Critique Welcomed At The Art Walk

[Brian Moore]

Took this back in October at the semi-annual "Brewery Art Walk" at The Brewery in Los Angeles. (The Brewery was once the Pabst brewery here in LA, its now an artist's colony.)

Canon F1, Canon 28/2.8, and Kodak BW400CN film.

 

[Glenn Clabo]

Love it...great shot. PBR results in art? Who would a thunk it?

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks, Glenn. Much appreciated.

Uh,...did you mention beer...?

 

[Glenn Clabo]

Thanks, Glenn. Much appreciated.

Uh,...did you mention beer...?

Can't speak...partaking.

 

[Paul Lange]

I think we have some thread bleed I'm sure there was something about beer somewhere else this morning.

I'm not sure it interests anyone else but I like the idea that unconnected people for a brief moment become connected partly by just being in the same place but also being in a photograph. Not sure that makes sense.... Anyone get what I mean?

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Brian a superb photo Like it a lot. Love the windows especially.

I think we have some thread bleed I'm sure there was something about beer somewhere else this morning.

I'm not sure it interests anyone else but I like the idea that unconnected people for a brief moment become connected partly by just being in the same place but also being in a photograph. Not sure that makes sense.... Anyone get what I mean?

I do and I dont, I understood some of it clearly and I think I got the gist maybe, of the rest .

 

[Brian Moore]

I think we have some thread bleed I'm sure there was something about beer somewhere else this morning.

I'm not sure it interests anyone else but I like the idea that unconnected people for a brief moment become connected partly by just being in the same place but also being in a photograph. Not sure that makes sense.... Anyone get what I mean?

Yes that makes sense, Paul.

Now, with regard to your second sentence, regarding unconnected people, I think I get it. And as I have been sitting here thinking about how to respond I have been looking at the picture and something I had forgotten came back to me about the circumstances. And indeed, the circumstances oh the photo do not undermine your comment whatsoever.

I initially stood where I did and used my 28mm lens so I could get a large expanse of the wall opposite and in particular I wanted right in the center of the image a tall painting of a man in a suit that was leaning against the wall opposite. You can't see that painting because the bloke with the dog is blocking it. (However, if you look close you can see the outline of the canvas.) I stood a fairly long while waiting for Dog Man and Gandolf there to end their conversation and move along. Well,...I got fed up waiting and ultimately snapped the photo you see. So I am connected to those people in a way more meaningful than simply that they walked into my frame.

 

[Brian Moore]

Brian a superb photo Like it a lot. Love the windows especially.

Thank you, Julian. Much obliged.

 

[Pete Askew]

Wonderful shot Brian and some interesting interpretations / back stories etc. Was this the event with the wacky nun?

Anyway, I liked the central subject anyway and even more so now that I know his connection with the scene. But most of all I like the two pairs of windows staring back at you while you take in the overall scene. The art seems so incidental to the people and the place. I like that.

 

[Brian Moore]

Thank you, Pete. Yes, it was the wacky nun event.

I appreciate what you are saying about the art seeming so incidental here.

 

[Keith Hollister]

Great image, and I agree that the Dog Man & Gandolf are much more interesting to the photo than the piece of art you were originally trying to capture. Sometimes the universe helps you do the Right Thing even when you are determined to do otherwise. The chap in the left foreground texting/reading is also an essential compositional element to the image. I would find it much less satisfying without him.

 

[Keith Hollister]

Oh, and another brilliant bit of composition was leaving the tiny bit of ceiling at the top of the wall - it acts as a frame for the wall and repeats the frame of the windows and artwork. If you crop off that little strip of dark tone, it substantially changes the photo to the worse in my opinion.

 

[Brian Moore]

Great image, and I agree that the Dog Man & Gandolf are much more interesting to the photo than the piece of art you were originally trying to capture. Sometimes the universe helps you do the Right Thing even when you are determined to do otherwise. The chap in the left foreground texting/reading is also an essential compositional element to the image. I would find it much less satisfying without him.

Oh, and another brilliant bit of composition was leaving the tiny bit of ceiling at the top of the wall - it acts as a frame for the wall and repeats the frame of the windows and artwork. If you crop off that little strip of dark tone, it substantially changes the photo to the worse in my opinion.

Thank you Keith for the very nice and explanatory comments. Its always good to know what someone likes/doesn't like, and it is so often surprising (at least for me).

 

[Keith Hollister]

Thank you Keith for the very nice and explanatory comments. Its always good to know what someone likes/doesn't like, and it is so often surprising (at least for me).

Hah! - don't feel like you're alone. I like to think I'm a reasonably experienced photographer and try to make deliberate decisions about what goes in or out of an image (which of course doesn't explain why a lot of my work is crap), but I still get smacked up side of the head every once and a while by comments from someone that sees things in one of my images that I didn't realize were there, or reasons why a photograph "works" or not (Pete's observations about dust spots aside ).

It's the value of a forum like this where folks feel comfortable having a go at my work (and vice versa) - makes me think about things differently. I knew I liked your image when I first saw it, but once the back slapping was over and discussion turned more critical (and I don't mean that how it sounds), it motivated me to go back and find reasons why I thought it was good.

The classic example (and I'm just as guilty as the next chap) is "I really like number 2". That leaves me wondering why 2 and not 1 or 3 ("... 5 is right out ..." )? I think this type of discussion is tough because folks either don't want to offend and keep quiet, or the the other party starts getting defensive which puts a damper on future comments.

 

[Brian Moore]

The classic example (and I'm just as guilty as the next chap) is "I really like number 2". That leaves me wondering why 2 and not 1 or 3 ("... 5 is right out ..." )? I think this type of discussion is tough because folks either don't want to offend and keep quiet, or the the other party starts getting defensive which puts a damper on future comments.

I almost spoke about this in my response to you before Keith. I didn't though because of the same reason that I am so often guilty of the offence: I feel like I'm running out of time all the time.

On RPF I don't feel the need to refrain from criticizing, although I mostly do unless the OP specifically asks for critique. I definately need to make more of an effort to explain why I like something, though. Thanks again, Keith.

 

[Pete Askew]

Great comments Keith.

 

[Pete Askew]

I especially liked number 2.

 

[Beth Carter]

looks like a middle school dance from the twilight zone. i like it.

 

[Brian Moore]

looks like a middle school dance from the twilight zone. i like it.

Hahaha. I see that now. Thanks, Beth.