This portrait stopped me in my tracks

[kenneth]

Lasse Svenson

 

It was taken by this Norwegian Photographer and reminds me of the Dutch Masters

 

 

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[Guest Jaf-Photo]

The Dutch masters still serve as inspiration for portraits. I mean, who hasn't pulled some Rembrandt lighting or tried and failed to emulate Vermeer?

 

This photo falls in the latter category. If you look past the traditional costume, there is nothing there. Composition, treatment of light and expression are really far off.

 

It is really hard to emulate the Dutch style even with our modern equipment. Usually it either falls flat or turns into corny pastiche.

[christer]

There is a big hole to the right of the girl. The old Dutch never had that.

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

There is a big hole to the right of the girl. The old Dutch never had that.

Occasionally, they did. Look at Pieter de Hooch's self-portrait, for instance.

 

But in this case, the composition is completely off-balance. Cropping out the black hole greatly improves the picture.

 

The Delft masters never made such simple mistakes.