just friends ;)

This is a great shot. The dynamics of these two is wonderful. I can't decide if the lady on the right is reacting to the tongue or something else.

 

I love it!

I love the personality and the story the I get from this. Nice work!

happy happy picture. Great capture. Good contrast.

I really like the "playfulness" of this shot.

Good job

Very nice work, Stephen. It's good to see someone else letting the subject of their photography speak in it's (their!) own voice. So much here at photo.net, and indeed the rest of modern popular photography, is more about the photographer's issues and personal neurosis than the object/subject that is in the light. This image shows a good impulse/ synapse on the shutter release as well as luscious light (which matches your subject's demeanor perfectly!)... t

There should be more funny portraits like this, instead of those serious models all the time. this is fun!!

nice work stephen.

Capturing a moment...thats what its all about. Makes me think about how friend #1 got the reaction from friend #2.

Nice work Stephen. They were obviously very comfortable in front of your lens.

With real curves and real expressions. Good job!

I always appreciate whenever someone takes the time to write a comment, it's what makes photo.net such an interesting place to be...

I've reworked this photo and posted it here if anyone is interested...I tried to be more careful with the skin tones and there's less compression used...

Whoa! The reworked version is absolutely stunning.

Great expressions! Only thing I don't like, is the elbow behind the model on the right, but anyway, well done!

excellent capture, I like talking pictures, this is one of the best.

Wonderful capture. The expressions, lighting. Well done!

I wouldn't change a thing. Beautiful tones, perfect cropping, playful, and gorgeous models. Would love to see more of the same series.

I know I'll be viewed as a pariah for saying this - but feel someone should say something a little more critical.

 

While the two women are clearly having fun, and it's clear they felt comfortable enough in front of your camera, it's really not a big deal to find women horsing around at a photo shoot. What the picture doesn't tell us anything about is why they were having this picture made in the first place. (not that it's important, in that they are not really "doing" anything; but rather, simply cutting up a little.)

 

They could be sisters (similar hair styles, similar eyes, noses, mouths, skin, arm shape,and smiles) The one in the rear is holding her left arm up behind the other's back so as not to get too close (leastways, that's not a natural place to put her left arm) - at the same time she's sticking her tongue out with an awareness of the camera, yet not really touching the other's ear with it.

 

I'd guess they're sisters.

 

Having said all that - this is a FUN picture, and the expressions on their faces is precious.

 

Since I haven't been around p.net but two months, hope you'll not take my critique too critically?

I'm not sure why you're worried about your critique, it's hardly a scathing review...

I am curious though, you said 'what the picture doesn't tell us anything about is why they were having this picture made in the first place'...I'm not quite sure what to make of that, I don't know that I ask that question to myself when I see a portrait...

The other thing is you said that "that's not a natural place to put her left arm"...yet that is where she put it so how is that not natural ? It may not be the 'best' place to have her elbow but that's where it was at the time these smiles showed up ;)

I do appreciate your comments, how else to learn what it is that people react to when they see a picture ? And that's always interesting to me...

 

I've seen this a few times now, and each time I think I actually enjoy it even more! The expresions and their good time are indeed a nice contrast to what's really going on around us today. I think it is the fact that they are dressed elegantly that makes this unique. Not the kind of portrait one would expect with these two dressed like this. VERY well captured. I will have to bump up my original rating.

I love this hot shot. Smooth light, nice composition. Well done ...

very very very nice photo. I like everything...except the left elbow of the girl in the back, that's a bit strange looking at the place where it is...but it's a minor observation. It still deserves a 7.

This is a really cute shot. Great lighting. Well done.

Like I said - didn't mean to offend. I see the overwhelming majority of people here would disagree with me, and as i said might happen, it seems my earlier comments angered some of the other admirers of this picture.

 

As long as we're all being "real" here, let me just add this one simple suggestion: Would you consider cropping this image much tighter - perhaps from below the bust of the woman in front? I think if you do this, the subject's expressions will become much more impactful. Then the elbow thing will simply remain what it is.

 

May as well tell you what I think of the lighting while i'm at it - this is a very simple lighting set up. No modeling, no shadow, no backlight, no hairlight. Perfect light for headshots. And yet, this image has garnered more ratings than almost all other pictures in the time it's been up?

 

SOoooo, I surmise from this fact that the expression of a subject is VASTLY more important here?

 

BTW - you are the author of , what I believe imho to be, one of the finest examples of portraiture here on p.net - the photo of the asian woman? Now THAT image has truly gorgeous lighting! It's the shot, if I recall correctly, where she's looking down slightly, and her neck and shoulder are exposed? Great picture, that!

Image is striking. The tones constrast very nicely. The people in the picture appear to be having fun, which makes this picture fun and refreshing.

stephen- i keep coming back to this image.

Stephen - I enjoy your work. I also checked out your website and I really like the way your gallery is presented. - Mark