Emma

Mary Sparrow · 06-13-2004, 08:04 AM

David and Julie, That picture was the unanimous choice of the family.

Michelle, I have been thinking about your comments for a few days and when I spoke with the mother asked how she felt about re-shooting. They really don't want to, and I can understand why, Emma REALLY didn't like that at all, it was a very stressful hour for everyone involved. (Not to mention they live 3 hours away) She also doesn't want to change that dress, there is some significance to it. She said she didn't understand why I would want to redo, that was one of the best pictures she had ever gotten of her. I didn't really know at that point why myself. I'm not crazy about her hands being behind her back, however she made the comment that Emma either always has her hands behind her back, or up beside her face. So that is her.

What exactly bugs you about the picture, besides the dress. And why does that dress bother you? It does look very busy in the reference shown, but that is some sort of weird distortion. Is it just a personal preference or do you really see a problem with it? Is it the lighting or the pose? I searched the SOG websites and found a few portraits done with the hands behind the back, while it isn't my favorite, it has been done. Thanks!

Allan Rahbek · 06-13-2004, 09:30 AM

Mary,

I went through a photo session yesterday with my daughter. She left for Spain on a three week language seminar. So I decided to shoot some photos by her to paint from.

These were taken in our garden with some flowering bushes as part of the background.

But I had to ask her out three times, to shoot, because I was not sure of what exactly I was looking for.

Finally, today, I choose one from the first session, because I feel that it expresses some of her personality in a way. That will be my reason for doing this painting.

Why , I also, think that your second reference is good, is that the light is soft and shows the little girl in a harmonious pose.

And I can not ignore the fact that she is blind, and think of how she must perceive the world.

There are several structures of fabric and other materials around her, such as her dress in silk and knitting with embroidered flowers on. Her mother has of course chosen the colors, but with regard to the preference of her daughter, if she could have, I guess. Also there is the iron decoration on the veranda that can be explored with the sensible fingers of a blind.

She also seem to be listening, like "seeing" with her ears.

Only one thing bothers me. That is the white diagonal line pointing at her face. I would suggest that you take it away.

Allan

Michele Rushworth · 06-13-2004, 10:35 PM

Mary, it was mostly the dress that I found distracting but if it's important to the family in some way that needs to be taken into consideration, of course. I didn't notice her hands were behind her back. That doesn't bother me at all. I think it was a few other subtle things: her ambiguous expression, the fairly flat light, and there seems to be some camera distortion, as if you were very close to her when this shot was taken.

All this is moot if photo sessions are stressful for the little girl, though. If I were in your shoes I'd go with this shot.