My Sweet Girl

Granddaughters, for those of us who are blessed to have them, there

is a sweet spot in our hearts for the little girls they have been and the

young women they are becoming. This capture was taken on a very

hot day in August in 2013. Shaelyn was 12 at the time. I just

happened to turn towards her and caught her smiling while day

dreaming. She will be 14 next month and growing up far too fast for

me. I saw my daughter turn 14 and it seemed like the years just

whizzed by. For now I am pleased that she still is not caught up in

all the ravages of being a teenager. I'd like to see her stay in 'slo mo'

for a bit as I hang onto that little girl. (Digital Alterations - many

thanks for any visits and comments shared, Gail :)

Gail,

This is a beautiful portrait and I really like your post-processing work.  Bravo!  

I'm am so pleased to hear you like this one. I took a long time doing it. Going from a basic Watercolour transformation, then adding many layers and basically fine tuning it. I've never had much luck with Watercolour before.

Wonderfully done, Gail!

Very nice. This is a lovely portrait.

For some reason I like this very much. I like the very tight composition but even more than that I like the feeling of a fine pencil drawing that you have somehow achieved.

Thank you Jack.  I was aiming for the Watercolour-Line Drawing result but it is often so difficult to get a good balance. I finally arrived at a place where it did not look to overdone to me.

Both of you  have expressed positive feedback, most appreciated!!

Gail,  It's always a pleasure to respond to your images.  This one is excellent as a B&W portrait.  I really like the sharpness.  Shealyn's eyes and eye brows jump right off the image, and the contrast is also excellent.  She looks like a movie star of yesteryear.   I also like the texture in her dress that you seem to have cloned onto the background, how artistic of you.  I might suggest duplicating the image and experimenting with opening the shadows or increasing highlights on her hair.  I wonder how it would look with more detail in the hair, so more of the individual strands were discernible.   My compliments on a wonderful image.   Larry

Gail,  Sorry, I missed the fact that this image was made from a watercolor.   Cancel what I said about the hair.  Again, terrific image!.  Larry

beautiful portrait

lovely photo and presentation. j

They do grow up super fast don't they Gail. Nice processing of a portrait that certainly would be gorgeous also totally untouched. I dunno Gail...but I see a lot of grandma in the lovely face!! Great shot!

Beautiful work and model! Regards.

I like it !!! Bill

Hi Gail,

   Lovely portrait of a beautiful young lady.   I am sure she is proud of this image.  Take care, Patsy

I think the B & W conveys a timeless quality that is both artistic and full of melancholy.  You seem to have caught the very essence of adolescence that is about to change, the prettiness of youth with eyes that seem to know so much already. Yes they do grow up so fast these days, and this is a priceless memory for you and your family to treasure. 

Very well done Gail 

 

Alf 

 

what a charming image Gail...it's like a beautiful painting...regards....David

I like how you framed it. Also the amount of grain looks very appropriate.

Interesting and nice "play" in this image!

I think I see Gail Harmer. Lovely shot!

Great  treatment result and first of all  ist you!?

A labor of love went into creating this.  Well done!

Many thanks Kathy.  Yes, I did spend some time on this one.  I didn't want it to turn out too harsh. 

Thank you Jorge for your encouraging remarks. But no, it is not me...my granddaughter, she is lovely (but I am partial).