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WAEL HAMDAN
{K:7476} 1/24/2006
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Hi Mark, a wonderful colors and lighting here,
great job
wael
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Jeanette Hägglund
{K:59855} 1/22/2006
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I prefer this one cause of the composotion! Also i like the reflection in the table and the lightning. Looks so classical!!!
Jeanette
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Mark Longo
{K:12760} 1/15/2006
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Yes Ina, and might be a fun challenge to create a narrative with book titles in this way. Almost like making a collage that includes phrases in text clipped out of context. I've seen shots on Usefilm that do that with street signage. Excellent!
Mark
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Ina Nicolae
{K:44481} 1/15/2006
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Hi Mark, I think as soon as you include a book (or more) the text takes over - it's just the way we are conditioned. Maybe if it were in a foreign alphabet, I wouldn't pay attention to it first, or if it were a bunch of magazines, with nothing interesting on the ends. The subject of this particular image for me, isn't the book end, but the books, so the focus is OK for me. However, Kathy's point is absolutely valid, because you wanted the elephant to be the subject. They're well balanced, so it's either or, depending on the viewer. But I think you're on to something, since you can play with words and meanings and subtle arrangements to create a narrative with books.
Always inspiring, Mark!
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Alicia Popp
{K:87532} 1/15/2006
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Preciosa serie de estas fotos de estatuillas. Me gustan mucho!!. Felicitaciones!!!
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Bob Walker
{K:1066} 1/15/2006
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Hi Mark,
Great series. I looked at all three and have come to the conclusion that this is my favorite. The lighting, textures, and overall composition, just seem to work well together.
Congrats!
Best regards,
Bob
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Mark Longo
{K:12760} 1/15/2006
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An excellent comment Kathy!!! Yes, I had overlooked the impact of the book titles as a distraction from the bookend. Upon looking at the image in the context of your comment I have to agree that the text on the book bindings steals some of the focus form the bookend, which is not what I intended. I could have faded the text on the books somewhat in PS, which may have reduced their role as a distraction without affecting their important role as props for the shot... It is an interesting problem.
This image has drawn other comments along these lines and I do agree with them. I've learned a little more about our craft here! Thanks so much for your comment!
Mark
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Mark Longo
{K:12760} 1/15/2006
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Thanks for you detailed comment, Ina, it is very helpful to me. Since posting this one last night it has been the best liked and most commented on of the three. I agree with all that you said about the book titles.
I think in this instance I concentrated too much on the bookend itself without consdiering more about the overall impression to be created with the books, which are very important secondary elements of the shot. Your remark that text in an image is a socio-cultural element of an image is insightful, exactly on the mark, and facinating! A good lesson to remember for the future!
Also, the idea of using the titles of books on a shelf to depict a larger socio-cultural context and also communicate an idea had not occured to me. Brilliant! I'll keep this in mind as an interesting future project! You should too!
Mark
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Kathy Hillard
{K:25721} 1/15/2006
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This is my favorite set up of the three shots, Mark. I like the composition of it and the choice of the colors of the books. These tones are really nice. My only criticism of this one is that the focus is on the title of the book and not on the elephant. Other than that this is the one for me!
Kathy
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Rashed Abdulla
{K:163889} 1/15/2006
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great still life ,wonderful colors and lighting ,great details ,all of the best my friend ..
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Ina Nicolae
{K:44481} 1/15/2006
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Hi Mark, Great series and classy subject! I like #3 the best of the series, then number one, and then the middle one, mainly because of the composition. The lighting is very good in all three. Wonderful wood texture and reflections, and great saturated colors. The texture and slight ragged edge of the books in this image really add dimension and warmth. For me, it could be also interesting to see a sequence of more book titles, as I am always attracted to the printed word, and the socio-cultural connections we form when faced with text in an image.
Great idea Mark, and beautiful still lifes!
Ina
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Mark Longo
{K:12760} 1/14/2006
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Thanks for the encouragement, Poppy. And yes, perhaps I missed an opportunity in not choosing books with more of a thematic relationship to the shot. I wanted books that were not too reflective and that also looked old. Old leatherbound Rudyard Kipling editions would have been perfect! Unfortunatly I don't have anything like that at home and perhaps got a bit lazy here. Most all of the books in my bookcase are still like new and just didn't seem to create any ambience.
Thanks again!
Mark
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Poppy Casper
{K:361} 1/14/2006
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Wow, this is nice. I'm looking forward to browsing to the rest of the series. This could have been difficult to expose for, with the dark background and the light shining off of the books. I think the only thing it would be interesting to see would be books with an elephant theme - pity the children's Babar books are too narrow and brightly colored!
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