A Quiet Read (+revised)

[Huw_Thomas]

Revised Version

Revision 1 (latest)

What changed: Lamp darkened - was drawing eye too much

Added after receiving feedback from the community.

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Original Version

A Quiet Read

Wider view for comparison

Critique Style: In-Depth

The photographer is looking for deeper feedback connected to their intent, creative direction, and specific questions.

Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive

About This Image

I was very lucky with this image. The colours, the narrative, the quiet, the “old fashioned book” were just there. I didn’t approach her incase the scene was shattered by me being noticed with my albeit small Sony X100iv

Why This Image?

Every now and then every photographer, by luck or judgement produces a notable image. I feel this is one of mine and I want to share because it only happened because my mind had been switched on by the photographers and painters that I had been investigating.

I had just read up about American painter Hopper and his colour palette, and then I walked into this cafe in our nearest town. The picture was taken from across the room in an almost deserted coffee shop. Evening light was reflected off the brick wall out side and was lovely and warm. I was attuned to the “Hopper” scene, the “Vermeer” light, and the “On Reading” project I had read about by Andre Kertesz.

What I’m Trying to Express or Explore

I think the narrative here is really strong. This lady had finished her daily shop, and had come in for a coffee, a sit down, and rest , and to spend some quality time with a good book. The Vermeer style window light was just about perfect to illuminate the story.

Where Feedback Would Help Most

The handle of the shopping trolly hides her face a bit - but is part of the story so I have left it.
I’ve done a fair bit of work on this, dodging and burning, and the crop was initially hard to decide on.

The whole image is shown for comparison - is the crop appropriate? Does this come across as a strong image or is it just me?

Comments appreciated

Technical Details

Camera: Sony X100 iv
No flash, iso will have been quite high,

[David_Haynes]

Wow, Huw. This really is an exceptional image. I was immediately drawn into by the natural light and shadows in the scene but also the colors. They are exceptional? That you simply just walked into this scene and it was just happenstance makes this even more remarkable. It appears that she never even saw you.
I think you were ready for, if not actually looking for, an image like this because of your recent musings about Hopper, Vermeer, Kertesz, so when you entered this cafe, everything struck you immediately. The colors, the light, and of course the girl reading the book.
What’s really is amazing is the light hitting the girls face, hands and of course that book. You can tell she’s deeply into whatever she’s reading. And, you’re right about the shopping cart being part of the story and it certainly doesn’t detract at all.
I have to say that I really like the larger version you’ve shared here. I love the ceiling lamp, the green vertical lines of the windows, the red colors coming through the windows, the little hand painted flowers on the wall above the picture, the height of the ceiling and more of the coffee shop. I don’t get the same feel in the smaller cropped version. I don’t get the same sense of location and I’m missing some of those greens from the windows and the red from the bricks. In the smaller version the red looks like paint on a wall and not a reflection of the bricks from across the way through a window.
The smaller version is however, much more intimate and it really paints the picture of the woman in deep thought reading a book but it could be in her kitchen at home. They are both beautifully presented and had you not shown the larger version I would be completely smitten over the cropped version but you did show me the larger version and I do prefer it. Sensational either way and I can see how this is one of your favorite images.

[Huw_Thomas]

@David_Haynes Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the image and detailed review - really appreciated

Huw

[Diane_Miller]

What a wonderful capture!!! And you were well-prepared to make the most of it! The choice of crop is so nice, but I love the full-frame version as much, for the light coming through the windows. I would burn the lighter rectangular thing on the ceiling and subdue the picture on the wall, but this is a captivating version as well. I wonder if you have a frame with just a bit more on the bottom for the wider version? I can see why this is a favorite of yours – I think it is exceptional!

[Huw_Thomas]

@Diane_Miller I’ve put a tweaked wider version in the main text - thanks for the suggestions

Regards

Huw

[Diane_Miller]

I love it!!

[Igor_Doncov]

Wonderful light. I thought the window light was too dominant. Now I’m not sure.

[Glenys_Passier]

Wow! This is such a great image. You’ve had some very good suggestions. No matter what you decide, the image has so many very workable variations.

I wonder if a fairly heavy vertical linear gradient (handled lightly…) would work from the right hand side?

[Huw_Thomas]

Thanks Igor
Always worth a thought

I think the darkening means that one doesn’t really understand where the light comes from and makes the image feel a little dark and foreboding, when its all about relaxation and peace and light.

Thanks though - definitely worth considering

Vermeer likes bright side light - so maybe it can stay (although I also think he might have toned it down a bit ) lol

[system]

The original poster added a revised version of their image.

[Huw_Thomas]

Thanks to everyone who has given suggestions for improving the image.

I have incorporated most and you have opened my eyes to the benefits and beauty of the wider image.

I like both, in different ways and one is already framed on my wall.

The art deco lamp had to go - too distracting - well toned down a lot

Thanks++

Huw

[system]

The original poster added a revised version of their image.

[system]

The original poster added a revised version of their image.

[Diane_Miller]

From excellent to even better!! I think @Glenys_Passier has a good idea to darken the right with a subtle gradient. It is a lovely echo of the window on the left but maybe it could be a bit secondary in brightness? But a gorgeous scene in any case!

[Huw_Thomas]

I think @Glenys_Passier has a good idea to darken the right with a subtle gradient. It is a lovely echo of the window on the left but maybe it could be a bit secondary in brightness?

Done that in latest version @Glenys_Passier, a little anyway - maybe not enough? - wanted the light to make sense

[Marylynne_Diggs]

I am a big fan of the wider view, Huw. Even though it feels less intimate than the closer view, it provides context for woman: she is alone in a large room, she has it to herself, with great light and lots of welcome solitude.

Initially, I liked the shadows and light in the right hand side, but I think toning it down helped. I like the bright light of the window by which she is reading.

For me, the handle of her shopping cart is still a bit of a distraction. It was there, it does add to the story, and it makes the whole thing feel more candid, but for my taste, if it were possible without distracting the woman and losing the moment, moving three steps to your left would have made for a cleaner portrait.

That said, seeing the opportunity and rendering it as you did is a fantastic accomplishment. Very nicely done,
ML

[Huw_Thomas]

@Marylynne_Diggs

Thanks Marylynne. Many others have said as you have about the trolley handle. At the time I was shooting from my table whilst drinking coffee and there was no possibility of my moving without attracting her attention and breaking the mood.

I put it in our local photography club competition a bit ago ( close up version) and the judge said exactly what you said.

From my point of view I don’t mind it. It would be less of a picture/ narrative without it , and its placement doesn’t really matter. As a distraction there is a view that it is pushing itself to the viewer as an emphasis to tell more of the story - she dragged the trolley round the shops and now she has dumped it for her “quiet read time”.

Photographs exist as a language to convey story, mood and emotions. I didn’t create this scene - I just witnessed it. It made me warm inside to see her so relaxed after a busy afternoon.

The afternoon light made my job easy. I just needed to capture it fairly accurately and viewers read everything else into the photo, thanks to Vermeer and Hopper preparing the path.

It won’t win fine art competitions because of this flaw- but I think I prefer to capture a moment and make a picture rather than create a moment and make a fine at image.
Authenticity matters to me more than I initially realised.

Anyway thanks for your comments- much appreciated.

[Dennis_Plank]

It’s been a pretty hectic week, so I apologize for not getting to this one earlier, Huw. This is a really fine image and I think the feedback you received here and the final version you posted are outstanding. I don’t have any suggestions for improvement from that final version.

[alice (ALICE WILSON)]

Huw, I agree with all of the above. The image has an old master feel to it that is exceptional. The light on the focal point, the woman and the book really set it off.
Well done!!
Alice Wilson