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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Critique/feedback, please...
Matt Cashore, Photographer
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South Bend | IN | USA | Posted: 10:42 AM on 02.22.11 |
->> I collaborated on a book project recently. Here is a link to a PDF of the whole thing if you have the time & inclination to look:
http://www.und.com/ot/strong-of-heart-profiles-2011.html
The book has been well-received, so everyone is happy, but something is bugging me. The best way I can put it is that it just doesn't look like the pictures go together. I shot about 2/3 of the portraits myself, had outstanding work done by the other contributing photographers, and no expense was spared in the design and printing of the book. I can't figure out why I am not more enthusiastic about it.
The plain-white background was the concept from on high and I supported it. Maybe it would have been better to do action shots and environmental portraits, but I am not asking for critiques of the design philosophy, please keep it to what's done, not what might have been done.
I've seen plenty of other collections of "sportraits" that look like they belong in the same collection, even when shot by different people in different locations. I can't figure out why--in my gut reaction--these don't have that feel.
Thanks... |
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Brian Hollingsworth, Photographer
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Austin | TX | USA | Posted: 1:27 PM on 02.22.11 |
->> Hi Matt-
First off without your critique/breakdown of your dissatisfaction I don't know that I would have really noticed a difference or thought that the shots didn't hang together as a group. I think it's well done.
However, I looked at the book critically as you requested, and I noticed that the lighting seemed different in some of the shots. Additionally I thought that the layout/ use of the second or alternate photos on the right hand page was inconsistent. Some used details. Some were two medium shots. Some were more full length paired with a headshot. In at least one case there was only one photo used on the right hand page.
None of this is particularly bad or incongruous. What I think you're reacting to is that everything looks almost consistent, but not quite. It's the little difference that is providing the conflict.
The best analogy I can think of is that if you try to paint a wall in your house to match another wall but you're off on the color by a bit you'll really notice the difference...it might have been best to just paint the wall something different so it looks like you did it on purpose.
Maybe the other collections of "sportraits" that you've felt were more coherent were actually shot so differently that you had little reaction to the fact that didn't necessarily match the one on the surrounding pages. You knew they weren't supposed to match, so you accepted it and moved on.
Just a big guess. Pop photo/visual theory psychology. Hope it makes sense. |
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