X-Ray Specs

I hope you like it.

Feedback appreciated.

David,

  I really like the overall message of the image.  The reflection on the glasses is both creative and somewhat bothersome because the flat appearance means they are not corrective lenses but some kind of flat filter (3D movie glasses?).

There are some things that bother me more.  

One is that her hair blends into the background by losing all texture (underexposure) or perhaps best explained by failure to adjust the tones after taking the picture.

The most bothersome characteristic is that the eyes are so close to the frame edge they are near.  It causes the viewing of her eyes to bring the viewer immediately to the left frame and out of the picture.  Old timers in photography had a rule for this: "Give the eyes room to look before the edge of the picture is reached."  That suggests that this could have been cropped so that her face was further to the right, creating a longer line of vision from her eyes to the right margin of the picture.

Jerry

I am not sure this image deserved so much effort on your part. Thanks very much indeed.

The glasses are non corrective sunglasses. The reflection was intentional. I consider it the main feature of this image. 

Your points are interesting. I take what you say about the hair. I have to say it doesn't bother me in this instance. I do wonder if it bothers others. I guess we will have to wait and see. That said, I wouldn't say that I failed to adjust the tones. There are many checks and adjustments I carry out on images before I upload them. For me the tones didn't need adjusting. The hair fading to black is a feature not a fault.

There are many rules in photography. The more creative images tend to be ones that bend them. My pet hates are cut off limbs and digits. I am also not keen on some non vertical / horizontal verticals / horizontals. The fact that the eye bothers you is something I understand. However, the glasses are sitting on her nose as she would wear them. The angle between the camera and light is set such to get the reflection on the glasses. 

I think we will have to disagree. That is not a bad thing. 

Thanks again.

David.

I have to agree with Jerry, plus I will add a few of my own.

First a little comment on compositional "rules" as was alluded to by Jerry. The composition is left heavy. Your subject should have more room in front of her than behind. This allows her to be facing into the picture, not out of it. 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. By positioning the tip of her nose in the vertical center of the photograph you not only have her facing into the picture, but you also have good left and right compositional balance. The tip of her nose doesn't have to be exactly centered, but this gives you a good starting point from which to subtly adjust your composition to make it visually balanced. This little rule almost always works well. Some photographers want their images to be unique -- to be different from what other photographers shoot. They try to move away from conventional composition and design elements. The elements of design or composition can influence how we perceive the picture. They have a predictable effect on viewers. The further you move away from the conventional, the further you move away from what is known to work. We get the term “compositional rule” in photography because it is a design element that has been shown to consistently work. Once you understand the "rules" of photography and why they are used, you can break them to achieve a specific and planned outcome. It usually is not a good idea to break them for no reason. I cannot find a reason to intentionally place your subject's face on the left side of the frame.

The lower left side is too light. It draws the viewer's attention away from her face. It would have been better to burn this area in a bit. It appears that your main light is coming from below your subject -- often referred to as "grotesque lighting" because it is often used to light bad witches, vampires, werewolves and other rather nefarious nocturnal nasties. It isn't coming from directly below her so it doesn't have quite the effect that it might have.

If you had turned your subject so that her body was facing at more of an angle to the camera it would have help make her appear thinner, and more feminine and graceful. Positioning her so straight on to the camera makes her appear quite wide across her chest and shoulders.

It appears you have blurred her cleavage for some reason. An out of focus background can draw attention to your subject. Parts of your subject out of focus can draw attention away from your subject's face. 

Notice the neckline of her jacket. The viewer's eyes will go to the “V” formed by the sides of the jacket and follow it down and out of the photograph because there is nothing there to stop them. If you would back up a little (zoom out) you could include where the "V" or jacket comes together. This would give the viewer's eyes a stopping point and help keep the viewer within the picture.

It is quite appropriate to place your name and the date the photograph was made, if you wish, on a mat surrounding the photograph. Any advertising (dmphoto@gmail.com) or other extraneous information would be better placed on the back of the photograph. The "red pepper" (some sort of logo, maybe?) draws attention away from your subject. You don't want anything in the photograph that could draw the viewer's attention away from your subject.

Nice shot,

Mark

I like it, David. Placing her in this position makes me wonder what she might be looking for out of the frame. The reflection in her lenses adds a fun sense of mystery. I also love her slight grin.

Mark C, I do not respond to arrogance which is abundant in your comment. What should and should not be in the image is my choice and comments on why you like or dislike something are appreciated. Your attitude that people should take photographs they way you tell them to take them beggars belief.

Making comments regarding the model is totally uncalled for. I am assuming you do not know her and as such I fail to see how you could know if I flattered her or not.

I also love your opinionated view of yourself which you fail to back up with any images on this site. Qualifications are no substitute for talent. One day I hope to be half as good as you think you are.

Mark H, It's good to know someone can look at a photograph and see it for what it is. FUN! Thanks a lot.

I like the glare on her glasses.  Is that a lab coat she is wearing?  I could imagine her in a laboratory using strange instruments and machines to do weird things to people.  I'm guessing you used only one light for this?  I wouldn't have minded an even sharper light fall off to put the right side and her hair in even more shadow...maybe adding a bit more mystery?  Just a thought. 

Another thought...I'd been working outside, and still had on my high topped boots when I saw this.  I'm glad I kept them on, because some of the shit is pretty deep on this page.

Yes! It is a lab coat. You seem to be contradicting the great Mark C's comment regarding the hair. I really do not think you are qualified to do so. How many degrees do you have?

I am glad your boots were sufficient. I would have thought you needed waders.

Thanks a lot.