Pronto

Posted by Duncan Galbraith (kyoto, Japan) on 30 December 2006 in People & Portraits and Portfolio.

I'll be otherwise engaged these next few days due to various year end family shindigs taking place at the most unconvenient locations. hence my A3 time is going to be virtually non existent. Also, apologies for not getting round to see what you're all up to and commenting on whats going down.
Went out and about yesterday with the jolly scotsman and had a rather fine time traipsing across the city, cameras in hand. Took this during one of many coffee stops. Im just about done with the blur push btw, yesterdays image was all rather head melting to do so todays is a step back into less dangerous waters.

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Comments (14)

Daniel from Olympia, United States

My first impression is, he is less than happy to have his picture taken! But, it is hard to tell because he not exactly glaring at you either. I think your technique works pretty well in this pic. BTW, why does his hand look overlarge? Does he have big hands or is it just a distortion?

30 Dec 2006 12:12am

@Daniel: His hand was that big! as big as his head! No, not really obviously, it was just the wide(ish) angle I chose to capture this. Been playing around with 'distance' these past few days.

Shuva from Hyderabad, India

I am liking and learning something from your blurry bg series.

30 Dec 2006 1:11am

@Shuva: Thanks shuva, I look forward to seeing what you come up with youself using this!

jc from Tokyo, Japan

i've really enjoyed this series duncan, the colours, softening and evoked mood are great. they've reminded me a bit of movies like 2046 and in the mood for love. like the isolation of his face in this one and again it feels so rich. great stuff. the hand daniel mentions does seem like it might be readying to give a swift smack to the camera. enjoy the festivities!

30 Dec 2006 6:15am

@jc: Hey John! cheers man, i'll take any Christopher Doyle/Wong Kar Wai reference most gratefully! Enjoy the guinness, brother!

Jahdi from United Kingdom

Great stuff as usual Duncs. He looks oddly like Larry David! Anyway, I'm mainly writing here to hope you had a great Crimbo and to wish you and the fam a happy new year. Will email - be online more! And yes, I finally have an A3 page. I'll try not to be too mediocre...

30 Dec 2006 6:29am

@Jahdi: Hey man! Apologies for the lack of communicado as of late. It's been an 'eventful' time of late. A most hearty welcome to you here on A3 brother!

Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States

Great job again! I really enjoyed your series!

30 Dec 2006 9:08am

@Craiger: Thanks Craiger!

Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada

Wide-angle portraits are wierd. He really does look like he may reach over and swat you. Good one!

30 Dec 2006 9:13am

@Damon Schreiber: Thanks Damon! He wasnt the happiest chap I saw yesterday. But certainly not the strangest either...I'm saving him for New Years Day ;)

Still from Valence, France

fine series. I like a lot this strong portrait. Very effective!

30 Dec 2006 9:56am

@Still: Thanks so much Still!

Darren from Japan

Nice work man. His face really pops out. The angle at which you took the photo is also really good, I like how he is centered right in the corner.

30 Dec 2006 10:53am

@Darren: Cheers Darren! bit of a mda rush to be honest at the moment replying to comments before heading out, rest assured I'll be taking a good luck at your recent stuff and catching up on you and everyone when things are a little less manic here...New Years is mental here ne!

Martin from a small village in Lower Austria, Austria

Wide angle portraits are always interesting, the blur is great! Makes his face stand out. Very nice!

30 Dec 2006 12:45pm

@Martin: Thanks a lot Martin!

H.O from Victoria, Canada

Very nice and I enjoy every your post. Great work desu!! :)

30 Dec 2006 3:24pm

@H.O: Thanks Hiro! The same applies too mate, you're a cracking photog!

bronzebilly from cardiff, United Kingdom

great shot--although he looks like he's going to swipe someone very close by ,very soon--billy

30 Dec 2006 6:46pm

@bronzebilly: hehe...rest assured Billy, I got out 'unswiped'.

Visions by Dean Christopher. from Cardiff, United Kingdom

awesome capture...

30 Dec 2006 7:40pm

@Visions by Dean Christopher.: Thanks Dean!

Aidan from Seoul, South Korea

The composition of this shot is great. The foreshortened hand really ads some drama. One critique would be the blurring - it seems too centralized around the face. It might be better (more 'believable') if there were other elements of the image also in focus on the same plane - like part of his neck or portions of the zipper on his white shirt.

31 Dec 2006 12:20am

@Aidan: hey Aidan, yes I agree. I think the blurring/sharpening is maybe a little too focused on his face and with hindsight, I'd probably choose to do as you suggest. The face does seem to jump out a bit! That was my intention but a more subtle application of blur/sharpen would suit this a little better. Thanks for some sound advice mate.