almost exploitative) - something I would not feel if she were > looking anywhere but at the camera. Some might argue that this makes > it more powerful, but then would not having her also be sharply in > focus enhance that power. > > I give you kudos for the taking the photograph. I agree with others > who also like the distance between camera and subject, the space > around her and especially the low camera angle. > > I hope you take my comments in the spirit intended. I would have gone > easier on you had it been taken with a Pentax. (I'm kidding). > > Darren Addy > Kearney, Nebraska > > > > > On Fri, Jan 6, 2012 at 4:16 PM, Bulent Celasun <[email protected]> > wrote: >> Dear Friends, >> >> Thank you all for your rewarding comments on the photo and on your >> words about our loss. >> The deceased had been a real gentleman and will always be remembered >> as a loved father & spouse. >> I am happy I took this particular photo then, which seems to reflect >> the dominant feeling of the time... >> >> Bulent >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> http://www.flickr.com/photos/bc_the_path/ >> http://photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=2226822 >> http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/bulentcelasun >> >> >> >> 2012/1/5 Cotty <[email protected]>: >>> On 5/1/12, Bulent Celasun, discombobulated, unleashed: >>> >>>>Not with a Pentax camera or a Pentax lens. >>> >From a Pentaxian, though... >>>> >>>>http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=14926612 >>>> >>>>My mother-in-law, the day after she has lost her husband... >>> >>> That's an extremely poignant image - very strong and atmospheric. >>> >>> Condolences. >>> >>> -- >>> >>> >>> Cheers, >>> Cotty >>> >>> >>> ___/\__ >>> || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche >>> ---------- http://www.cottysnaps.com >>> _____________________________ >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>> [email protected] >>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>> follow the directions. >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >> follow the directions. > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
