Becky

What do you think about the over all look to this and what can be improved?

 

 

• Eyes a little bit too dark?
  
• Well lit hair
  
• Nice how tones of jacket hair and skin match
  
• Why was the backdrop that close?
  

As far as portraiture in general goes, I think this is a good one. But! Having said that, I also have to say that what you've got here is an elderly looking face. Framed by not so elderly looking hair. That I think is something of a mismatch.

Izzy, I don't see that age is relevant. There are plenty of younger women whose face an hair have similar appearances.

• Eyes a little bit too dark?
  
• Well lit hair
  
• Nice how tones of jacket hair and skin match
  
• Why was the backdrop that close?
  

 

Jochen, her eyes are squinting because they are almost closed. As to the backdrop's proximity, the subject may be standing against what looks like a stone or brick wall.

My own take on the image is that it does homage to the woman; the furrows in her skin don't just show that she's up in years; they highlight her character. Also, her facial expression is on the impish side. My sole suggestion to you, Mark, is to crop from the right edge, stopping just a bit short of where her hair begins. The hair on the left side is much more interesting, in my opinion. Moreover the left side displays more of her jacket, which is charming in its own right.

Izzy, I don't see that age is relevant.

 

Wasn't implying that it was. I was referring to the combination. The wrinkles, furrows, etc., that come with age and maturity, and the youthful looking hair. As far as portraiture in general goes. I think it's a good one.

As to the backdrop's proximity, the subject may be standing against what looks like a stone or brick wall.

Right, and I think what Jochen may have been thinking is that, in a lot of cases, having a subject take a few steps away from the wall can make for a more interesting photo and add a dimension of air and depth. When taking someone's picture, they seem almost automatically to want to stand up against a wall or other backdrop and I will often ask them to take two or three steps forward.

@michaellinder agreed / fine, but I believe I can see bits of "should be white" of her eyes, so I am wondering, if a wee bit of fill or dodging there could have helped the image.

As far as portraiture in general goes, I think this is a good one. But! Having said that, I also have to say that what you've got here is an elderly looking face. Framed by not so elderly looking hair. That I think is something of a mismatch.

 

You used the term "elderly" once to describe the woman's face, and then eased up a bit by using "not so elderly hair." Perhaps it might help if you spell out what you mean.

@michaellinder agreed / fine, but I believe I can see bits of "should be white" of her eyes, so I am wondering, if a wee bit of fill or dodging there could have helped the image.

 

If you concentrate on the eyes, you can spot a touch of white. Your suggestion about dodging the areas of the corneas is a good one.

Very nice. This photo is crying out for a dark processed, high contrast B/W version in my book.