Kevin's comments for Paul:
For "Creation": Yeah, this is, by far my fav shot out of everyone's. Mich went "oooh" and "ahhh" over it too. I've always been a big fan of this type of lighting effect. Unfortunately if I ever achieve anything like it, it's by complete fluke. Nice work Paul. Goes with0out saying that this one is B&W.
For "Hands with No Hands": Paul, I'm finding that this is bit busy for me. But, you know, this was a concept and I understand what you are going for here, so I'm cool with that.
for "Handscapes" series: I find the "handscapes" series rather disturbing for some reason. They kinda remind me of the movie "Crash" where certain characters do certain things with other people and to other people's scars. I feel all dirty now. Really, I love the colors and textures of these images. But man do they ever freak me out for some reason. Isnt' that what art is all about? - having an impact on your audience?
for Buddha Hands 3: Love the texture here. Again, great use and control of light and shadow. This stuff is right up my alley.
Kevin's comments for Blake:
For "The two guys with the great light": Actually, I find that there is a strong visual dissonance that I can't really get over with this pic. It makes me wonder all kinds of things. Which dude was really your subject? Did standing up guy reach across at the last minute? Did cut off face guy pop up as you snapped this? My eye bounces around a lot when I view it. I don't have anywhere to hang my hat in this one.
That said, the light is awesome and things are sharp considering the conditions. I just can't get over the tension.
For "The Strawberries": Rich and deep. I want to pour cream over this one and lap it up!
For "The Toothbrush Painter": Love the sense of action here. The paint on the palm is especially interesting. I wish you had cropped out the distraction of the blue vest.
For "Another Toothbrush Painter": You have so captured a delicate hand here. Perhaps more than any of all our shots.
For "The Woman Working": A+ for the tight composition here.
For "Stogie Hand": Love this one Blake. It's my favorite of your set. And for my money, this one would have have my vote for Top Shot had Paul not busted out the belly shot. The composition is awesome and bold - you choose to avoid the face that I'm sure was very interesting and more than photo worthy. This is about the hand. It tells a story. It raises further questions. The fingernails are amazing. I like.
Kevin's comments for Hubert:
For "traces": This one works better for me as a smaller thumbnail. When I blow it up, it gets more abstract and I can't really get the feel from it. I like the smaller, crisper version. Did you mean for it to be so grainy or is this a function of shrinking the file for upload?
For Magic Gathering: Hubert, I love the sense of motion here. But you were able to capture some detail in the noodles close to the hand. I wanted initially to say that this is more about the noodles than the hand and thus might be better suited to another assignment. However, really, the noodles act almost as extensions of the fingers. When I see it that way, well damn! it becomes genius!!
OK GENTS. HERE I GO AGAIN. GAA.
Lets see. Alphabetical order.
Blake: Overall, I love your shots. I especially like the one I called the "Church" shot because of the feeling it evokes for me. Maybe it is the "ex-catholic" in me that is drawn to it. I dunno. Still, great light and balance (funny how Kevin sees tension, Hubert wants to see more cropping and I see balance - this photo has drawn a lot of differing opinions which, in my opinion, says a lot about it). As for your others, not a one in the bunch that I don't enjoy. I would love to see more fruit/hands stuff or some kind of series on that. The kids doing art are cool, too. Looks like you had some nice window light. Of course, the stogie and the woman working on the box are great travel stock photos (you might consider getting those and others into a stock agency).
Hubes: My favourites of yours are the "magic Gathering" ones. The light is fantastic and I like the moving-not-moving dynamic tension in them. You appear to have chosen the perfect shutter speed for these to get just the right amount of movement without losing the connection to what it actually is. The textures in the noodles and the flour are beautiful. You also deserve huge kudos for your interview with Holly. I call that going above and beyond.
Kevin: You have a couple of great series for me. The guitar one, of course, rocks!! Amazing lighting, excellent framing and black and white was definitely the way to go, it seems (although it would be interesting to see some colours, too, just to compare), not to mention interesting camera angles. I like the reflections idea but I have one critique. I think if you had cleaned the dust off of the lamp and polished it up, you would have improved the quality of the pictures a lot. At least it looks that way to me. The other one I like of yours is the dishwashing one. That would have made a great part of some kind of editorial story in a magazine. The lighting is great, the colours and contrast are perfect and the shapes and textures really draw attention.
So, to a vote. I am going to go with Kevin. The reason for this is mostly the guitar series although the dishwashing ones also have my vote. The guitar ones had to be set up and planned to a degree and, given this, the execution was excellent. My guess is that you had a lot of fun making these and it shows. Excellent work!
As an overview, I think that each of us had thought that doing projects like this would be a good idea and yet we had been reluctant to get it going, fearing the amount of commitment that would be needed. I I think you guys agree that this was an excellent exercise and I look forward to starting a new one. I think that, with this one, we have seen what we are and are not either capable or willing or able (given circumstances) to do. I expect that the next one (Night? Sure!) will be even better. (Although getting out at night time to shoot might be tough - I may have to improvise...)
Beauty!
Paul
Following Paul, some thoughts on each album in alphabetical order:
No wait, I'm not ready yet. I'll start by saying that I really am very pleased to (yet again) be a part of a photo geeks activity. Hubert, I can't thank you enough for bring the group together in this new way. It's really something. I am beginning to see this as something that can help to further my photographic interest and productivity. The work that you guys produced is amazing. Just looking at your albums motivates me to get out and shoot some pixels. I am pretty pumped that we may go forward with the "night" theme.
Hubert. At work and at play everything you make has been subject you your own thoughtful scrutiny. It shows in your "hands" album. There isn't much I can add to what Kevin and Paul have said; the sense of motion (and the selection of shutter speed it required), and the lighting in "magic gathering" is spot on. The composition of "the cutting edge" gives it the inside "edge" for cover photo for eveything we have done. Your interview with Holly is human interest story/photojournalism of a very high order. The one constructive element I would add is that I would like to see more of your work in the album. A few more of Holly perhaps?
Kevin: Your creativity stands out. As much as the photos, the ideas behind the photos are very compelling. I can just see you having these "light bulb" moments. My favorite is the second of the "red hands." Did you alter the colours? It has alot going for it, this picture. The texture of the foreground cloth adds to the affect the photo makes on me. I like your album very much. I am looking forward to your DSLR contributions, for the range of lenses and techniques you will then have to choose from.
Paul: Your repetoire or background comes across, but not in an ivory tower kinda way. Your work always has a playful, even off-the-cuff element somehow. I am pleased that you included photos of Patrick's hands. It's something I can make comparisons with. The lighting of "creation" is stunning, and this takes my vote as the single most affecting photograph in the hands assignment. I don't really have a constructive element to add here, cause I'm kind of afraid of you (as a photographer).
The Vote: Initially, talking with Hubert in the 3rd floor hallway of the Old Building, I said that Kevin's album was my winner. Now, having looked at all the work more carefully, I am thoroughly confused. I have decided to withhold my vote. And really, what geek group wouldn't have a least one geek abstaining. To my credit, I have chosen a "cover photo" and "most affecting" photograph, but I can't seem to generalize from there. Sorry Boys.
Blake
Yeesh, have we finished with mutual pats on the back, yet? Ok it looks like Paul takes this round with Blake (in very Chinese-like fashion) has chosen abstention. Congrats Paul on a very fine set of work!
Hubert
As an elementary teacher, let me just say, "We are all winners!!!"
Thanks for the positive feedback and for the votes. Funnily, I was almost not going to put the belly shot in there because it was not part of "a series". It was stuck in there at the last minute. Things that make you go, "Hmmm.." I would be happy to share my secrets, but then I would have to kill you...
I was just out for a short night time walk with Ally (trying to get that baby movin', doncha know!) and was looking at how to take night time shots. It looks daunting. But, if everyone is in agreement, lets give 'er!
Onward and upward!
Paul
Hey guys. I would like to respond to some of the comments made about my work in this project. So if I may...
Paul asked about the guitar pics and getting the camera inside the guitar. That's the beauty of point 'n shoot boys! You ain't squeezing your bulky DSLR thingy things into a guitar! Actually, I totally bruised the back of my hand while performing this trick. I actually put a portable LED light in there too as I was having backlight issues and the flash was WAY too harsh at that close range. It was a really fun thing to attempt, with LOTS of trial and error and certainly a "lightbulb" moment like Blake was referring to. I've been thinking for a long time about how to photograph a guitar in a creative manner.
THere were also some comments on the dish pan hands shots. Paul, I didn't actually set the thing up. Mich was doing the dishes (like they must every night! ha. NOT!) I got a stool and hovered overtop. The lighting Hubes, was interesting. I have three different white balance settings on the F30 for fluorescent lighting. They are simply numbered 1,2 and 3 with no further explanation. I fiddled until I found one that worked well with the fluorescent light bar that is over the sink. That is why there is a retro feel to the coloring.
About the Red Handed series. It was completely backlit by natural sunlight coming through the bedroom window. I did tweak these shots in Picasa to really punch up the color saturation and contrast. I kinda wanted the "how did he do that" response from people. Blake thanks for saying that you liked the 2nd one. I can't decide which I like best - that's why there are three of 'em! Paul those are shadows of tree branches.
Now Paul thought I should have wiped the surface of the ceiling light clean for the "reflections" set. That is interesting because I was totally going to, but then decided that I wanted a more guerrilla photography feel to it - like it's just there and it's edgy. So I left the hotel room gunk on the light fixture. Later I then almost photoshopped it out. But then decided to be true to the original intent. So it stayed. Hubes, I'm not sure about your comment about depth of field on this set. Are you joking or serious? I'm not sure about the optics you are referring to, or perhaps you've discovered some laws of physics that I'm unaware of! Anyway, let me know on that one ok?
In the end guys, I really appreciate the comments and critique you made - Thanks tons for them. I often feel rather overwelmed by the vast talent you three all have - so it's nice to hear what you have to say about what i'm doing. I know I need to become a better shooter technically, but that is part of what being in the geeks is all about! Anyway, hope this conversation and others like it continue on this forum!!!
Now Paul should tell us the secret!!! Never mind he has a baby to have today - the Geeks wanna know!
Kev
