Blog EntryPicture Perfect: SHADOWFeb 21, '08 1:10 PM
for everyone

This week's Picture Perfect subject is SHADOW. I'm guessing PP got the idea from the fact there's been an eclipse of the Moon this week. The link to Picture Perfect central is HERE

I had to search long and hard through my albums to find something to fit the subject, then I remembered an experiement I did some time ago. I remember seeing, years ago, an LP cover with a photo of the group (it may have been The Beatles, but I can't be sure now), it was B&W and was taken so that only half of their faces were lit, the other half in shadow. I decided I wanted to try recreating this shot, and it turned out to be one of the most creative shots I've done.

I photographed myself, sitting in my computer chair, the only illumination is from the monitor. The camera was hand-held (didn't have a tripod!!) and the flash was switched off. This picture is the result. Although I was pleased with it, it could have been much better. If I had sat a little further back, my left eye would have been illuminated better.
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119 CommentsChronological   Reverse   Threaded
gilesy01 wrote on Feb 21
Impressive.
viviennek wrote on Feb 21
i can't believe picture perfect day has come around again already. good choice mitch, i remember when you first posted these photos on 360
sachlaura10 wrote on Feb 21
Very good pic, Mitch. Difficult to achieve, this. Yes, that was a Beatles cover you mention. My mother has that record somewhere. May have been called " With the Beatles"??
siennanichole wrote on Feb 21
Very cool & creative!!! I like it!
dakotabbw wrote on Feb 21
ohhhh my...very good, creative and alittle scary! Well done!
ronny2yola wrote on Feb 21
ah cool, that is your face huehuehue... nice idea. I like coz like siluet..
thx for visited to my mp bro.. ;)
amalie2 wrote on Feb 21
very good shot, and even more so because the camera was handheld and the only illumination is from the monitor!
estimiguelariel wrote on Feb 21
Cool experiment, Mitch, you did a great job !!!!!
smaragd wrote on Feb 21
Nice shadow here ;)
mjrohn wrote on Feb 21
Nice one!
jamaicamama wrote on Feb 21, edited on Feb 21
Now you're going to make me try that shot!

This is GREAT!!
newsdoggg wrote on Feb 21
very Alfred Hitchcocky ... good image ... B&W rockz ... 8.5 woofs!
leathermenace wrote on Feb 21
nicely done, and even a little creepy. 2 points for making go "oooh creepy." \(^^^^^)/
kmacgrl wrote on Feb 21
WOW, magnificent :)
zbethz wrote on Feb 21
trinityhawkphotos wrote on Feb 21
I like the way you captured part of the face in solid shadow and the other side deep contrast. Great job
sattva2 wrote on Feb 21
wow, this is a great photograph of you --- well done --- love the way half of your face is submerged in the shadow !
emmm1 wrote on Feb 21
What a great, creative experiment. It's turned out really well considering the "ghetto lighting" set up. I love experimenting with alternative lighting too.
Very moody and atmospheric results.
needledreams2 wrote on Feb 21
Great shot!!! Thanks for sharing.
shankarg wrote on Feb 21
your shadow is your conscience
it follows and guards you always.
niece picture
Thanks for shadowing me

Your visit to my participation is appreciated
http://shankarg.multiply.com/journal/item/44/2008-m040-Picture_Perfect_-_Shadow_-_20_Feb_13_30_Chennai_India
ShankarG♥2♥

danceinsilence wrote on Feb 21
half in, half out of the thought of what to do, where to go, what to say, plus a myrid of other possibilities ... this is a photo to capture the mind of many reflective moods ... well done
magrose wrote on Feb 21
Very mysterious. . .
utroukx wrote on Feb 21
i remember this from 360 as well. great job, mitch. :)
riihele wrote on Feb 21
Hejsan Mitchy

I do remember this on 360 as well.
Excellent choice for this them all right.
Ha det så bra. KRAM

Thanks so much for the fine comment on my entry @ this addy:
http://riihele.multiply.com/journal/item/630/PICTURE_PERFECT_SHADOW
compromised wrote on Feb 21
ohhhhhhhhh...I like i. Very good!
epistling wrote on Feb 21
I like that very much
dragonlette wrote on Feb 21
Great shot! Good shadows, makes for an interesting portrait.
http://dragonlette.multiply.com/journal/item/26/Picture_Perfect_-_Shadow
jgaryhillstudio wrote on Feb 21
dude excellent shot and very original in delivery ..tilt your head foreward for your gold star of excellence. one of the best so far jgh.


http://jgaryhillstudio.multiply.com/journal/item/66/Picture_Perfect_Shadow_Theme
therealbobo wrote on Feb 21
very interesting shot. i will have to give it a go.
http://therealbobo.multiply.com/reviews/item/35
rk2this wrote on Feb 21
I really like it.I did a similar portrait of my nephew when he was 4,but I used my old 35 mm Canon.
http://rk2this.multiply.com/journal/item/510/Picture_Perfect_Shadow
laniebg wrote on Feb 21
great shot!

thanks for stoppin by!
annie49720 wrote on Feb 21
Very Nice!
mom2mels wrote on Feb 21
awesome use of available light! Great shot!

zorra5 wrote on Feb 21
Cool shot! Are you sure you got the best side of your face? (Just kidding!)
docsvisions wrote on Feb 21
we are our worsed critics... its a great shot! especially for no flash and no tripod! And I love your background pic here! sunrises and sunsets are my fav! Thanks for sharing!
mschief01100 wrote on Feb 21
Oh WOW! This is brilliant
clearstar wrote on Feb 21
mindyjordan wrote on Feb 21
excellent shot.
thank you for your nice comment on mine
empressselena wrote on Feb 21
It is a very good picture! I like it. Without a tripod it is hard to photo yourself! LOL I know!
lilwolfsis wrote on Feb 21
great shot! interesting how you took the picture too... it's hard to photograph yourself!
buch68 wrote on Feb 21
very cool shot! getting that kind of effect isn't always easy. well done!
dannidoodles wrote on Feb 21
I like it just as it is! Great shot.
aprillinda wrote on Feb 21
ethansdad54 wrote on Feb 21
nice work...classic side light shot
fuzzysworld wrote on Feb 21
Very cool shot. Thanks for taking the time to visit mine.
poetessgarden wrote on Feb 21
That is a great shot, glad you took the time to find it! Thank you for visiting my page.



http://poetessgarden.multiply.com/journal/item/287/Picture_Perfect_Shadow?replies_read=16
karen21445 wrote on Feb 21
Very nice.....very creative. Thanks for stopping by my page.
jolaranita wrote on Feb 21
i like it, good idea! original
joanne7111 wrote on Feb 21
Great picture :-)
frannier wrote on Feb 21
This is awesome.... I think it would be neat if someone did a charcoal sketch of your photo and frame it... Captured the picture well
jayaramanms wrote on Feb 22
Nice and awesome shot. I liked it. Thanks for sharing.I have also participated on this theme this week (Shadow) and have posted two photographs and blog at following links-
http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/journal/item/72/PICTURE_PERFECT_-_SHADOW... and http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/journal/item/73
Please visit and comment.
charmingrebel wrote on Feb 22
Great shot. I like the subtle effect of little lighting. Good choice for the theme.
millimusings wrote on Feb 22
Great take on shadow here Mitch...Gladhttp://millimusings.multiply.com/journal/item/321?mark_read=millimusings:journal:321&replies_read=22 you liked mine too
guazzetto25 wrote on Feb 22
that's a very good b/w shot. ciao
angeloo00oo wrote on Feb 22
http://angeloo00oo.multiply.com/journal/item/56
Thank you for your visit and leaving a comment.
This is a very good shot, you have a very steady hand.
rruzie wrote on Feb 22
What a great idea! Great shot! Thank you for sharing!

And thanks for coming by mine & leaving your nice comment!
Till next week then, hope you enjoy a wonderful day!
http://rruzie.multiply.com/journal/item/88/Picture_Perfect_-_SHADOW
shoppingfreedom wrote on Feb 22
I photographed myself, sitting in my computer chair, the only illumination is from the monitor. The camera was hand-held (didn't have a tripod!!) and the flash was switched off. This picture is the result.
OMG, this is sooo COOL !!!
I've been trying to do it, but couldn't make one like yours here. Great job, Mitchy !!!
Yes, the lack of a tripod is really a challenge for creating a great picture, but if we could do it, then it's gonna be a HUGE achievement to us.

Thx for stopping by at mine.
Have a fun weekend there (^_^)v
sue980 wrote on Feb 22
That is a good picture and no tripod !
mousepotato66 wrote on Feb 22
I think it's cool just the way it is Mitch ~ if your eye had been better illuminated, wouldn't it have lost some of the shadow?
http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/journal/item/125/Foto_Friday_Shadow
onlymissy wrote on Feb 22
I should try one of those techniques one day... Nice take on this week's theme, Mitch! Thanks for sharing and visiting mine!
chicad69 wrote on Feb 22
AWESOME
tallyknight wrote on Feb 22
I remember seeing this the first time around, it's a really great shot. I'd like to try recreating it sometime.
http://tallyknight.multiply.com/journal/item/37/Picture_Perfect_-_Shadow
iniaku wrote on Feb 22
it's nice tho..
creative, indeed
vrilia wrote on Feb 22
Super COOL! authentic..
well done..
wolfsbanenightshade wrote on Feb 22
Great shot. Sometimes our best stuff comes from just messing around and experimenting. Thanks for stopping by mine and commenting Mitch!
dianadji wrote on Feb 22
carolenablue wrote on Feb 22
Great shot! The stark contrast and shadows give it character and mystery. Poignancy in the eyes.
busterp wrote on Feb 22
Nice picture, especially being handheld. I like the idea you are getting inspiration from album covers. Ha.

I have Revolver and its black and white: http://www.boskowan.com/www/jirka/beatles/covers/revolver.jpg

but I think you were thinking of this one:

http://www.boskowan.com/www/jirka/beatles/covers/with.jpg
sassyarielle wrote on Feb 22
great shot, really gives depth to facial features! thanks for sharing!
nessabates wrote on Feb 22
its still a really great shot though...I like it!
ninakobie wrote on Feb 22, edited on Feb 22
What a wonderful idea. Great shot.

http://ninakobie.multiply.com/journal/item/353
wbtak wrote on Feb 22
I think you did a great job.
annie206 wrote on Feb 22
yaa...great shadow photo....quite original...
misschattytravel wrote on Feb 22
this is very nice, I like the calmness in your face and the true color of "Shadow".
bikergirl279 wrote on Feb 22
Oh, this is a GREAT shot. Thank you so much for stopping by mine.
adijams wrote on Feb 22
This is really cool! Great idea, I like the creativity :]
ruggedman wrote on Feb 22
nic pic... I need to look into B & W's
dews24u wrote on Feb 22
This is a great shot. I remember the Beatles cover also :-)
oarafn1 wrote on Feb 22
Interesting effect and experiment with lighting and non-lighting, Mitch. It's always fun to try new things out like that.

If you're not too busy... stop on by my entry (http://oarafn1.multiply.com/journal/item/25). Have a wonderful weekend
gaganawati wrote on Feb 22
Hi Mitch, thanks for liking my shadow oh I mean the shadow theatre pic in mine, he he ... Great shot from you and it's really unique to see in between ... the part with a light on and another one so dark can't see but for sure I promise you it must be you! Hi hi
alberto11v wrote on Feb 22
Very different and creative! This whole picture perfect experience is great!
mavisgrind wrote on Feb 22
Very artistic. I remember that Beatle's album.
scatterlings wrote on Feb 22
It's great experimenting with photography! Very interesting photo you posted and interpretation on the theme. Thanks for stopping by my page. :-)
lilangelwolf wrote on Feb 22
TY Mitchy for the nice comment on my in the box idea. You have out done yourself again too... Have a terrific weekend, lilangelwolf
http://lilangelwolf.multiply.com/journal/item/181/Picture_Perfect-_Shadow
purplerosew wrote on Feb 23
Great experiment and picture. I like the contrast of it and that you went for something different.

Mine is up if you have a chance.
http://purplerosew.multiply.com/journal/item/334/Picture_Perfect_Shadow...
genie688 wrote on Feb 23
What a great idea ... great picture ... tfs ...
Thanks for your comment ...
moufflongirl wrote on Feb 23
Nice effect! I've tried self-portraits before but I think I need longer arms - lol. I usually find taking pix of others produces better images! Hope the weather in your part of the Principality is better than here (although being that much closer to the Atlantic,I doubt it!) Have a good weekend, nonetheless!
gkluit wrote on Feb 23
Very good photo! The way half your face is in the shadow and half is not. Very well done!
amaranna wrote on Feb 23
It's a half moon! :) Very good lighting! Thanks for your visit!

http://amaranna.multiply.com/journal/item/106/Picture_Perfect_SHADOW
evimeinar wrote on Feb 23
Brilliant! thanks for stopping by mine.
sueystuff wrote on Feb 23
Great idea for shadow. Very cool.
darrellmom wrote on Feb 23
so creative and cool..!!
redhotbrat wrote on Feb 23
Very cool pic. Very Unique. Thanks for sharing it and also for your nice comments on my pic. :D
robbiecave wrote on Feb 23
Great shot
fotofriday wrote on Feb 23
Oh that is good! I think we all need to break out and experiment sometimes. I might just try this : )
ifiik wrote on Feb 23
yair....my ex broke out and experimented once.......thats why I'm so single today..........................
ginsing7 wrote on Feb 23
It's excellent..I love the way half of your face is in darkness
jadedtales wrote on Feb 23
I love these kinds of pictures!!!! Shadows and light - very well done :o) I love it!
serenole wrote on Feb 24
Oh, I don't know... I think it is Picture Perfect..just the way it is!

I do these kind of shots a lot with the bands I photograph. It's always fun to see how they turn out. :)
Thanks for your fun comment on mine! Hope to see you again!

http://serenole.multiply.com/journal/item/58/Picture_Perfect_Shadow_