Quote:
Originally Posted by fionaB
yeah the eyes are fine, its the rest of the image that bothers me, cos its flat im instantly distracted by it, if thats the right word. and if there wasnt as much of the resto fht image i wouldnt have noticed in all honesty but the eyes are kinda lost amongst the rest.......... dont really know if im explaining this right!
Fi
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I may well get slated for what I am about to say but it isn't intended as a personal attack on FionaB but as an observation.
I have seen many posts here relating to mono pics, not just from FionaB (although quite often), stating something like the above with reference to the tonal values of the image (usually saying the image is 'flat', whatever that really means?). I have looked at most of Fi's gallery images and almost without exception her mono images are excessively contrasty! Now, personal style aside, one of the things that shows 'inexperience' in mono is what used to be called 'soot and whitewash' prints. These are prints with excessive contrast made because the photographer 'incorrectly' believes that mono prints are only 'good' if made to have razor-sharp contrast.
However, what usually sets a 'master' printer/mono maker apart is an appreciation of tone and the subtlety of tonal transitions and how they add to the beauty of an image. The tonal values are the 'harmonics' of an image. Excessive contrast, both macro and micro, only provides an immediate 'kapow' effect without offering long lasting interest. Beautiful tones in a print invite further interest and exploration of the image from a viewer. Think about it. Better still try producing beautiful tonal ranges in images.
So, please, when expressing an opinion about the tonal range of an image bear in mind that personal style is only that and not the definitive view.
BTW, Fi, my observation about your mono images being 'inexperience' (yes, my inference was just that) comes not just from your mono images but from the fact that your colour images DO NOT show this contrast issue.
Let the war begin...
Regards
Les