School of Portraiture: My journey

[pudellvr]

New model.



edited to remove distracting elements like benches growing out of her head!





C&C appreciated

[pudellvr]

I am thinking it would be better with less hand on her face. Her face seems a bit flat.

Is a flat face common with young children?

1/200 s-f/3.5-ISO 200-18 mm-Flash did not fire

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Hi Tricia,

I like both the colour and black and white versions, although with the B&W you might want to play with the tones so there's a bit more separation between your subject's shirt and the posts she's resting on. I'd also suggest adding a gradient filter at the top just to darken it and take the edge off the light just above her head. I'd suggest brightening her eyes a touch as well.

I don't know that her face is flat - I think it's more the way the light is coming off her face because the background is relatively bright. An angled reflector directing light back at her face might be what you need (difficult when you're on your own) would probably add the depth to her face that you're looking for.

I don't mind her hand where it is - perhaps see what it looks like after you've brightened her eyes. I'm also wondering whether a tighter crop would be better. I'm not sure that the right side of the photo is adding anything to your photo's story.