Milk, Blue, Cheese — Irish Porter
by Bear_Music

Comment by RonBeam:
Heck, I don't know, Bear ... perhaps you should of just thown it all in a big pot of milk and submitted the impact crater. Yeah... that's it! And.. and.. and then the resulting "wall" of milk will look like a crown coming out of the liquid ... with .. with lots of little drips on top of the "spikes" .. and.. and that would look really cool! I know its my idea .... but it's OK if you use it. Just act like you thought of it.

A Woman of a Certain Age
by Bear_Music

Comment by CalliopeKel:
I actually think those are rather nice breasts for a 59 year old woman. These are actually quite lovely. I think people are so accustomed to seeing implants and breasts of women who have never had children that somehow people are seeing these as saggy or droopy. I must disagree. The nipples are in the correct positioning for nursing a baby. The hormones during pregnancy is what creates this nipple positioning.

I quite love the photo, and I find it to be artistic and pleasing. One of my 10s in the challenge.

A Woman of a Certain Age
by Bear_Music

Comment by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by BradP: Sorry - not gonna' stroke your ego here Robt. Just my honest opinion, nothing else.

That's ok, Brad. My ego could use a little deflating from time-to-time anyway. Besides which, it was my conscious decision NOT to go "artistic" with this shot. I wanted it to be pretty much arbitrary and in your face; it's made no concessions to "improved" composition or anything else. She's as I found her, and presented in her natural light & location.

I wasn't even gonna enter this challenge, and did so on the last day. My thinking was to provide one, unadorned, photograph of reality. Turns out there were plenty of those, so it wasn't required, but I'm not sorry I did.

R.

A Woman of a Certain Age
by Bear_Music

Comment by Brad:
OK, guess I'll be the one to step out on a limb here and be honest.
Yes, this is reality, and yes, kudos for the guts to depict what women face as time progresses.

With that said, I know a statement is being made here, and is not the subject of my opinion. I don't particulary find this shot appealing, from an artistic or photogrpahic standpoint. The sheet, while it may be covering up a C-section scar or whatever, is distracting and out of place in my opinion. Almost looks like a medical exam pose in a doctor's office or similar. No emotive pose, just expose 'em and sit.
There are many ways to be creative, and though I don't know the comfort level of your model, I do believe you could have done this much better.
As it is, I don't find this an appealing photograph.

Sorry - not gonna' stroke your ego here Robt.
Just my honest opinion, nothing else.

A Woman of a Certain Age
by Bear_Music

Comment by Brad:

Originally posted by nsbca7: This should have gone into the "Dairy" challenge. Making me thirsty just looking.

Tacky...

Milk, Blue, Cheese — Irish Porter
by Bear_Music

Comment by Bear_Music:
For those who think it's a plate, it isn't. It's a very large, cobalt bowl with a smaller cobalt bowl inverted inside it. So the cheese is several inches above the milk. And the shadow? That's deliberate; the only indicator of depth int he image, the only noticeable clue.

The slight offsetting and rotation of the cheese is likewise intentional. I didn't want this thing to be too "perfect".

I like making 3-dimensionality "flat".

The cheese is a very unusual Irish Porter. I have no idea what that stuff is in it.

Thanx to all commenters.

Darkness & Light
by Bear_Music

Comment by odetta:
gorgeous shot

A Woman of a Certain Age
by Bear_Music

Comment by MrsFuzzButt:
After breastfeeding four kids, those could be mine. :-) Sorry I didn't get to comment on this during the challenge, but here it goes. I think the biggest distraction here is the fabric bunched beneath her breasts. It makes it look as though she were at Mardi Gras and just decided to flash the camera. The pose is rather bland as well. When I see this shot, I think of the Calendar Girls in England. A different pose, with an appropriate prop and B&W would work. This woman makes me think "classic." I don't know why.

Milk, Blue, Cheese — Irish Porter
by Bear_Music

Comment by RonBeam:
Best graphically accomplished shot in the challenge, this is a delight to look at and would make a great wall hanging in a restaurant. I would shop it around, if I were you. One of my top ten of this week.

Darkness & Light
by Bear_Music

Comment by maralomar:
nice one, i really like it