S	M	T	W	T	F	S
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

at the canvas

2008.01.06

(reposted slightly edited thanks to comment from losalamos666)

Scott Donais working on a new painting.

I plan to take some pictures of his paintings, but that might take a while - until I have the right lighting situation or equipment.

________________________

Public/Private Self

A friend has mentioned that she misses when I used to write more in my blog, including more of myself - my feelings and thoughts. When I first started this blog, it was not under my own name. When I changed it to my own name, I went back and edited some things.

Without even realizing it, I've been filtering out the personal and the subjective from my words (but not the pictures). I'm not sure where I want to go with that. Something to think about - what is public, and what is private in my life, and questioning the automatic decisions I make. I have to negotiate that with myself and with the people I photograph. I know I would enjoy writing more, like a journal, to go with the photos. However, I am not sure of the consequences of making my life too transparent.

Anyone else have experience with this public/private conflict? Comments on this subject appreciated.

Earlier, when I posted this set, I asked "if I had to remove two pictures from the set, which ought to go?". In response to your feedback, I re-edited the third picture for a little less contrast and and recovery of the light end of the picture. I also changed the second picture, and removed the part of the collage that was too soft. Thanks for the feedback. I'm seeing that I push contrast too much and lose something at the high end.

julia gotz

31 Comments

You definitely are one of the best portraitist here.
You know how to capture the emotion and reflextion in the moment in a unique and superb way.
Here, the light is particularly great.

Madoc · 2008-01-06: 09:29

That you watch this artist in important thought is strongly felt from this photograph.
Splendid work.

SAORI · 2008-01-06: 10:12

I'm agree with Madoc. And the last one is (for me) absolutely perfect.
...
Actually the others are ... perfect too.

congrats, really. :)

Thibaut · 2008-01-06: 10:28

great work! expressions on his face are amazing. also great light! special like first and the last one.

Pikapol · 2008-01-06: 10:45

The most amazing talent you have must be your radiant personality that others like enough to allow you to photograph them like you do, that's really a blessing. Everyone I know instantly poses when I have the camera on them, wish I could get a chance to photo people like you too, but atlas, not the personality for that. :) And then I'd have to learn to take the shots you do. :) Good pictures Julia, very nice.

EddieD125 · 2008-01-06: 12:07

Très très belles expressions! Portraits très talentueux!! :))

lanmitye · 2008-01-06: 14:11

great job catching his expressions! i love #4 - i like to see happy artists :-) i always feel so happy when i paint. i wish i could have more time to do it!!

lexlevans · 2008-01-06: 14:16

These are wonderful! I truly feel that portraits are the HARDEST thing to do well and yours are great!

DancingDolphin · 2008-01-06: 17:36

I LOVE the intensity, concentration, anticipation, etc... in his face!!!

abbeyh13 · 2008-01-06: 20:11

Great portraits ! love those expressions !

Bushman · 2008-01-06: 20:51

great set, I think that the others really said what I think

Karibbean · 2008-01-06: 21:19

For me #3 and the top right hand corner of #2 are the "weakest" images (and I use that term guardedly as they are all great images). #3 because of the light and the highlights being blown out. TRH corner of #2 because it seems a little soft focus wise. The lighting in #1 and #4 are great.

losalamos666 · 2008-01-06: 21:35

the observant eye. this set definitely caught my attention with their lighting & expressions combination. have a great year

storytaylor · 2008-01-07: 03:41

Interesting set.

Lynda · 2008-01-07: 08:42

An abosultely lovely set. I can feel the hard work of creating art, and the lights are really great.

Nandra · 2008-01-07: 10:01

3 is the only 1 I would if I had to at all .. but the whole set is incredible..

yes I do in someways think about how much I have let be known about myself on here.. but I am making the choice of what is known and not known and believe it or not there is loads I hold back... people might think they really know me but all they know is a surface ... yet sometimes the personality of a person and other things are very transparent ..a picture is truly worth a thousand words ..

I love the last shot in this set and am saving it .. I adore the paint all over his shirt and his expressions..
beautiful Julia :)

Lindyart · 2008-01-07: 13:35

Julia - this is a great set. I like #1 best because technically it is spot on with light etc. and it reveals a lot about the subject. As for what to remove, I would drop only #4 because of the slightly burnt out highlights, although this is also a great shot.

kangshung · 2008-01-07: 17:09

Lovely set! If I had to choose to remove two, it would be the one that is slightly out of focus (top right hand of the square) and number 4, not because it's bad but because it throws me off a bit...the others are so contemplative and candid. The first is my favourite!!

As for the question of sharing myself in the public domain, I'm still a bit hesitant. I haven't quite embrassed the whole Web 2.0 / virtual social networking thing. You'd never know it by the amount of time I spend on this blog, but to be honest, I'm largely using this venue as a way to learn and be inspired (and certainly to socialize too). Doing the 13 things about myself was interesting, because every time something very personal came to mind, I thought of something different to write or I toned it down for "public consumption". I still think that I want to share my soul with people I can see or hear or touch. That's not to say that with time, virtual friendships can't become more. I'm just cautious at first. This is an interesting question that has made me think...thanks for bringing it up Julia.

Genevieve · 2008-01-07: 22:13

Ya, what the first guy said.

????? · 2008-01-08: 10:50

Good set! I like them all, esp. #2, where I can read the subliminal test "What am I going to do now???"

cavist · 2008-01-09: 16:01

Hi dear Julia! Beautiful post of excellent portraits to say at least! Great subject you reffer into your blog! When I started my Photoblog -june 2007- I took care with some principles to avoid this "public/private conflict". At first I used my real name as a photographer and cinema scripts writter wich take photos in "cinema clef" as I say. Due this I called my series "takes" not "photos". I take photos of my friends or my pet mI fEI thE cAt only if they are into a serie`s rol. When I started my Photoblog I decide I will not appear into my Photoblog`s photos since today. If somebody wanna know something about me can contact me throught my profile and I always response . But... sometimes I feel the temptation to catch me with a friend or a friend`s pet... Or... into a friend`s house... but I avoid this because I like to be the EyE but not the sUbjEct as a cinema principle by now. This is a very interesting subject to post in the Photoblog forums by you. gO On dEAr And gEntlE lAdy! And thanks for your initiative: the cAtUrdAy! Lindy - artbug - has written about that in her Photoblog... vEry nIcE! I am glad to have friends like you here. I`m very proud of that. Sure. chEErs!

davidcardona · 2008-01-09: 17:04

I've really enjoyed this set of pictures. I'm a newbee to photoblog and I have already learned so much. You seem open enough to offer advise and I appreciate that. This photoblogging has become addictive and partly because of artist like yourself. I enjoy knowing each day all of my "Friends" will be posting.

bamommy · 2008-01-09: 17:54

I hesitate to reveal many real details of David Fraser's life cuz he has been the victim of identity theft. I should know. I am one of those thieves. It was all fun until one day DF spotted three of us in Kensington Market. We were funnin' around entertaining a group of American tourists off the Brad and Angelina look-a-likes tour bus. (The old 3 DF's fighting for the same cap routine. Ha ha.) Well, David Fraser spotted us and gave chase. He struck his fell, struck his head and died in the street. Now none of us wants to talk to his Mom. Julia guard your privvy.

????? · 2008-01-09: 18:22

Weird. None of us typed the mistake in the 2nd last line...

????? · 2008-01-09: 18:24

I like how he is absorbed in the work (perhaps except in #4 - which is an excellent shot but I would guess it was after a funny comment by the photographer?).

I would like to see a colour shot of the shirt!

Sheldon · 2008-01-10: 23:40

The first photo is so soulful. The light catching in his eyes and the expression on his face are terrific. That shirt in the last shot is great too.

t2d4th · 2008-01-11: 11:21

this set is marvellous

kackac · 2008-01-11: 12:55

Without wishing to knock the wonderful technical prowess on show here, maybe you should just go for the picture instinctively. Sometimes the lack of technical rigour adds something 'other' to what can look, a tad 'corporate' and even contrived, to the average moron like me. It's like "yep, i can see the quality, but no, I am not at all interested in the picture" ( don't worry, i often miss the point but say what i think anyway. ?;o) )

Zedsdead · 2008-01-11: 13:22