Portrait Bonnie

[Javier]

[Manfred M]

A very strong image, Javier. There seems to be a strong connection between you and your subject; this is very important in this type of photograph. The points I am going to make are quite picky, but give the high level you are working at here, these might help you create even stronger images.

1. The crop of the hands - cutting through fingers is generally not something that works well and they seem a bit disembodied. I suspect that you would have had a stronger image if you had left them out entirely.

2. Your subject, with her hair do and earrings looks extremely elegant. All those strands of hair behind her neck take away from the image. I would try to avoid getting them in the shot and if they are in it, removing them in post would improve this image. I would clean up that stray hair on the forehead as well.

3. The lipstick looks a bit strange and worn. I'm not sure if this is something that was done on purpose, or if the light is just reflecting that way, but it is definitely a bit distracting.

4. Eye position - your subject has positioned her eyes so that they are all the way over to the camera right side. In a portrait like this, we often want to see a bit of white on both sides of the iris, for a more balanced look.

5. Image is a bit "hot". I would pull down the mid-point just a bit to darken the image a bit, without affecting the black point or the white point. You are just into the range on the light side where you have started to lose texture. Bringing that back, would give you a stronger image, in my view.

6. I'm not sure what aperture you shot at, but in studio work, especially with a plain background f/8 - f/11 is quite typical to keep everything sharp. There's a bit more drop-off in sharpness that one would like.


Just a very quick edit to show what I meant..

[Javier]

Thanks, actually the color version in here.

[Manfred M]

So the lipstick was done that way on purpose? It works a bit better in colour than in B&W because one can see the intent, but I suspect it would work better without the gaps. I B&W I could not tell as well and it looks like the lipstick had worn off.

[William W]

Excellent.
Seductive and connective.
Very sensual.
Sexy.

Very well done, Model and Photographer: Brava, Bravo.

WW

[William W]

I just looked at the colour version.

My interpretation and commentary differs to Manfred's: the B&W works because the lipstick seems to worn off - hence the evocative and sensual allure.

Whether that was intentional or not: the B&W is excellent, IMO.

Very few shots make me stop to comment - without critique.

WW

[Javier]

I just looked at the colour version.

My interpretation and commentary differs to Manfred's: the B&W works because the lipstick seems to worn off - hence the evocative and sensual allure.

Whether that was intentional or not: the B&W is excellent, IMO.

Very few shots make me stop to comment - without critique.

WW

Thanks William.. I appreciate it

[rpcrowe]

I like both versions bu I tend to favor the color version... I like the colors but I also like that the shadows beneath the cheek bones are visible...