steven_weston

Sorry, this photo really puts me off. First there is the cadeverous skin tone on her right arm that mysteriously ends in mid-forearm (photoshop, I suspect). Then there is the blown-out UL corner that is virtually posterized. And, what's with the painting of her breasts and left shoulder/arm? What's the point of that?

 

Frankly, the beauty of the model and setting have been severely compromised by technique for no purpose whatsoever. A straight, well lighted photograph, with maybe a more meaningful pose, would have hit anyone as stunning. The gimmicks make this just a foto.

The detail of the surrounding background competes, sometimes successfully, with the detail of the leaf. Organization vs. chaos. Dither vs. resolution. My bottom line though is that neither subject nor background is alive, or real; so I really do not look at this image with very much attention. I would suspect that non-phoptographers, non-imagers both would pass by this picture quickly. Sorry to be negative -- just MHO.

This is good. But it would have been so much better without the background figure. Instead of the false vignette at the top, have you tried adding a "forest canopy"?

Equal or better than any textbook illustration I've ever seen about mimicry. Very fortunate highlight of the body and wingtips. Adequate DOF.

Frightening in its implication. I would greatly prefer that the verticals be aligned, especially the hand holds.

Superb portrait -- tight, no distractions, the viewer is allowed, invited, to "meet" this very real person. But, there is just a hint of the subject trying to avoid direct contact with the camera, or with you. Raport is so hard to achieve. You do have some sort of gift to be able to make this photo. I'm certain that new photos to come will be even better because you are connecting.

Wonderfull photo of a child's delight and wonder of the world. Anything new can be either frightening or a delight. Her mother as the daughter's backstop and support gives this photo meaning beyond just being a picture of a child's delight. You must see the world through your heart.

What if this were tighter and there was detail in the darker areas -- especially her eyes?

Is this an example of trying to show too much. Here's just a quick crop that I think tightens the composition and engages the viewer more forcefully.

When there are people in a photo, viewers (or this viewer) of the photo always seek to make out the details of expressions and the "who" of those people. This photo lacks the resolution and the shadow detail that is needed for that to happen. Without the people detail, this photo becomes not much more than a touristic snapshot of a place and lighting -- albeit a great place with great lighting at that moment. It's just that there's no story here and nothing beyond a recordation of that place at that time.