Zoe West 12-20-12 67

While working with Zoe near this window I realized how soft the light was

just to the side. I made it dark to help evoke a mood.

Hi Mark

It's a beautiful gentle photo with lovely natural light . The Model is stunning as well .

I fined it a bit dark so I played with it with PS . Hope you don't mind

Alon - Thank you for the kind comment about the gentleness of the image. I did consider making the image lighter, as you did in the attached "correction", but it did not evoke the mood I was after and as Zoe's expression reveals.

-Mark

Very sensual and beautiful.

Mark,  There is a difference between a "low key" image (where the preponderance of the tones are dark) and underexposure.  If you look at the histogram of the image, this is clearly underexposed.  In fact you have thrown away more than half of the pixels that your camera is capable of recording.  That automatically makes the shadows of a digital image dark, without detail or clarity.

If this makes little sense, try looking up phrases like "expose to the right" on the web and see what explanations they give.

Sincerely,

Jerry Matchett

Jerry -

Thank you for taking the time to look at this photograph. I understand exposure and how to read a histogram. I know there are "rules" that say I should fill the entire dynamic range, but that would not have resulted in the mood I was looking for here. I did leave a slight hint of the outline of her hair but wanted this to be dark. That was an artistic decision. I get that you don't like the result and that is fine. 

-Mark

Lovely Indeed and a nicely made low key image!

-r-

I think the photo could be improved if the bright part of the curtain above her left nipple was not so bright.  To me it is distracting and draws too much attention to that area of the photo.

I did look at your portfolio and really like your photos.  My goal is one day to be able to take great looking photos like you do.

Steve - Thank you for the kind comment on my work. I agree with you on the bright spot. I'll have to go back and take a look at toning it down.

-Mark

Sometimes not having rules is best. The question any viewer of a photograph should ask, "Do I like it or not?" I like it.

Thank you all for viewing this photograph and all the comments. I do appreciate everyone's opinions, especially those who posted suggestions. 

-Mark

mark

really like your moody broody image,  also really like davids comment. 

roger