#1 permalink
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Belfast, UK exiled in Cambridge UK.
Posts: 749
Chopping off heads If life were perfect, all my portrait clients would be artists, unfortunately Kodak told every layman that chopping off heads is not allowed.
#2 permalink
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Coatesville, PA
Posts: 1,199
I don't worry about the general public's consensus or what any rules are, I simply make the picture that I like. Sometimes a chopped head works and sometimes it doesn't. If it works I'll go with it if not then so be it. If I'm shooting for a paying client I'll shoot both just so I have them. After all the client may not like what you or I like and they have to be happy at the end of the day. If it is personal work then it's what I like.
#3 permalink
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Montréal (QC)
Posts: 3,644
I think people have been reasonably exposed to a number of "chopped head tops" photos by advertisement, magazines, and so on.
__________________Using film since before it was hip.
#4 permalink
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 4,077
Something wrong with chopped off heads????
With that question asked, I will say, I find it harder for a portrait to work when the neck or collar are chopped off... but not always. YMMV, of course, as with all things photographic.
http://www.apug.org/gallery/showphot...00&ppuser=2670
#5 permalink
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Posts: 1,257
I chop heads all the time. I have examples all over my website, so my clients aren't surprised by it.
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#6 permalink
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Southern California
Posts: 865
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gary Holliday ... unfortunately Kodak told every layman that chopping off heads is not allowed.
If it was good enough for Marie Antoinette, it's more than good enough for the "general ignorant public"...
Sorry, I couldn't resist!!! lol lol lol
__________________
#7 permalink
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,530
It is much easier to place a chopped off head in the frame than tote that limp body all over and make it sit upright...
#8 permalink
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 4,532
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kino It is much easier to place a chopped off head in the frame than tote that limp body all over and make it sit upright...
You MUST be a Joel-Peter Witkin protege then!
#9 permalink
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington DC area
Posts: 299
wasn't Ansel Adams who said all the rules about composition were irrelevant and useless?
#10 permalink
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Daventry, Northamptonshire, England
Posts: 3,880
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kino It is much easier to place a chopped off head in the frame than tote that limp body all over and make it sit upright...
Yes and if done quickly enough, the eyes will follow you around the room for a few moments.
Any advance on this level of black humour?
pentaxuser
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Chopping off heads 
With that question asked, I will say, I find it harder for a portrait to work when the neck or collar are chopped off... but not always. YMMV, of course, as with all things photographic.
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