[Geoff Semmens]

Following on from the suggestions for Ali, I have had a play around. Does this work better?


Geofff TWo


Geoff TWO

[Geoff Semmens]

Please feel free to take this image and have fun. Contact me if you want the original studies. So as the creator of the image and the subject of the image I am asking you to examine your critiques.

What I am looking for is a means to express either projected or perceived personality.

[Angela]

Geoff, the pcitures aren't showing?

[Markulous]

Have to say that I prefer Ali - this is not entirely as she's nicer to look at, Geoff!

This is more complex and I prefer the previous, simpler layout. Also the windows don't correspond to the position which just adds to the hint of confusion (admittedly something you might be after!). Interesting nonetheless!

[Dabhand16]

Yes - accepting that this is probably the effect you were after, I think it could also work if the bottom hair, neck and mouth sections were in roughly the 'right' places and orientation, and the LH back of the head shot was either not there, or moved a bit higher.

[Geoff Semmens]

Thanks for your comments.

I am happy for you to recount your dislike, we need to be confident enough to be honest. I have been looking at a critique of "Violin" by Picasso and using my own face as an attempt at halfway house.

One possibility might be to have the central image in profile.

What do you think of the use of red for the mouth to symbolise the danger of words. the inverted double chin "on my mind" and my blue ears as instruments of gossip?

Like a joke it falters with an explanation.

Geoff Two

[CathieT]

I don't think it falters with the telling Geoff - just gives us some insight into your art!!

I like it more with the explanation - before that the "mis-placement" of the bits niggled ... but now they make perfect sense!!

C

[Dabhand16]

I have to say that I would not have interpreted the red mouth as the danger of words, or ears as instruments of gossip. I think I could just get to the something on your mind, but with the other elements in the image, there is probably too much going on for a Philistine like me to get to grips with.

I guess that perhaps only someone who is more into art might be able to make all of your connections. When it comes to modern art, most of it leaves me cold. That might well be a failing on my part, but whereas I can appreciate the recent postings like 'the end of the line' which are much more simplistic, my technical/scientific education, background and work probably inhibits my ability to make the associations you were looking for.

As you said, if you've got to explain it, you have not imparted your intentions, and I think that the audience you are seeking are very much in the minority.

There is also the problem of my monitor showing the mouth as orange and one of the ears more purple than blue. Add to that I'm a bit colour blind too and you can see problem of associating colours with meanings.

[CathieT]

oops

[Geoff Semmens]

Thanks for all the comments, I liked the positive ones, and fully appreciated the others. They will help me to try harder next time. It is gratifying that you have taken the time to reply.

By the way, I was a Physics teacher before being transferred to ICT. So there is room for more philistines - who by the way had a sophisticated artistic society!

Geoff TWO

[skipper954]

Hey G2

This is a very jarring image, and I am not sure that I understand it even after looking at your comments.

However, I did look at it longer than I look at most of the images I see in galleries and museums, so there MUST be something to this one.

There was something that I found unsettling about his, and perhaps it was the feeling that two of the pieces didn't seem in synch with the others. Perhaps that is what you wanted as well, though. Your upsidedown chin and neck, and the back of your head at the left don't appear to belong here.

From a techie standpoint, did you do this in photoshop and in layers and move around the parts to see what positioning you liked the best?

In a way, it is picasso-like in the different angles and juxtaposition of parts, but they are all still recognizable!

Anyway, the image certainly grabbed my attention, and for a physics teacher, you do admirable art, sir.

skip

[Geoff Semmens]

Thanks for the comments.

I took a boring standard image of myself to use as a background, slightly desaturated.

The forward images are taken from a series of three, profile, face on and threequarters, that were coloured/ desaturated and then layered. The back of the head was flipped and the ears transposed. The amount of colourinf / desaturation is evidenced in the colour of the border as each sub image was given the same blue border before colour manipulation.

As you say you stopped and thought which is all we can ask of any image.

Geoff TWO

[Rob Barron]

If I am really honest, I think this shows why Picasso was a painter and not a photographer.... it works a lot better in oils! I can see what you mean with the colours but only because you said so, does that give it validity or is that lost because it needs a text next to it in order to explain it? Don't worry too much about my comments, I can't stand modern art at the best of times so perhaps am not the best person to ask about such an image.

For some it will work, for me it doesn't. The picture of Ali had a sense of 'saying something' whereas this one just (to me) looks jumbled.

Cheers,
Rob