Continuing on from yesterday’s post…

the second photo (http://www.nicolemorgenthau.com/faces4.html) was described as a failure.  Now, I would like to start off by saying that this photo in no way represents my taste.  I might make it if paid, but it wouldn’t be in my portfolio.  Well, maybe one that I keep in the office to show certain people, but certainly nothing this public.

Here’s the deal: it’s a non-stop cliche. Things that jump out at me:

• Sepia-toned;
• “Hip” angle;
• Couple kissing;
• Drinks in hands;
• Young couple;

Furthermore, I personally believe that they’re all done poorly: the kiss is two faces, awkwardly smooshed up against each other.  The drinks are tacky, plastic 40-oz bottles of brand-name low-flavor beer (disclaimer: I’m a beer snob and have been known to brew my own).  The angle denotes nothing to me – normally it’s good for showing action.  In this case, it seems to show the overly aggressive desires of a young man (like I’d be any different).  The couple: they’re young, but not the “pretty” type of young.  Not the type of young adults that other adults want to look like (not rail-thin, not supermodel-hot).  That’s a good picture for them, not for a portfolio.

Sepia tones, of course, are overplayed.  They work for some situations, often for showing memory.  Again, the people buying the pics may like it, but it’s not portfolio territory.

OK, so I’ve thoroughly trashed this photo.  Is it the “failure” that it was described to be?

No, I don’t think so.

It still has a visual appeal to some people, and anyone who’s had excess fun on Spring Break will have a different perspective.  By all appearances it fits the couple and tells us something about them.

That’s not failure.  But I still say it’s not a good choice for a portfolio.