Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Leo Tolstoy 1897

Leo Tolstoy 1897 edit

Voting period is over. Please don't add any new votes. Voting period ends on 19 May 2015 at 20:25:01 (UTC)

Original – Leo Tolstoy, 1897

Reason: High resolution image of a famous person with restoration
Articles in which this image appears: Leo Tolstoy
FP category for this image: Wikipedia:Featured pictures/People/Artists and writers
Creator: Restored and uploaded by Yann

Info The best picture we have of Leo Tolstoy, along with File:L.N.Tolstoy Prokudin-Gorsky.jpg, and probably one of the best which exists.
Support as nominator – Yann (talk) 20:25, 9 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, I don't know who should be credited as Creator. The LoC says that F.W. Taylor claimed a copyright, but I doubt he is the photographer of this picture.
Support — Crisco 1492 (talk) 02:52, 10 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Support Fantastic EV. chsh (talk) 16:17, 11 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Support Hafspajen (talk) 14:16, 12 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Weak oppose - It has high EV, but the photograph itself (composition, pose, DOF) isn't very compelling to me. I realize that the art of portraiture hadn't been well developed in 1897, but it wasn't a completely new concept. Here are some examples of compelling portrait photographs from the same year: 1, 2, 3. I realize this is a very subjective opinion, so I'm marking it as 'weak'. Kaldari (talk) 19:16, 12 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
- @Kaldari: Personally, I find this portrait much more natural than the usual rigid pose. That also may be due to Tolstoy's personality. It is also notable that this is not taken in a studio with controlled light, but in the open with a natural light and environment, and that's quite rare for that period. I find it odd that you think this is a reason for opposing. Just my 2 Rs. Yann (talk) 18:44, 13 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
  - @Yann: It does look natural, but almost snapshot natural. For someone like Tolstoy I feel like he should have a bit more gravitas in a portrait. I know this is completely subjective, so I'm willing to strike my vote if you think it isn't a valid objection. Kaldari (talk) 20:31, 13 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
    - @Kaldari: Well Tolstoy was so much out of phase with his time that it is difficult to say if this was a "natural pose". He was critical of almost everything the society valued. To me, he looks a bit tense. I can imagine that he felt compelled to be photographed without being completely at ease. I hope I am clear. Obviously I would prefer that you support, but that's your choice. ;o) Yann (talk) 22:25, 13 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
      - I think if the lighting were better or the DOF more shallow it would make Tolstoy stand out more (and look more dramatic). As it is, the picture looks a bit flat, and the dark band across the bottom doesn't help matters. It's a good photo (and an excellent restoration), but I'm not sure it's one of our best images. Kaldari (talk) 01:20, 14 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Support: remarkable EV and I see gravitas. Fylbecatulous talk 21:48, 13 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Support - EV. Bammesk (talk) 03:20, 14 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Promoted File:Leo Tolstoy 1897, black and white, 37767u.jpg --Armbrust ^{The Homunculus} 20:40, 19 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]