sonicstep

Jarda, I would have liked to have seen a little light directed to the left of your model by means of a warming reflector above her head (there seems to be a reliance on a single low level light source to her right).

Further, the difference in light incident on her right eye is too strong compared to that of her left. Maybe consider dodging her left eye to bring out that faint glint I see in part of her iris. Perhaps burn the highlight a little in her right eye too so as to gain some balance.

Apart from those negative observations, I rather like her stern, cold expression and untypical gaze away from the lens. I also like her rough and ready take me as you see me rusticated hair style, which complements her expression and the apparent mix of contrasty, warm sepia like subtle tones.

Her striking nipples and their surrounding pimples look amazingly three dimensional, tactile like they could be tugged from the screen.

This composition makes a change from the usual soft and pleasant girly style I have seen posted here. It gives the impression of a someone who could be possessed by supernatural forces akin to Carrie. Which so happens to be one of my 1970s horror hall of fame movies.

Be careful, she might - if she has not done so already - send pots, pans, knives and other inanimate objects flying toward you. She might even crack your lens the next time she stares at it. :)

Regarding the previous comment concerning her hair, I believe this has to do with inappropriate atmosphere. You have two competing interests at play here, the calm and the menacing. Neither are given sufficient emphasis, they are at odds with each other.

Her makeup looks fine, striking and punchy, though I would have added mat dark blue lipstick liner instead of total pink to complement both her eye shadow and her tattoo.

Her expression looks too calm and agreeable, almost timid with respect to her general appearance. I would even try dirtying her up a little to give her the appearance a warrior or a rebel with serious attitude and get her to project a more assertive, positive expression perhaps even slightly mean.

The option for a wash of diffused light looks too soft not hard and contrasty enough to the point where her nose looks lost against her right cheek (again mixed messages, is she angel or a rebel?).

The background looks too clean and cool looking, lacks discomfort. I would prefer more disorder (rocks, derelict building/s, loose unstable crumbly walls, mashed up and rusty weather beaten sorry state looking machinery) those are the sorts of things that come to mind to make this model rock!

The asymmetric posture looks interesting and well composed. It is not typical of a seated person. She looks awkward and a bit defensive.

I would have liked to have seen her left hand grasp the end of that armrest to help express this more and to be in tune with her legs, perhaps even more muscular tension in her legs and arms.

As it stands my mind is in limbo as to her true thoughts and possible intentions. Her expression also looks very calm and restrained. She is neither particularly edgy nor is she really emotionally uncomfortable.

I would have also liked to have seen slightly more contrast in her right leg and foot and more burning of the mid tones.

The fast film grainy effect and use of black and white contributes to mood and has given this picture a pleasing end result.

I see this as a simple picture with potential that many of us could have taken on a limited budget and with limited resources but perhaps not have executed as well, hence my offering.

Yes, those faint wispy clouds in the top right corner help to restore the balance in this composition.

The merry gayety of these women appeals to me very much. They seem to be at one with nature as if they are attempting to call in the clouds.

Your method of shooting is interesting - I have since viewed your portfolio - because to me it is as if I am looking through the eyes of a voyeur and so this makes the experience seem personal, private, somewhat fortuitous and therefore special.

The way my eyes are led from left to right as opposed to right to left in a converging way seems unconventional but yet it works.

I believe this is because of that white sheet the leading woman on the left has thrown up in the air and has apparently caught some wind with why this perspective shift has worked so well.

There is a complimentary and simple balance of colour too.

If there is one thing I would have liked improved it would have to be that the woman in the middle to have been more active and in harmony with the other two.

But I guess trying to exercise such levels of control over such things would probably have resulted in uncomfortable, camera aware models leading to a risk of a contrived and less voyeuristic appealing looking picture.

Out of interest, are those women the same person or are they triplets (they look very similar to me)?

Super.!

This is a recent unplanned caption of a re-acquainted former

neighbour.

I discovered that he has an interest in Nikon cameras both film and

digital and he wanted to know what my camera was capable of. At some

point I suggest taking a few photos of him and he gladly obliged.

The day was overcast with occasional sunlight braking through the

clouds the camera's inbuilt fill in flash was used to compensate for

the lack of light.

Photoshop was used to build in contrast, tidy his beard and to

remove harsh shadow cast thrown onto parts of the rear window frame

by the flash and was also used to remove any unwanted skin blemishes.

Please feel free to view details of all my camera settings for this

shot or indeed any of my others.

I see this as a credible (that is not staged or contrived, no fancy tricks), nicely cropped and composed candid portrait type composition that has successfully captured the moment.

From my point of view, I consider it attractive to see the child in an older person as is so evident here, especially when it is from a culture other than my own.

Well done and keep up the effort!