Saturday, January 23, 2010

Portrait of Eleanor


Eleanor, originally uploaded by garyhellerphotography.

Eleanor is a warm hearted soul. She is naive, good natured, caring, sensitive and fragile. She is an artist, a dreamer and a wonderful mother and Nana.
She was an ever devoted wife to her late husband, Harry.
She is vulnerable, and yet strong.
She is a wonderful person



This was also shot with two 580EXll speedlites, one firing through a softbox and another firing through a very small diffuser for fill.

I'll spare you the diagram on this one ;)

20 comments:

Tess Kincaid said...

This one is delightful, Gary. I like the upward look in her hopeful eyes.

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Eleanor's eyes seem expectant or perhaps even wary, while her mouth seems resigned to the process and confident in the inevitable good result. She is a beautiful woman and it was a pleasure to read your description of another of your dear ones.

L.Holm said...

Your portraits are so warm and beautiful, Gary.
Love the play of textures in this one.

Unknown said...

I really love this one. It's almost as if one could feel the velvet of her blouse, and her eyes are so expressive!

Unspoken said...

She appears lost in contemplation, natural, not posed. Lovely. Your words about her make her all the more interseting. I love a face with lines and life in it.

I also noticed all the light caught in the creases of her top. Beautiful.

Josephine Tale Peddler said...

She is also a looker! I thought that was a painting when I first saw it. You really seem to capture the personality and life of a person, Gary. xx

Eric Calabros said...

the best you did is letting hands to be out of frame.. because it caused my eyes as an observer concentrate on (the only one light area)her face and focus on her eyes and then, her eyebrows. a smooth move from down to up. the most professional job that a photographer can do is making viewers travel from one corner of the photo to another.
this woman has a powerful face... seems she has many stories to tell but few interest to be speaker.a self-willed silence.

DJ said...

What a lovely, etheral light you've achieved...
Well done ~

gh said...

Thanks to all for your time to drop by and comment.
She has not seen this portrait yet, and I would imagine she would be a bit shy about her expression and moment.I felt it conveyed the very inner sensitivity and dreamer like quality that I see in her so much, but she on the other hand might be embarrassed a bit by it.
she will see it this week, and ultimately i know she will enjoy it.
I'll let you know. . . :)

kyungmee said...

I love your portraits!! I would love to learn how to do this..and eventually I hope to afford the equipment as well;) Very nice, Gary!

Hilary said...

Wow.. that's just beautiful. Eleanor's qualities do shine through.

Sueann said...

A beautiful portrait!!
Hugs
SueAnn

Daryl said...

Great face ... superb shot!

Jo Potter said...

Hi Gary,
You have described Eleanor in such a lovely way and you can see she is a special lady in your photo.
Just like the photo you took of your son, this is another very sensitive image of a beautiful person.
Thank you for sharing your great work.
Jo.:)

Shattered said...

I just love this photograph. She has such kind eyes...

Anonymous said...

interestingly, there are two genres used under this beautiful portrait: that of a sensitive artist followed by some arcane violent vocabulary (shooting, firing etc)! :)r.

myan said...

oh gary!
i was just catching up on your blog and checking out your portraits and i have to say your shots not only capture a person's beauty, but you also mange to capture their soul.
amazing work!! :)

Unknown said...

You've already received so many compliments with your artistic portrait of this wonderful woman. Through your lens I was also able to see how wise, kind and approachable she seems. You are a master in your art.

Dita said...

Gary:

I just found your blog through Amy at She Writes.

I can't even begin to express how in awe I am as I peruse your site for the very first time. The images of your children took my breath away and your self portraits...well, I just loved every single one of them.

I will be back, again and again, so I didn't want you to think I didn't say hi the first time. You'll be hearing lots from me and I am very local so I'd love to know when you are having a show.

Amazing images........truly!

Dita

Unknown said...

I can tell she is loving. And I love loving people.