tobin

The composition looks, well, like a portrait, which is exactly what you've set out to do. However I think that perhaps the image could be improved with some more light on the girl's face; her face is very close to the color of the background and thus tends to blend in instead of stand out (although perhaps this is intentional?).

What makes a compelling photograph? That's the broad essense of my

question and the use of this photograph to motivate that question is

somewhat arbitrary. I'm quite pleased with this photograph, but that

is a result as much of the quality of the print (one of the first

prints I've made myself, so I'm rather proud of it) as it is the

aesthetics of the image, and I do like the image. But there's nothing

really extraordinary about it either: it doesn't challenge any

preëxisting beliefs or present reality in a new way. The only mildly

incongruous quality is the era of the photograph; although the image

was captured only last week, the black and white print and the classy

car allude to a by-gone era. So, more succinctly, I suppose my

questions are these: What do you think of this image in particular

(what do you like about it, and how could it be better?),

and what elements do you think tend to be present in compelling, that

is to say, "good", photographs? Thanks!