Luminous Landscape Forum
The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: ivan muller on June 29, 2012, 03:18:12 am
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...more images of these muscle ladies here at...http://www.ivanmuller.co.za/blog-item/three-pole-dancers-beach
(http://i47.tinypic.com/ehyejt.jpg)
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The set is fascinating, and not really because it has fit barely clad girls in it.
There's a very.. 1950s/1960s feel to these photographs, partly because of the way you've toned them, but pole dancing is definitely a 21st century thing, so there's a nice little mental conflict there. There's also a combination of the "muscle man at the beach" and "bikini clad beauty at the beach" aesthetic from the 1950s and 1960s that's in play here.
Technically nice work, and an interesting set. I think the set works better than the individual images, and I think it only really works because you've made the toning choices to emphasize the connection to the past. This is in not way a negative criticism, I mean this entirely as a "well done!"
The one where the girl is photographing the other girl seems out of place to me.
The ones where the EITHER the pole is vertical OR the horizon is level seem stronger to me, as well. Tilting both is definitely an idea worth trying, but I think ultimately worth editing out ;)
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Two cents:
first cent - the shot with the lady snapper has beautiful tones (on the snapper);
second cent - I'm afraid that poles need atmosphere, music and booze; lots of booze. For me, this set doesn't say anything nice about women at all, which is a pity, because there's a helluva lot of nice things to say about them. A rough metal pole isn't the beautiful, shining object around which one might expect a lady to swoon.
Obviously, I'm a traditionalist.
;-(
Rob C
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I like them all, but 4,5, and 6 work best for me. They have a mildly surreal quality that I find interesting. And I like the lighting and your B&W tonality is great.
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Thanks all...Robc yes I have to agree these ladies don't look like we like them to look in the traditional way...but that's how they looked there on that beach that sunny winter morning....
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Ivan -
I did some research: I think I found a video of Schewe when a younger man, sitting in the front row of the audience with tender, vulnerable and wistful eyes as a couple of delightful young creatures do their best to pretend they are enjoying the usual, everyday pole on the beach.
So much for LuLa's Rottweiler when he doesn't know you're watching!
http://youtu.be/pL1Gm3fNi4Q
Check him out @ 1.03 and 2.45!
;-)
Rob C
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I think these are competently shot photos of a novel and interesting subject, but I am not sure I think they break any spectacular new ground in photographic artifice or creativity. In that sense, I would put them in a photojournalism category of work, and that isn't meant to be a negative critique. The conditions are generally with available light, and the circumstances weren't modulated to maximize the dancers or environment. For these reasons, I think they are more journalistic. I do enjoy seeing beautiful women where there strength and fitness are the subject instead of their pure sexuality. These gals are strong and athletic and they have been photographed respectfully and skillfully.
The black and white toning tends to lend them a bit more cohesive feel as a set. You aren't dazzled by the sky, or water or people in the backgrounds as much by the muscles and skin tones that come through in black and white.
...ooh, I just noticed one thing that bugs me a bit. They are all B&W, but with a different color tone, or maybe two different color tone. #s 1,3,7 have a warmer tone while the others are cooler or more neutral. To show them as a set, the tone should probably match.