Taken in the rundown town of Vredefort in the Orange Free State, South Africa.
[Mar. 30th, 2011 12:09:05 PM]
One horse town pub in rural South Africa with one local at the bar. Unfortunately I used ISO100 so I had a slow shutter-speed of 1 second and it was hand-held hence the blur. I had nothing else to enter really therefore I decided to run the expected gauntlet of criticism and enter it anyway as I do like the photo for what it represents flaws and all.
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I like this type of photo.. this man in his element. At first I didn't like the movement from what I presume is a slow shutter speed handheld. Now I am not so sure. Almost appropriate considering the environment.
Good portrait within the setting giving it much context and tells a story. Would like to see the mans face without movement and would def crop out the projector in the roof which really dates this picture no doubt.
Maybe I haven't seen enough Weston, but I really think he would have the subject (or at least something) in focus. I do think you nailed the range of darks and lights, though. I also don't think Weston said as much about his subjects as you did with this shot.
I think you got a good environmental portrait style going on here, which some of Weston's portraits were prone to being. I like the black and white toning however I think you could have dialed back shadows a little. Perhaps it is too much contrast. Also, it looks like you weren't using the blur to create artistic merit which is good because Weston's work was typically in focus and sharp as far as I could tell. However having the subject be in focus is essential for Weston's environmental portrait style.
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