Frances Kepes | Smart Aleck / SoHo December 17, 2007
When I opened this page I said aloud: Ohhh...That is gorgeous! One of the top 10, Bill. The composition is both compelling (for the beautifully colored and textured setting) and serene (for the wistful expression on Frances' face). - Jocelyn - http://www.myspace.com/jocelynryder I agree. The colors are wonderful, texture and light is perfect and her expression ..... Top 10 indeed. - Tim - http://www.741231.com ohh this is lovely. a beautiful stairwell and an interesting subject (or is that the other way round?). - andrea - www.andreamann.com it's amazing. using the right lighting, angle and lense one can make the most damp scruffy cellar look like a nice place to be sitting on its stairwell... good job once again, bill. - samsplanet I fully agree with the opinions above - Magnificent lighting, texture, colors, and composition to create a portrait of an intriguing subject. Top 10, indeed! - Julie Well done, Bill. Very Tim Burton! - Peter - www.prdifferently.com Lovely lovely lovely! Mwwwah! - Mindy @Peter: Exactly! My first thought was Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice. So pretty, almost doll-like. - Meg - www.queenietakesmanhattan.blogspot.com Beautiful light and colors. I love it! - Ela I like all the different textures and colors and lines. The design of the swirly handrail metal work is very neat and an unexpected detail for such a dim location. Its also not bad that you put a lovely ladyin the shot. :)
Curious - what was the lighting setup? Did you stick with available light only?
*** It's lit by two fluorescent ceiling bulbs, one in the back like you see and one above to her right. Just that and a reflector in my right hand to fill her face a little. So yes, available light in this one. -bw
I'm Bill Wadman, a New York-based photographer who after completing my first 365 Project, and then a weekly 52 Project, took it upon myself to shoot and post one portrait every day of 2007. Each photo was taken that day, and each day was a different subject. Some were be in the studio, some in the wild. Hopefully they are all interesting.
365 Portraits - The Book is now for sale on Blurb - Order Now!!
- Jocelyn - http://www.myspace.com/jocelynryder
I agree. The colors are wonderful, texture and light is perfect and her expression ..... Top 10 indeed.
- Tim - http://www.741231.com
ohh this is lovely. a beautiful stairwell and an interesting subject (or is that the other way round?).
- andrea - www.andreamann.com
it's amazing. using the right lighting, angle and lense one can make the most damp scruffy cellar look like a nice place to be sitting on its stairwell... good job once again, bill.
- samsplanet
I fully agree with the opinions above - Magnificent lighting, texture, colors, and composition to create a portrait of an intriguing subject. Top 10, indeed!
- Julie
Well done, Bill. Very Tim Burton!
- Peter - www.prdifferently.com
Lovely lovely lovely! Mwwwah!
- Mindy
@Peter: Exactly! My first thought was Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice. So pretty, almost doll-like.
- Meg - www.queenietakesmanhattan.blogspot.com
Beautiful light and colors. I love it!
- Ela
I like all the different textures and colors and lines. The design of the swirly handrail metal work is very neat and an unexpected detail for such a dim location. Its also not bad that you put a lovely ladyin the shot. :) Curious - what was the lighting setup? Did you stick with available light only? *** It's lit by two fluorescent ceiling bulbs, one in the back like you see and one above to her right. Just that and a reflector in my right hand to fill her face a little. So yes, available light in this one. -bw
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- Duluoz
My first thought was Amelie Poulin. Lovely.
- Paula
l o v e the detail and coloring of the staircase and surroundings definitely a top 10.
- rlb
I had the same initial reaction as Paula: it's Amelie! Not just the character herself but everything about the picture. Hard to believe it's all lit only with available light. Bill, you are truly going out with a bang....
- nuno
Frances looks like the lead singer for the Bird and the Bee. She also really DOES look like a smart aleck. Composition -----> perfect, as usual
- Diane
What a GORGEOUS photo. The colors, the textures, the light. Even if it didn't feature the most beautiful woman East of the Mississippi, I would still love it. Frances just puts it over the top. And I'll vouch for it...she really IS a smart aleck.
- Amy
god, she is beautiful. i think i have a crush...is she single? another amazing picture billy. jonathan
- jonathan
Great photo. Looks like it could be a David Lynch movie poster, maybe "Beyond Apartment 5". And of course Frances Rocks!
- ron
That you have only used the available light makes this picture all the more exciting for me. The focal length appears deep enough to keep most of the frame in focus... so I'm wondering how you managed to balance f stop and speed to ensure a sharp image, all while holding a reflector steady with your right hand??? Amazing work!
- superfluous aussie
Such gorgeous colors! Another beautiful person in a beautiful portrait. One of my faves, for sure.
- James Curtis Smith - http://www.justjames.org
heavens, this is lovely. man. you are so talented, bill. gorgeous.
- amy
Amélie Poulin, directed by Tim Burton :-)
- Thiago Silva - http://flickr.com/photos/thiagosilva/
it's so perfect. one of my favorites.
- story - prettylittlemess.wordpress.com
great shot Bill
- Daniel Krieger - www.danielkrieger.com
OMG...who is this? This "Frances" looks like an amazing person. She exubes personality, beauty (both inner and outer), and style. She seems confident, but not cocky. Loving, but not desperate. Just an amazing picture, and I am sure, a phenominal young female.
- Jordan "the machine" Osher
"She has gum" is what I thought when I first saw this. Certainly young but still the angle puts the view at kid height and really, if sent to spend the day with someone and this is who and how a child meets her, well, he or she just know it's going to be an exceptional day. I think the tilt to her head is evocative of an innocence and curiosity that a kid would identify with and adore.
- Boo
Is this the same Frances that was friends with Linda in college? Czeck/Mex Kepes?
- peter
(If you're thinking of a "Linda" who is now married to her U. of Chicago sweetie Greg, then, yes, she's the same one. ) Bill, you are absolutely amazing. Can't wait to see how the Muse inspires you next.
- Estelle
years ago, she buried me on the high plains
- w