Here's Johnny

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

My thoughts were that Johnny was just All American.

Interesting, I just went back to the orignal image of the flag. This is a 49 Star Flag that a friends father gave to his son. It is framed and hanging above their mantle in their living room, with, displayed with the field of stars on the right side. Maybe the other side was soled more that this side. It's a great flag, one that I was proud to see and photograph.

[theantiquetiger]

This is a common mistake that many people make when display the flag horizontally. People think you just turn it 90 deg and hang it, but you actually have to flip it as well.

I didn't realize it was a 49star flag. That is VERY rare, only used for one year.

Since it is a 49 star flag, it is decommissioned, so not an official US flag anymore. Because of this, you can hang it or display it anyway you want, including in the image that you have here. If Johnny likes it, you may want to tell him about the union to the right in death, but it is OK for the flag to be displayed like this (just in case some one ask him).

Does this make sense?

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

I hear what your saying and it does make sense, however when creating art their are rules and we can also break those rules, it doesn't matter what
symbols we might be using in our final image.

[Marko]

I hear ya Ernst and agree w/you 100%.
Sometimes though, images elicit a reaction or a 'viewpoint' not intended by the photographer. If many people have the same reaction, it's worth considering....or completely ignoring. Your image, you da boss.

Did the sitter get a copy or is this just for you?

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Thanks Marko!

I did the portrait just for me, trying out some new things I learned during my class with Darton Drake a few weeks back. Darton has been influenced greatly by Edward Steichen's work, of course I've known his images as well, however it was a reawaking and recently bought the book
Edward Steichen "Living in Photography". WOW great book and now I've been Steichenized! ;-)

Johnny is my next door neighbor, I'm doing his Senior sessions for FREE. I have no doubt that Mom and Dad will purchase from me because they value portraiture. So far we haven't had the ordering appt. I'll update you when that happens.

If you've noticed, beside being a portrait photographer, I also have a huge interest in photographing other things, lots of "Personal Projects". I believe the biggest theme in my work is an Americana Theme. As a Naturalize Citizen, a Vietnam Veteran, I am very proud to be an American, even though I was born German. A few years back during Memorial Day I was documenting a serivce at one of our local cemetaries. I got there early and came across two very large soled flags draped over a couple of head stones. Of course I had to take some photos of it. I shared the image on a number of fourms and it was censored/deleted on everyone of them. ;-( I personally would never do anything to dispect our flag and yet I also feel strongly about the freedom that flag gives each and everyone of us. I might not like what your doing with your art, but I will defind
your right in doing your art. I don't have to view it or buy it if I don't like it. I love most of the work by Robert Mapplethrop and would love to have some of his images in my BW Collection, however I will never want or buy his Sex Art.

Best regards, Ernst

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Oh, Here are two more portraits of Johnny that I did yesterday.

[Marko]

Thanks for the extra info Ernst - always cool to hear where people "come from".
I prefer Shot one in post 16. Cool 'grainy' processing. If it were mine though, lol...I'd dodge the hands and burn the mid-right edge by about 15%.