bob_estremera

Agree with Esteve, skin smoothing actually jumps out to my eye more than the model. And considering the model, that ain't good. But the composition and lighting are first rate, excellent.

Love the overall capture and technique. However, on the warm toned version I'm noticing, on my monitor anyway, a lot of pink coloration in the shadow side of  his face.  Also, the 'lit' side of his face is a touch blown out. Some texture there would complete the otherwise excellent lighting.

Definitely overdone in PP. Even the thumbnail looks bad. Capture, good. PP, bad.

I love the shot as an environmental portrait. One thing I would try is to replace the frame elements with a simple vignette, ala Silver Efex Pro versions. Not one of those trite, neat oval vignettes but a darkening of the edges that bring the eye to the subject but allowing it to explore as well.

Curiously, there is something uniquely special about your subject. But there there is nothing special about the photograph of her. It's nice that you've achieved the separation and a nice blurred background but I believe this needs context and composition to be more compelling - as a photograph.

Great composition, shapes and 'feel'. Love the choice of color too. Who cares about lens sharpness. This shot has 'soul'. Nicely done all the way through.

I do a lot of NYC shots at night. This shot shows a lot of twinkling little lights, and the one main one but there is no composition to speak of. And if you're going for that dark, eerie kind of mystery, you'd need to add at least a little more detail in the shadows so the lights have context and perspective.

I don't often post to these but I must say I think you have achieved exactly the 'mood' you must have been striving for.

Your image is evocative of early portrait styles of famous painters of which I can name none.

Usually, this much Photoshop is distracting but you have used it expertly to create a moody, yet visually tantalizing portrait.

Can you share some of your post-processing technique?

If I might suggest, keeping the same post-processing techniques, I like to see additional, more dramatic lighting styles applied to the portrait itself.

Again, very nicely done.

Bob

Overall this is a beautifully composed and lit portrait.

But - there appears to be something wrong with the eyes, particularly the subject's right eye. Was it worked too much in post process? The pupil is not round.

Technique is beautiful, too strong on the post process.

Love the shapes, tonal play, textures and the way you balanced them all in your composition. Very nice.

Bob

I agree with all previous posters.

I'd be interested to know the lighting setup and what post-processing you employed.

Wonderful style and execution,

Bob