my galery Light...

Beautiful shot, Katerina. Congratulation with the POTW !

Looking at the many fine photos of Katerina in her portfolio, I see one think first and foremost: They are all highly thought, posed and composed, in order to provide a visual pleasure to the viewer and without doubt to Katerina too - they all shine of the passion she has doing them. Very little is by chance, or even, it seems, left for the models to invent and impose. Some of the shot go beyond just visual pleasures and some become surrealistic with all the world of visions and fantasies it implies. What I don't see is any case where there are "No obvious effects... or pose" (concerning the mentioned lack of "props" I find it more difficult to come conclusion).

The POTW is in my eyes fully in line with the rest of Katerina's portfolio and does not seriously stand apart. It is not different in method and approach, but surely somewhat different in appearance because the employed effects and pose are few and highly measured, but they are clearly there, IMO.
The POWT with the title of "Light..." should be seen in connection with the second image with the same model with the title of "Oldness...." (the points in the title of important and normally would mean "and something else" or "something more")

The background is one such effect. My immediate impression was to see something like a tongue-in-the-cheek reference to historical masters pieces, such as Titian's St. Mary Magdalene. Same dark unreadable shapes and features in the background placing the person in an imaginative undefinable context. In the case of Titian, the context is known by the identification of the saint Magdalena in the title, the notorious penitent sinner of seven devils as the person on the painting. In the case of the POTW, nothing is know and everything has to be invented (understood) by the viewer. What the background provides here for the viewer by not being uniform black is series of issues and interpretations all the be invented.

Another effect is surely also the kimono type of one-piece garment in a shade of blue-grey, the women is wearing, as an indication of her age, her life or present (simple) mode of living.
Her pose is however the central "effect" in the image. Her staring eyes in "Light..;" and warm caring eyes in "Oldness...." are IMO more acting than "her", whoever she is, just as her hands which are "protective and near the heart in Oldness", but somewhat bird-like craws and threatening in "Light...".

As you might have understood I think that the POTW is a very good example of what Katerina in general is offering us in her portfolio and a far cry from an image that "makes you focus on the person rather than anything added". It is all in the mind of Katerina, and very little to do with showing us a beautiful elderly woman.

At least that is how I see this image with all its qualities.

This is a beautiful photograph. It, however, is sending two messages to me. The posture of the head and expression seem to be questioning, while the arms and hands are inviting or welcoming. I would agree that I think this would be better framed as a vertical and full length.

Very nice portrait:)
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I love everything about this except for the lady's facial expression. I don't know what it is but it looks contrived (for lack of a better word) to me, which sort of takes away from the incredible detail and composition. Except for that, it's flawless.

Although I am not a portrait photographer, I would like to see a bit more detail in this lady's face. Having seen a number of images of older people on PN, I've concluded that highlighting the facial features younger people don't have is crucial. Also, her skin tone is somewhat pasty. Of course, this may be a faithful replication of her actual skin tone, but I still find it a bit unappealing.

On the positive side, I find her head posture and her gaze intriguing. Her eyes are far from lifeless to me; they tell me that she is concentrating, perhaps to maintain her pose.

I congratulate the Elves for selecting an image that has prompted a great deal of commentary. That's what it's all about.

"Having seen a number of images of older people on PN, I've concluded that highlighting the facial features younger people don't have is crucial."

Michael, I would have to say that most of the more popular photos of older people on PN seem to exaggerate and are somewhat overwrought, so I'm a little wary of this suggestion. I've seen too many over-sharpened wrinkles and white hair, too much skin made excessively leathery to be comfortable with the PN sensibility regarding older folks. Processing and/or lighting older faces in such a way as to sometimes astonishingly exaggerate "character" often elicits very simplistic pathos and comes off as disingenuous. (I'm not saying this is what you'd like, but just wanting to add a note of caution.) In this photo (which I really don't think is much about the person who is the subject), though I have problems with the photo as a whole, I think the photographer has struck a nice balance with the lighting and with bringing out the character of this woman's face, if not from an expressive standpoint (which I find a bit stilted) then at least from a physical standpoint. Start going much further and we start to caricature and exploit her as an older person, IMO.

.....more popular photos of older people on PN seem to exaggerate and are somewhat overwrought, ....
....too many over-sharpened wrinkles and white hair, too much skin made excessively leathery to be comfortable...

I agree with Fred expressing well his point of view, that is exactly my feeling in many of them at the site!

Fred, I totally agree that some posted photos of older people fit your description. Then again, I've seen others that treat their subjects with much greater dignity and sensitivity. In the case of the POTW, I think some added detail in the subjects face and hair would present her more honestly without necessarily exaggerating her features.

Michael, thanks. We probably just disagree, as I think there is enough detail in her hair and face, especially given the kind of theatrical, staged photo it is. I think Katerina's photos show an idealized styling of women and aren't really meant to portray the individual women as people. I think Katerina is providing the story and character here, more so than the woman herself. That said, even if it were more a traditional personal portrait, I think this lighting is quite suitable for a look at an older woman, or any person for that matter.

I have found that most people want to see themselves in flattering light, though I often go for story and drama over flattering. Men are more inclined to allow for drama even if it brings out some harshness in their features. I have found women on the whole a little more sensitive in this area. I don't think this woman was overly cleansed by any means, as we see so often in commercial shots and ads, etc. I do think she was flatteringly lit, but don't sense anything that would need remedying in terms of the details we see on her face and hair.

great work.

Nice color, nice light, but agree with the others that my first thought was she is an actress playing Elektra or similar. It's the pose and the expression and the toga (not sure when I last saw someone wearing one of those...). Also I think a bit of judicious cropping might benefit it.