In Praise of Older Women

Another great portrait, Carlos. I knew it was yours right away, I mean instantly! Your subjects seem to trust you implicitly..

Before even getting to her wonderful face, expression, and terrific eyes, I want to mention how well the sepia toning and the 60s flower / cinderblock look go together. For me, the design is such an important and expressive backdrop here. It's almost like a bunch of eyes echoing her own. As to the great expression, I think the sideways glance with her closed-lip smile makes me feel like she's looking at me more than I'm looking at her. In that sense, it's an active and not a passive portrait. You've allowed (or encouraged) her to reach out to me. The drama of lighting has more whimsy than melodramatics. It's interesting to me how that works because, in most other contexts, the lighting on her face would be quite serious or austere, but because of what else is going on in the picture and because of her expression and engagement, it doesn't take on that more formal aspect such lighting can have. 

 

If you don't mind one technical mention, I'd like to see the shadow line down the center of her nose brushed or softened just a tad, so there was a hint of transition from shadow to light.

Beautiful!

The light in the background seems to echo (to some degree) how the light falls across her face.  The sharpness of her eyes, lips and even her earring contrasts with the soft treatment of her skin, which conveys more of an emotionally layered impression.

I like the image a lot, just great portrait.

The other one is more elegant, but this is more intimate. You "earn" a picture--and look--like this.

Intense gaze with penetrating eyes! Warm regards.