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ISMAEL MARCOS
{K:10535} 6/8/2006
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the shadows are great...
ism
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cessy karina
{K:14205} 2/6/2006
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very nice play of light and shadow
excellent idea, nicely executed
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Mohamed Banna
{K:34237} 2/3/2006
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first ... i saw it as a modles in a window shop :)
( see it again in the thumbnail )
great composition
very strong contrast ( in colors and shapes )
very artistic
well done
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Yahya El Hosafy
{K:8369} 2/3/2006
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Hwy Mark, this is a one fine piece of work, all i wanted to say Ina said it and more, but what i like most is the way you get to read the form from the elements of the photo, like for example, the white cat, you get more details about the form by looking at the shadow, not the cat itself, also you get to FEEL the distance between the two from their shadows too. i agree with Ina too about the area of shadow on the left. brilliant work.
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Mark Longo
{K:12760} 1/26/2006
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Wow Ina, thanks for posting the vertical space analysis! I hadn't realized I was seeing/framing the image this way. Either my eye is better than I thought, or my luck is! Probably a little bit of both. It's helpful to understand these mechanics of composition in play here with this facinating view of the composition. I truely appreciate your taking the time to comment/analyze this. It's helpful to me (and others) in better understanding this composition with the benefit your great eye!
Very best,
Mark
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Mark Longo
{K:12760} 1/26/2006
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Wow, small world!
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Ina Nicolae
{K:44481} 1/26/2006
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Mark, I thought it was so unusual to see these cats posted the same day as yours:
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1036956
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Ina Nicolae
{K:44481} 1/26/2006
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Mark, even with luck, a lot of people wouldn't pull this off. Look at the perfect distribution of verticals (attached) there are 5 identical spaces - I'm sure that an inexperienced person wouldn't have produced such perfection! You have really mastered this one!
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Vertical Spaces |
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Mark Longo
{K:12760} 1/26/2006
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Thanks for your facinating comment, Amy. As I mentioned in my reply to Ina, I think that the shooting angle is a familiar one used for movie dialog, and so it's easy to imagine a conversation taking place here. The male/female aspect you mention is facinating, I do see what you mean. Great observations!
Mark
Mark
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Mark Longo
{K:12760} 1/26/2006
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Thanks much for your kind words Ina. As I was finishing my piano practice and preparing for work (a daily morning ritual) I noticed the sun on the mantle, an unusual sight since I only get sunlight on the mantle in January and only for a short time. I only had a few spare minutes before work and so placed a few objects that happened to be close at hand and started shooting.
I think this "over the shoulder" shot creates a sense of conversation in the viewer's eye because it is a view commonly used to shoot dialog in movies. I think the great familiarity of that view helps set an unconscious mood for the viewer and suggests more that it actually says. Also, overlapping the front of the facing cat with the back of the near one creates a bit of intimacy, as you note. When shooting it I really liked the conspiratorial aspect of the view and it made me chuckle a little. I tried to think of a cute bit of dialog to use for the image title, but couldn't think of a good line.
The shadows cast in the stark sunlight was a lucky chance to add dimension and a profile aspect. I got a little lucky too on the exact angles of the shadows in the way they help tell a little story. I wish I could say that I carefully planned all the the elements you have so astutely noticed, but really luck played a big role in getting this shot. The appreciation of those elements came only later as I looked at the finished shots.
Thanks much for your thought provoking comment Ina. You've helped me to mull this shot over and to learn somethign more about still life.
Best regards,
Mark
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Amy Astolfi
{K:160} 1/26/2006
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Mark
I really like this picture ALOT. the contrast of the two cats-the stronger black cat and the more delicate white cat. I get the feeling that the black cat (male?) is giving the white cat (female?) some advice and the "she" is listening with much interest. I also love the profile in the shadows...The shadows once again give the feeling of the contrast of Male and female between the two...the turned up nose of the white cat makes her look so delicate next to the tall profile of the black cat. This is definately one of my most favorites in your portfolio.
Amy
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Ina Nicolae
{K:44481} 1/26/2006
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Hi Mark, I am back, and thanks for your patience! This is a fantastic still life for many reasons:
- it is a fun subject - you picked two great inanimate objects and placed them faceto face, thus creating a "dialogue" and some tension - as opposed to having them side by side as decorative objects;
- the angle of shooting where we see the back of one cat overlapping on the front of the other, is very cleverly chosen (impromptu you said?)
- the shadows that really make this so successful, tell an additional story, by showing the profile of the one cat whose face is not seen, and show the distance (and tension) between the two; and the left hand shadow completing the composition - without it, it may not be as strong;
- the composition, colors and patterns are great, and the clarity and DOF are great. Nothing distracts from this moment.
Did I mention I like this picture? I do now :)
Best regards, Ina
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Ina Nicolae
{K:44481} 1/25/2006
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Mark, I love this one! I just want to come back tomorrow to write more on your new postings... these cats and their shadows are amazing! Best regards, Ina
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