Photographically how do you rate this image?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Nanamouskouri_collection.jpg


As in the tonal range etc,

second question if you want to answer - How old is Nana now?

a

Hi Dr, I know nothing of the fotog, just stumbled onto it, she was around 68 in the image.

Greeks dont have wrinkles Dr (well not after alot of photoshop) - haha

Lets sing together : here comes the sun (repeat)

I hear you Dr Sam and will do thanks

Vance that answer is outstanding!!

Im with you, by now you should be getting the opicture I like good discussion on images and you are not good but great at it.

I thank you again.

Answer 1

This is Fhotoace’s territory, but here goes.

The image depends on its graphical distribution of the light and dark as a primary element. These have a nice visual balance and the lines have a certain amount of fluid dynamics with the hair complimenting the facial shape.

The shot is typical high-key with most probably a soft box fairly close to the lens axis to the left of the camera and somewhat above Anna’s eye level, but not all that much. This is where the flattening comes from and it also is the lighting that will show the least amount of wrinkles because there is no real modeling. You can barely see the catch lights of the lighting in the eyes, but you can see a small, soft shadow just under the nose and also to the right. This shadow also points to this lighting arrangement.

The camera also seems to be located a little above the eye level, but it’s hard to tell.

The background is definitely blown out, probably lit by two lights coming from either side at 45 degrees or something.

The glasses are a prop to the image and act to pull the image together. There may or may not be any glass in the frames, or a polarizer was used, because of the lack of reflection in the lenses. With lighting as close to on axis as this, you would expect to have them.

Is the image over exposed? Not in terms of this type of photography. This is an example of the correct exposure being determined by the desired quality of the image and not any realistic representation or relationship of tonality. In spite of the nearly complete lack midtones and the amount of max white and black, the image is not really high contrast. The lighting ratio is very low and there is actually a full tonal range, its just that there is very little of the mids.

All-in-all, a well posed and executed image by someone who knew exactly what they were doing.

Again, I’ll bow to anything Fhotoace on this, since, like I said, this is his territory.

Vance

Answer 2

Born October 13, 1934 = almost 73 years old.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nana_Mouskouri

How do I rate the image? I'd say that it is well-suited for the genre of album cover. If you compare this to her 1957 photo (age 23), it looks as if she has found the Fountain of Youth. The almost-posterized rendering is so subtle that there is not a hint of any dimension at all. I especially noticed a lack of any wrinkles. In fact, her nose has been "flattened" so much that I thought she was Oriental. This is a very effective use of (possibly) all seven zones. I don't think I'd want this hanging in my living room as a portrait, but it is appropriate for its intended use.

Do you know anything about the photographer or production of the image?

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EDIT
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Personally, I think the exposure is excellent - for the purpose of the photo. Yes, it looks posterized, but that was no accident. In fact, I am sure that it was hard to achieve if it was done in the camera and darkroom.

Antoni - before you close out this question, you have to add your opinion.

Answer 3

Um... very high contrast? She's pretty blasted out, hence no wrinkles--but I don't think she could have been in her 60s. Style looks like the photo is FROM the 60s (IMHO). And, for the record (no pun), I once had to sing a song by Nana Mouskouri in French class.

Answer 4

As in tonal range? In terms of tonal range it is not an optimally exposed picture. To have a properly exposed pic, you need black, white, and all of the grays inbetween. The picture looks over-exposed and thus resulting in a lot of white! If done in a darkroom, they did not expose it long enough.

Answer 5

I think it's a great picture. Reminds me of pics back in the 80s. But the only thing is that her glasses make it look like her face is of a 2 demenisioal object, not a real person. maybe different lightning one either side would bring it into "3D" effect. But other than that, it's good!

Answer 6

A good journalistic album cover photo, designed to sell albums.
High key and black hair for drammatic effect , nicely done commercial photography.

Answer 7

It looks like an Allyn and 25-30 yrs,

Answer 8

Seamless hit the nail on the head! Nice high-key photo, and it suits her perfectly.

Answer 9

It's a great piciture for an album jacket.

Answer 10

hmm i would rate it a -2



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