Study Group 26

Jose Maria Cartas

July Title - Big Eyes

Photographer's Notes -I would like to get the group’s views on two croppings of the same photograph. She was a participant in a course I lectured in Abu Dhabi last April, and agreed that I take some pictures of her. Main lighting came from the window, although there was also some fluorescent light. No flash was used. I made the picture a little darker using Curves, and then applied a Warming Filter (85) at 25%; then cropped it in these two different formats. When I mentioned to her that I was impressed by her eyes, she mentioned that her name, translated, meant “Big Eyes”.

COMMENTS:
 

Bob Benson	I definitely favor the left version. This converys more of the mistery, and leaves me wanting to see more. It also makes the eyes more prominent,
Steve Serpa	Very mystique image design for sure! Her name translated says it all, I think the left side version close up is the strongest image of both it leaves me wondering asking questions like: who, what and where.
Youmans Hsiong	Both cropped images are very nice portraits.  I preferred the one tightly cropped, it emphasizes the big eyes with the contrast between black mask.   I really like the colored skin tone with big eyes that pop-up in the black mask.   Your tonal and curve adjustments are well done too.
Brian Duchin
Ron Hagedorn	Like you, I have gone back and forth several times on the cropping. I guess my final choice would be on the right, only because to me, it seems to give more of a sense of place. Great shot, with lots of feeling.
Jose Maria Cartas
Laurette Beliveau

Member Bio

Jose Maria Cartas- Biography A native Argentinean, José came with his family to the United States in June 1990 to work for the Interamerican Development Bank. In 2000, he moved to the International Monetary Fund. Both institutions are located in Washington, D.C. He became a more serious amateur after joining the North Bethesda Camera Club in 1995. He took also several photo courses at the Smithsonian Institution. Through his work, José has traveled to many countries, and has used this opportunity to photograph cities, landscapes and people. He switched to digital in early 2007, buying a Sony Alpha 100, which allowed him to use the Minolta lenses he already had. Most of his photography is straightforward, using Photoshop to perform only minor adjustments such as levels, curves, brightness/contrast, dodging/burning and, occasionally, some cloning.

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