michael_s10

Mark - 

Thanks for taking the time to critique, and your insights are appreciated.

You are right - this doesn't show the dress well, and now that I think about it, it's not why I like the image. I like the image because I like the way the model looks. 

But considering this was supposed to be a fashion shoot, I shouldn't be choosing the images based primarily on how the model looks.

Maybe this explains why the wardrobe designer and I picked really disjoint sets of images for the final edits :)

Learning something new everyday - thanks again.

The subject is an art student. At the time she was reading "Women in the

Mirror" by Avedon.

I had been want to shoot this subject for over a year - we finally were able to

make our schedules match...

It's rare that I take time to just relax and enjoy a book- sitting on the couch

with the sun coming through a south window makes for the perfect

afternoon.

Very well done image - tones great - subject is engaged with her beautiful eyes.

I love the waterfall of hair coming down her right shoulder and the highlights in that hair. Excellent use of natural light (I assume).

The image might have benefited from an alternate placement of her left hand, rotated out to give a profile of it, or possibly brought down a shade in tone so it does not draw the eye as much. Additionally, above her left ear on the edge of her hair is a bright spot on the background that calls the eye some - very small item, but might be worth while to cleanup in post.

But really, overall, and very strong image - beautiful work!

Mike

David - 

Good solid photo - I looks like you captured the spirit of the subject well. It is also lit well for the subjects features. Good job there.

There does appear to be a little tug of war visually between the hands and the eyes - with the subject laughing and the eyes closing up (as they often do), visually I have to hunt for the eyes, but the hands are really right up there in front to grab my attention. I'm not sure what a better pose would be - maybe if the subject was moved to her left a little and the hands lowered away from the face?

That said - it's a image any parent would be proud to display in the home - well done, and thank you for sharing!

Mike

I love portraiture - and this such a great example. 

Beautiful focus work on her eye - great tones throughout the image. It really captures that outdoor in the breeze moment.

If I had to nit pick, you might want to get rid of the fly aways in front of her eye - but even then, if it was my image, I'd have to see the before and after to know which one I liked better.

Tremendously fine work - kudos!

Mike

First time outdoors for more than 5 minutes since winter -

comments/critiques appreciated!

This image is wonderful. So many elements are done just right.

Hair detail is all there, great colors. The capture of snow in between the subject and the camera gives this the perfect winter feel.

Really, tops in my book. 

Stephen - 

I think your feedback is spot on. The eyes and nose should be sharper - I was shooting through both a screen and window (not the cleanest either), but I can't figure out whether that lack of sharpness (which is there in the full sized version) a focus issue or just elements between the lens and the subject. The camera was hand held, Nikon 105mm on a crop body with VR (and I was about 3 feet from the subject). Normally, this shoots very sharp when handheld. 

I am not averse to using PS to remove unwanted elements from the image - those darks areas to the far left and right certainly do call the eye.

...and thank you for the info on their behavior when captured...I'll make sure to steer very clear of them!

Mike

Very helpful critiques!

Beautiful lines in this image in addition to a beautiful subject. Nice focus on her face.

I like the overall treatment in post.

The image would benefit by removal of the railing shadow across her legs.

Really very nice - thank you for sharing!

First off - thank you to Mark for taking the time for such a detailed and immensely helpful critique. I definitely struggle with composition, and I wish I had more than the 1/2 inch (model scale) left in the original at the top.

I'm going to repair the catchlights using Photoshop later today, and see if I can come up with a better crop, and re-submit.

Speaking of Photoshop, for the benefit of anyone starting out (like Grayham who posted above me), despite the subject's natural beauty, there is a lot of work in Photoshop on this image.

Photography/lighting aspects are solid. Subject needs some work - beautiful..but....

I don't like the hands (major) - and there's some wardrobe malfunction to be cleaned up in post (strap on her right shoulder, strap on her left chest) (minor).

But for those items, this would be excellent!