mclain swift

Great concept however there are a few things that don't work for me with thtis particular shot. The pose is odd. I am not sure of its purpose. It is not sexy, overly flattering, suggestive, or anything really. The picture is tilted to the right almost looking like the model is pushing everything over. I think the contast could be increased a fair amount for some more impact. But in the end, your are the photographer and if you like it then nothing else really matters.

I love the perspective. Well done!

Neat shot. I think the camera is too high and am I the only one in the world that doesn't kink my background paper?

This is incredible--simply incredible.

Thanks for comments!

New model for me.

Beautiful shot, Thomas. I have done similar images perhaps not quite as successfully.

Very cool. I came up with this idea last year but I still haven't figured out exactly what I want the images to look like. So many possibilities.

Very well done!

Beautiful girl you have found. My advice to you is to skip the nude work and hone your technical skills with clothed people. Learn how your camera works, learn to shoot in different light conditions, learn how to pose the model, learn to improve your composition, learn the digital side of photography, learn to control light. Shooting fantastic, beautiful and flattering (or not as the artist may so choose) nudes is a very difficult endeavour and in my opinion is not the place for a novice photographer. Start with basic portraiture, learn to feel the models' expressions, learn to focus on the eyes. The eyes are the key to most shots of models including nudes of the style you have presented here. If you can capture the eyes well everything else will start to fall into place. When I do nude portraiture I am always focusing on the eyes and the face--everything else should be secondary (obviously figure nudes are a different story). Practice, read, practice, and read some more. Good luck.

Good question about the top of her head. The orginal photo showed her whole head and just as I was finishing up the image I zoomed in and saw this shot and it just jumped out at me so I cropped the image to this. This crop puts her beautiful lips about the 1/3 point and I think helps to draw the eye to them. It is an unusal portrait for sure. And, yes, her skin is absolutely incredible. I have never shot some one with such beautiful skin. I guess being just 18 helps!

Constructive opinions are always welcome!

I think that is where I may have gotten the idea from :-) I have seen several varitations on the theme out and about.

Thanks for the comments. Nope, that is one photo--no photoshop tricks here. The setting sun is behind her and I have two strobes providing the lighting on her.

I agree with the others--too heavy on the Noise Ninja :-)

The blur is not post work it is done in the camera. I shot this with a 50mm at f1.4 I believe. Not everything these days is done in Photoshop :-)

Yes, I left my reflector back at the studio!!

Just the beautiful setting sun as a light source. I am at odds with her left eye though.

Finally got to use my battery pack :-)

I wish I could remember the photographer that inspired this image so I could give credit

where due but alas I cannot!

Another abstract bodyscape for your critique.

Trying my hand at bodyscapes again. It has been almost a year since my last attempt.

Nice series. This is my favorite of the bunch. How did you get her skin so white?

I love the idea I just find the location to busy. There is already enough texture going on with the blowing dress I think the cracks in the pavement and the dead center tree line compete with the image.

I played with several crops on this image and decided to leave the rocks at the top left in to show a bit of the area. In fact, much of the right side of this image was added digitally so I could get a crop that worked for me. It looked odd to me to have all the snow with nothing else around her. I might explore the crop suggested though. As for the comment about the exposure of the snow...that was part of the reason I said this was a very difficult shoot :-)