Original Art and Inspired Photograph Series inspired by Harry Callahan's Eleanor Images

[Rob Naylor]

A couple of year ago I was introduced to the work of Harry Callahan, I was struck by the stark, simplicity of his images but the depth of intrigue his images invoked.

With the intent of trying to capture the same feelings and as a homage, I created this set with my wife Mandy boldly offering to be the subject.

At the time I was quite pleased with the results and I feel the series holds together well, without being too repetitive, but of course that is just my opinion, and clearly I have a biased judgement.

Have a look, and tell me what you feel, it might be nothing, you may shout "cliche", or it might offer a similar intrigue I felt while taking them and seeing them on screen as a series afterwards.

As a series, is it better to keep the same landscape or portrait orientation throughout? Rightly or wrongly, here I chose the orientation to help the image composition.

I do enjoy making photo series, sometimes the whole is more than the sum of the individual images - but not always ;(



#1

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#4

#5

This was originally part of the set, but overexposed in error, maybe should they all be overexposed, rather than all being slightly underexposed as now?

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[Martin Stephens]

Without knowing anything about the referenced "Eleanor" images, I find this series to be quite intriguing and beautiful. First, the consistency of the photographs is perfect, each one different, but echoing the same idea, which for me is the reduction of the subject to be fully inclusive of the surrounding. Being part of, and yet quite separate from them. Thus, the whole photograph is interesting and not simply the subject woman.

The staging is near perfect too. The black outfit is the only black in the photographs. The posing is formal, and yet just varied enough. I like it compared to the often "commercial mimic" that subjects attempt.

 

[Jerome Marot]

Harry Callahan sample pictures:

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[Martin Stephens]

Intriguing. Thank you.

 

[Rob Naylor]

Harry Callahan sample pictures:

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Thanks Jerome, these are perfect examples of the style from Harry Callohan that originally "got me going" .

As you can see, I am not as brave as Mr Callahan when it comes to composition, I am quite "safe" by comparison