I got lucky this week. I had scheduled this shoot on Sunday and executed it on Monday, not knowing this challenge was coming up. I have had this idea in my head for about 6 months now and I was looking for the opportunity to shoot it. I wanted something high key and 'minimalistic'. I shot this with and without the stocking, and the stocking seemed to add the context I needed for the final piece.
I overexposed the shot by about two stops and used two external flashes pointed at the ceiling for light...
Post Processing:
Some minor level adjustments, some dodging here and there, some minor burning along the 'crease' lines, removal of a few spots that I dind't like, and added a small amount of grain...
EXIF:
File: CRW_8109.CRW
File size: 6,500KB
Image Serial Number: 181-8109
Camera Model: Canon EOS 10D
Camera serial number: 1020300016
Firmware: Firmware Version 2.0.0
Date/Time: 2004:08:16 11:59:28
Shutter speed: 2 sec
Aperture: 8
Exposure mode: Av
Exposure compensation: +2
Flash: External E-TTL High speed sync
Flash EF guide number: 2047.97
Metering mode: Center-weighted average
Drive mode: Continuous
ISO: 400
Lens: 24 to 70mm
Focal length: 58mm
Subject distance: 0.71 m
AF mode: Manual Focus
Image size: 3072 x 2048
Image quality: Raw
White balance: Auto
Color space: sRGB
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
Contrast: Normal
Tone: Normal
Custom Functions:
CFn 2: Shutter release w/o CF card: Not possible
CFn 6: Tv/Av and exposure level: 1/3 stop
CFn 7: AF point registration: all
Statistics
Place: 59 out of 87 Avg (all users): 5.1250 Avg (commenters): 5.8333 Avg (participants): 4.7468 Avg (non-participants): 5.2377 Views since voting: 4635 Views during voting: 935 Votes: 344 Comments: 25 Favorites: 7 (view)
It's a real shame a work of refined art of this calibre goes unrecognized by the DPC voting community. A score of 5.125 is simply offensive. I think people are voting on this site as if it's a game of Halo. The lines are subtle yet suggestive and originally composed. It effuses a delicate lover's after morning glow which unfortunately got trampled by a mindless voting mob.
I voted this low but i really don't know what the hell I was thinking. The composition is flawless; the line looks hand-drawn and transcends the literal spect of the piece. The fact that this did not win is a shame to be blamed on the likes of me. Most of my other favorites are a goof. I will buy a print of this as big as it can be. Oh yeah, and for the record-this is so good that if this is 59 out of 88- who needs to be number one?
I added the grain after the shot. I agree that fishnet stockings would have been better, but I didn't have any at my disposal for this shoot. It was sort of an afterthough after looking at this photo. I may try that next time around.
I have been seeing shapes in a number of things lately; grain on the ceiling, in wood, tree branches and of course clouds and such. It has made start looking at things from a minimalist's perspective -- just how much detail is needed to get the idea across? -- that sort of thing.
Then I see this image, and it is nearly a perfect example of just that. There are a couple of things I wonder about though. I know you mentioned you tried it with and without stocking, but did you perhaps try it with stockings with less of a solid feel to them -- closer to fishnet, but not quite there. The black is just a bit over-whelming. The second thing I didn't care for is more of a personal matter -- I don't care for grain -- but beyond that, I feel it detracted from the minimalistic feel of the image.
But, we each have our own ideas of how we like things.
Very nice, simple, smooth, clean, and leaves something for my imagination. Solid entry. The only thing I think that could have made this great is a little bit of shadows between her legs...imo
Simple lines, almost abstract. Nice use of white space contrasting against almost solid black space with intricate detail. Maybe would have cropped 1/2 inch off bottom to get rid of one small jagged edge on stocking. Really nice photo.
Nice composition - I like the triangle created by the creases as her legs meet her torso. The inclusion of a segment of the thick black stocking gives the image an anchor. I'm wondering whether I'd prefer the use of a model with pubes to provide some dark details at the top to balance with that dense block of black but I'm not sure - perhaps it's the simplicity that works best - there is so little detail in the flesh that it almost makes it seem like a statue, not real at all. Nice job.
I see your idea, but feel perhaps it's a bit too light to be pulled off right. Sexy stocking and pose but really not enough detail and too much exposure to work in my opinion.
This is wonderful. Minimalist and yet interesting and super suggestive. I think others may not like the fact that there is so light dark color on the screen. But I like it.
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