Hypnotise me, a photo from Rajasthan, West

Photographer's Note

This Sadhu had such a strong face that, when he asked me to take his picture, I felt drawn to go as close as I could. The whiskery beard, the powerful eyes and skin looking like polished wood combined to give a feel of great wisdom and certainty.

I know some people wont like the lack of context but in this case I think that less is more.

Converted to b/w the original colour photo Ive included as a workshop.

arnabchat, danby1, bharat, Zepi, eleparc, hispic, sohrab, Karthik, touristdidi oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

clodreno (0) 2004-11-25 4:24

great portrait Richard.. I love it... it's very good to be that close in that particular case.
Very well framed.
And such a face.. very good.

danby1 (3697) 2004-11-25 4:34

very nice portrait, one of the better ones, you can tell hes had a hard life! and it works very well in B&W, well done!

arnabchat (7233) 2004-11-25 4:38

like the way you captured him close. too close, he could have even done you with his hypnotic look.
just kidding!

good light, sharp, nice DOF, and very detailed beard.

like both the BW and color versions. the color version has a very little noise, which has been nicely depressed in the BW post.

Thanks for sharing
Arnab

Zepi (22848) 2004-11-25 4:38

Magnifique regard,j'adore le piqué de la grosse barbe et le regard incroyable du personnage!
Bien joué Richard!

Tibetix (0) 2004-11-25 5:01

Very effectual face and eyes...

The Sadhu picture is my favorite...

Thanks for sharing, Richard..

bharat (474) 2004-11-25 5:47

Great Potrait Richard>Suidelight and b & w makes your photgraph good shot.Eyes looke very much strong.

oochappan (4880) 2004-11-25 6:10

Very tight appropriate crop or framing although no colors good soft gradiant greys for a most eloquent portrait. Excellent Richard. Indeed less appealing colored version not worked out. Funny he asked you.
Henk

[workshop] [compare]

eleparc (24063) 2004-11-25 6:12

wow wow!! i see your point of context... and I do the same too you are right;-) hahaha!! the lack of context is offset by the close DOF and the very sharp nose and moustache hair... Maybe the eyes are not quite so sharp but the overall impact is very powerful and it does not bother me. I long to go see the ws with the color original version which IMO before opening it must be even more striking with the red tikka on his forehead...
Well, i must say, even though i like the color version, this b&w one has more impact indeed! you should try b&w with just the red tikka in color...

hispic (9658) 2004-11-25 8:41

Wonderful delicate depiction like a large format.
Great portrait, good and strong face with powerful eyes.

retesh_gondal (173) 2004-11-25 12:30

superb potrait...Sadhus got some attitude...b&w is good choice...

sohrab (7439) 2004-11-25 13:31

nice one richard
i have to say that it is not only the eyes that get me, but it's also the pattern created by his salt and pepper beard . infact that seems to be as hypnotic if not more than the beard
i think your colour version would really nice too if you could deepen the colours
take care :)

christina (2040) 2004-11-25 19:47

I like the close up nature of the portrait. To me it is about his face, not the surroundings. His face tells a story-the strong eyes, grey whispy beard, the mark on his forehead. I think it is fabulous!

Amandine (1072) 2004-11-27 3:14

Wonderful shot ! we can see other peolple (probably you) in heis eyes. His face is so serious and full of didnity.Very well done

Karthik (306) 2004-12-06 23:48

wow.. I missed this pic earlier.. It is a great portrait!

very tightly composition. I like the one (altered image#3) in the workshop.. The predominat red tilak and his turban speak better than the BW.. :)

gr8 pic!

SoupDragon (652) 2005-01-28 8:28

Classic. Fantastic detail, fantastic composition, fantastic subject.
This picture has so much to say that it hurts my ears!

ineoo (0) 2005-05-27 18:08