Kiss

Perhaps a little too high key. Perhaps not.

Feedback appreciated.

For me almost perfect, except the definition on the nose and lips is almost gone and the models ear looks strangely brighter than the surrounding skin on her cheeks and neck.

Thanks for your look and comment. I can't argue with your comments. I did want to make this very high key. I may have gone a little too far. I have to say I didn't notice the ear. Now that I have seen it... I can't ignore it. 

Wonderful high key image but I have to agree with the comment about the bright ear.

Her facial structure is wonderful and you captured it beautifully.

-Cheers

I hear you. (Pun very much intended.) The ear is amusing me now. As I said to Colin, I didn't notice. Now I can't ignore it. Wouldn't that make you laugh? Thanks a lot.

It is still a great image.

-O

Lovely high key work my friend but I see no tan lines... Kiss Kiss :=}

-r-

David,

I think you gentlemen have discussed the high key tones so I will say no more about them.  However, I would like to bring up another topic for consideration. I am 74 now and when I was in the 5th grade (age 11) I decided to read every book on photography that my school library had and then all I could find in the public library.  Since I did not own a camera until I was 12 I tried to memorize everything.  Several rather old books that I obtained were on the subject of composition.

Among the compositional principles or rules that I learned was one that said "give the eyes room to look through."  In a side view (profile) portrait the author was saying that having the eyes look out the nearest side was counter productive.  The author took the view that one could watch people looking at photos and the longer they looked the more successful was the composition.  He said that when people look at a profile such as this photo, their eyes scan from ear to eyes and follow the line of vision out of the photo and they never look back.  His advice was in such a profile the distance from the eyes to the frame line should be longer than from the back-of-the head frame line.  I have attempted to use that principle or "rule" for most of my photographic career.  Therefore I would instinctively say that the picture here could most profitably have been composed in a horizontal frame to maximize that distance on the right.

When I taught photography at the high school level I discovered that such rules were not locked in concrete but knowing them sensitized me to take command when taking the picture and my students gradually came to agree with me.  Often I took it both ways so as to compare the difference and I suggested they do the same.

My regards,

Jerry

Owen, I am glad you like it. Your opinion is one that I value. This is not true for everyone... see below.

Raymond, Tan lines next time. Thanks

Jerry, "... I will say no more..."

Please follow your own advice and say no more.

Just because you 'think' or 'have 'read' or 'believe' something to be right, that doesn't mean that it is. If everyone took photographs the same way, photography would be boring. I am very glad that I have never been 'taught' photography and I am especially glad I wasn't taught by you. 

If you don't like this, that if fair enough. However, please do not think you would do better. You would simply do it differently.

Books have their place but when it comes to art they are for people who have no imagination or talent.

With very high-key, like here, and very low-key I find myself looking at a photograph more as an abstraction than a portrait. As such I like this image very much. The hint at the line of her profile is terrific. The bright ear now becomes a surreal compositional element and works for me. I also like the sense of mystery created be having hwer look out of the frame, a good choice!

I think we both like this for the same reasons. I must stop posting photographs that I like myself. Thanks a lot.

A beautiful result with very nice lighting, David!

Kind words. Thanks.

You'll probably hate me, but I think it's a bit too high key.  I can't really see the shape of her nose and lips that well, making it harder to tell what her facial expression is.  Then again, maybe it's supposed to be more of an interpretive image than a documentary/portrait image.  If so, it's a bit of a departure for you.

Constructive criticism is always welcome as are comments as to whether you like a shot or not especially when you explain why. If only looking at the nose, would agree that it is a bit too high key. Maybe I should have toned it down a little. That said, I can see the shape of the lips. I have to admit I never gave much thought as to what kind of image it is. I really don't know mysef. Thanks a ton.