Martina

Marinko,

I think this portrait of Martina is much better than the one of her in color (which I have previously critiqued). She looks even more beautiful in black and white than she does in color. Some of my comments will be the same. I don't normally critique similar portraits of the same girl, but I like this one much more than the other one and I am drawn to it. There are some comments that I feel I need to make.

Martina seems so much more isolated in this black and white photograph than she does in the color photograph. Of course, some of this feeling is because she is outside and has more space around her. You have focused very well on her eyes. I do love the way she is looking up and her expression. She looks mystified by what she sees -- mystified, yet enchanted. I wish her eyes were lit a little better and she had catch lights to give her eyes more life. Perhaps her eyes being in partial shadow intensifies her look of wonderment? Maybe it forces the viewer to read more of their own thoughts into the photograph.

For a portrait you want to have her more angled to the camera so that she appears thinner, graceful and feminine. I believe this photograph would be more effective if she was much further to her right. I would love to see what it looked like if she was facing into the picture instead of out of it. The position in which you have placed her is quite often done in fashion or high fashion photography. It puts the viewer "off balance" and makes for an uneasiness. It creates tension because it does not follow the recognized "rules" of portraiture. This can often cause the viewer to pause for a bit and take a longer look at the photograph. This is something that is wanted in the fashion business. This can work to your advantage if you are not shooting a traditional portrait.

The way you have shot Martina puts this portrait in another category for me. It has become an "expressive portrait". An expressive portrait is a story telling portrait. It is not a portrait where the photographer is only trying to allow the beauty of the subject to be observed. Everything within the photograph works with the subject to convey a story to the viewer.

Because she is looking up you can have the extra room above her. It is actually better to have the room above her, so that she can look into it. I love the way she is so well separated from the background. Her skin tone is wonderful and the detail of her gown shows very well.

As in the color photograph, Martina should be wearing a smooth bra or no bra at all. You don't want anything showing under her gown. I don't know if this is a gown or a negligee, but either way it should fall softly and smoothly over her breasts.

Seeing that Halloween is approaching, could Martina be looking at the full moon, knowing that her werewolf lover will soon be with her?

It is appropriate to put your name (and the date, if you wish) on the mat. You would want to put any advertising -- like your web address -- on the back of the photograph.

Nice shot,

Mark

I really like the black and white treatment you have done to this shot... I also like the dreamy feeling that´s in the shot...

Best Regards, Jill

Wow Mark, this is a comment :-)

Best regards my friend...