My Wife is Looking for Opinions....

[Vince Lupo]

Hello all -- My wife is looking for a 'critique' of this photo that she took of me - of all people.

She specifically wants to know if people see a 'story' in it. Does it have 'romance'? Or is it just a guy smoking a pipe?

Any opinions would be greatly welcomed....many thanks!

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Hmm. That's an oddly framed question. I don't see much of a story there, but I do like the picture. I mean, sure, it's just a guy smoking a pipe...specifically, you look like David Cross smoking a pipe. But that's more than enough for a photograph to be, IMHO.

 

[sepiareverb]

What's in the pipe?

 

[Thardy]

A gentleman smoking a pipe, listening to something intently. Also implies a contemplative mood, or relaxing after a rough day.

 

[FrankS]

The story I see is a man contemplating (something).
I wish the pipe were more prominant, parallel to the camera rather than angled away. It looks small and short the way it is photographed. Also I wish the smoke did not touch the nose, or that it would overlap it more. The way it just touches, bothers me. More space for the smoke to rise into would be good, I think. Just my opinion, but you asked.

 

[Vince Lupo]

What's in the pipe?

Nat Sherman tobacco -- nothing illegal!

Wow, these are great comments. My wife was very impressed with the quick responses, and you guys definitely made her aware of things she hadn't considered.

Admittedly, the pipe is small to begin with - it's one of those little 'vest pocket' pipes. Maybe she can try the shot again with me using a larger, more 'normal' sized pipe. She took this last night on our front porch as we were handing out Halloween goodies to the neighbourhood goblins.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions!

 

[charjohncarter]

It's good; it tells me something about you: calm (at least when th photo was taken), able to enjoy something as simple as a pipe, thoughtful, and it seems to me you are at peace. She used the rule of thirds well, and I also like the diagonal from the upper left that draws your eye to the lower right.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Right out of a 1930s book on portraits. Could be in a Morgan and Lester Leica Manual.

I like it, very classic pose.

 

[FrankS]

Lighting is good directionally, but a bit harsh. Could use some reflecting panels.

 

[thomasw_]

Good shot. My only suggestion would have been to get you to turn a few degrees toward the lens.....not much, though.

 

[daveywaugh]

I really like it. It's easy of course to say something to improve a pic in hindsight... mine would be more breathing space above the head - maybe seeing the 'top' of the smoke. This would add to the contemplation effect IMO.

 

[robklurfield]

I like the way she used the light to capture the smoke and the little bit of glare off your eyeglass frames. What I like best, however, is the pose in which she captured you, almost pondering your thoughts as they go up in smoke. Nice image.

 

[antiquark]

It interesting how the smoke almost forms a mirror image of his profile (the nose and mouth area). It's like he's contemplating himself in the smoke. Except that the smoke has more hair... maybe he's contemplating youth. Youth can vanish like a puff of smoke, before you know it.

If you're not averse to photoshopping, I would suggest adding a slight glint on the lower-right part of the pipe, to make it more obvious. At first glance, the pipe isn't apparent.

EDIT: replace "his" with "you", I should have read the original post more closely.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Really nice shot! It's so rare to see anyone smoking a pipe these days.

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com

 

[mwooten]

the smoke has a rather ominous look--a creature about to form.

 

[Trius]

I don't necessarily read the contemplation aspect. Having been a pipe smoker in the past, I can recognize other scenarios, such as simply enjoying the initial light-up.

BTW, I had a pipe like that and lost it ... it was the only pipe I truly missed. The small bowl meant it didn't smoke long, but there was full aroma due to its proximity. If I still had it today I would still smoke a pipe, though not often.

 

[Damaso]

No story, some romance, mostly a nice photo of a guy smoking a pipe. Makes me wish I had remembered to bring mine on my current trip...

 

[bmattock]

A callous man intentionally giving cancer to his family, oblivious to all but his own pleasure. Mod sideburns indicate he's more interested in fashion than common sense. And the pipe...well, Freud told us all what that's about. Compensating, are we?

OK, just kidding. I like the photo a lot. Seriously.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

A gentleman smoking a pipe, listening to something intently. Also implies a contemplative mood, or relaxing after a rough day.

No! - a gentleman would not have gone two or three days without shaving! 😉

 

[funkpilz]

It's a good photo, contemplative, but it doesn't have a story. Not many pictures do, but they don't have to.