Major of Citerna (Italy)

Portrait of Major of Citerna (Italy). Please open for best view.

Comments and critique are welcome, thanks, Roberto.

Roberto,

This is a very nice dignified portrait. It is very appropriate for someone in her position. You have focused well on her eyes. She has very good eye contact with the camera (viewer). Her expression and the pose is very good. She looks authoritative, yet still friendly and feminine. Her skin tone and the lighting is very good. You have good contrast and color saturation. The background is nicely neutral. I am assuming she didn't want any retouching (softening) done to her face.

There are only a couple of things I would have done differently. The kicker that is lighting the left side of her hair and jacket is spilling onto the side of her face. It would be much better not to have it on her face.

You want to compositionally balance the left and right sides of the photograph. The compositional "rule" for this suggests that you position the tip of the subject's nose in the vertical center of the photograph. She is over too far to the side.

There are a couple of highlights on her face that could be toned down a little.

She has very good catch lights, but one catch light per eye is preferred.

Too bad she wasn't further from the background. You have cast her shadow on the wall.

The white of the spiral notebook at the bottom draws my attention away from her face.

I wish her blouse was neater. The light on it really draws attention to it being stuck out at the top.

It would be quite appropriate to place your name and the date on the mat. Advertising (www.robertocarnevali.com -- your web address) would be better placed on the back of the photograph.

Nice shot, 

Mark

good pic.