Decision time for the Boss! - # 09/32
Budget cuts, new operational decisions, customer service levels, staff loyalty, income, profit and investment. Nothing is black and white. The shades of grey are subtle. Look towards the unknown.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wonderful image, 'Roon. If the text were shaped differently, it would rate as poetry. Therefore, it is ...
ReplyDeletecool pic, b/w ... and grey work well... and in a sense the text is an odd to today..
ReplyDelete:o)
T
Pretty much a perfect example of a great portrait. The light v dark balanced with dark v light background, and of course the moment. I'm going to disagree with Julie and Tony and say I'd rather the text was left out. Just tell us he is the boss. For me, the best portraits have a bit of a sense of ambiguity about them, or secrecy, and sometimes when you tell the viewer exactly what to think it lessens this. I actually think this applies to all great photographs. This is a bee I have in my bonnet so I might as well continue. Remember as well that with a caption we can make a photo mean anything we want.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this! I was so struck by the light and dark background and then read Richard's comment and wasn't aware of those same tones on the face. Now, having read his comment, of course I see them - they are obvious.
ReplyDeleteYou should do more portraits, Chuckeroon!
Hi Roon!
ReplyDeleteGreat picture!
Long time no see... Have a great weekend!
Blogtrotter
I'm still thinking about Richard's comment. I think he has a point. I of course cannot keep myself from blathering on and on about a photograph. That said, some photographers say nothing and it leaves me feeling half satisfied in a way. Maybe a happy medium? What exactly is that!!! There I go again!
ReplyDeleteV
The way I see it is that this is 'Roon's image to say what he wants. He has chosen a caption plus some text. If BOTH of these were taken away - and Richard is not suggesting that - it would be a technically good image but it would not sing. Now the text may not be aligned with reality - but be a fiction. I have no problem with that. 'Roon is not telling us what to think: he is telling us what he thinks.
ReplyDeleteI just wish he had been a smidge more subtle with the final sentence ...
Julie - of course this is a blog post and not a photo exhibition, so some combination of text and image is required. And a lot depends on the photograph. But what if this guy isn't really the boss?
ReplyDeleteDoes that matter? It doesn't to me. 'Roon has this really terrific image: great tonal balance, great expression. He can make up any story he likes to go with that in the same way that he created the image. There is still massive ambiguity in the eyes, the chin, lips and hands. Much of the text is mirroring the image: b&w, shades of grey. The text invites ambiguity.
ReplyDeleteFor mine, he just lost it with the final sentence: Makes the eyes seem shifty and darting. Description rather than interpretation.
But what would I know: not only can he shoot me under the table, he can also natter me under the table!!
I too agree that in some instances the text is best if not there. For those who look at photos it is just fine. For those who are only satisfied with the complete meal, the text is like the cream in the coffee.
ReplyDelete@Richard & Julie........what an earth have I done to attract so much attention? Enhanced benefits accrue in hard times. Have the confidence to look away and the wisdom to look forward.
ReplyDeleteJulie - it's a big topic this of course and it's wrong to generalise. Some photos are of course meaningless and even misleading if the context is NOT explained. I was musing about the use of captioning in photography in generally, and of course using dear Chucker as a sounding board. I am not of course saying that he shouldn't give us the context. I feel that this is such a good photo that it deserves some solitude so that it stands out!
ReplyDeleteQuelle émotion dans ce portrait ! L'homme accroche parfaitement la lumière ; de plus il est très expressif dans son visage comme dans son attitude déstabilisée. La main est une trouvaille géniale. Bien placée.
ReplyDeleteQuelque chose m'étonne : la lumière sur le visage est inversée par rapport à celle du fond. Il n'y a que toi pour réussir une chose pareille.
As you say, nothing is really b&w, except this photo of course! :-)
ReplyDelete