Ever been hustled?

Mike McCarty · 01-03-2003, 04:45 PM

I have been completely unproductive during the holiday season. However, I was able to get this image recently.

This was taken with my Mamiya 645 medium format camera with portra 160 film on a tripod. The lighting was provided by the light which hangs over the pool table. It resembles the long blue horizontal shapes in the background. I had someone on the other side of the table twist the light up onto the subject. To my amazement, the light offered no peculiar color addition.

This man is a bit of a legend, he is a pool hustler. For all the years I have known him, and most of the years of his life, that is all that he has ever done. Besides showing him well, I wanted to suggest a sense of what he was about.

I would be interested in any comments, especially regarding a minimum size canvas. Also, any comments on the space that I have given the subject. I have a tendency to crop too tightly.

Mike McCarty · 01-03-2003, 04:47 PM

Face close up...

Jean Kelly · 01-05-2003, 07:52 PM

Mike, I've been thinking about this photo for a couple of days now. I really like the concept and this man's intimidating appearance. I believe that there is too much space to the right of his body. It detracts from the "arrogant" atmosphere. Also, the pool cue pointed directly under his chin is disturbing. Feels like he'll be poked there any minute. Also, his head looks like its a little too small for his body. Maybe its my old eyes deceiving me but could the angle have created a slight distortion?

I'm normally not this picky, but I find your subject so fascinating that I'm trying hard to see anything that could be improved. This could be awesome.

Jean

Mike McCarty · 01-05-2003, 08:50 PM

Jean,

I agree that some space could be lost on the right (attached). I have a tendency to crop too tightly and I thouht I'd get another opinion.

As far as the size of his head... this man is huge. He is 6'8" and very imposing. The fact that he has very little hair and that the edge of his head is lost to the background may add to this. The photo was taken with a fixed 80mm portrait lens. I would guess the head is very close to accurate.

About the cue stick... it was tough to get it worked into the composition yet I couldn't leave it out. I think I was paying more attention to his hand on the stick than the stick itself.

A few years ago I did a portrait of this man holding a cue ball (whitey he calls it) on the tips of his fingers, the ball looked like a pea sitting on the tips of his fingers.

Denise Racine · 01-12-2003, 03:18 PM

I love this picture... I like his position, I like the abstract background, I really like the way he is sitting over the edge of the table...I like the way his right hand rests on the table and I love the defiant look in his face.

My only suggestion is that his left arm be away from his body at a slight angle, holding the cue pointed towards the ceiling...

I think this would put more emphasis on the "pool" theme" and take away the distracting line pointed towards his chin...

This is very interesting subject, I hope we get to see the painting!

Jean Kelly · 01-12-2003, 04:17 PM

I want to see it too!

Jean

Mike McCarty · 01-12-2003, 04:28 PM

I really like this image also and I hope to get to it sometime early this year. But, as the plumber said... I'm becoming more and more backed up.

Michele Rushworth · 01-12-2003, 11:13 PM

Mike, I agree that the pool cue pointed at his neck is distracting. I also get the feeling that he is about to get poked with it. Can you rephotograph him with his hand holding the pool cue pointing out to the right a bit?

Otherwise I like the pose, lighting and expression very much.

I would tone down the bright blue areas in the background, though. I would reduce their value and saturation so they don't compete.

I'd love to see this when it's done! Do it life size!

Mike McCarty · 01-13-2003, 12:38 AM

Thank you all for your interest.

I'm not sure I'll have another photo opportunity.

What do you think of this modification...

Michele Rushworth · 01-13-2003, 11:03 AM

Much better position for the pool cue.

You'll need to rotate his hand a bit since the angle of the cue has changed. His bottom fingers don't seem to be grasping the cue properly. I once had to change the angle of a golf club -- and the hands. What a pain that was! Also, watch that the cue is straight when you paint it. (I know, this is just a quick Photoshop sketch...)