htarragon

I don't know if you're aware of this picture by Ruth Orkin http://www.orkinphoto.com/photographs/american-girl/ but it's quite close. She set hers up. I don't know why. All she had to do was stand on any street corner and wait, like, I assume, you did or were there at the right moment. Nice catch!

At the metropolitan museum of Art, New York City

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/16.95

Grayham, It was playing around in Lightroom and achieved this effect, which accentuates her eyes mouth and hair (and expression). Yes, I see that touch of sadness(?), too.

Thanks for commenting.

Howard

Were you intending to show the camera noise? If not, was this taken with a point and shoot camera? what were you trying to achieve in this photo?

Lovely, model and pose but you are literally being too hard on her (with the light). You can see every pore of her skin on her cheek and nose accentuated.  The light is creating a shine on her cheekbone and nose. There is a hard shadow on her jaw, behind her hair. This is a film noir look but I don't think you intended to make it a slightly scary portrait.

You got the focus on her eyes with a nice, shallow depth of field, falling away. I'd like to see more portraits of her in a softer light. You have other portraits that are lovely and show the models to their advantage.

It could also have been a crop at 100% size.

It's a lovely face, well composed. However, iIt looks like you used a macro lens quite close up which is the problem. You can see every pore and bump on her skin as well as the fact that she plucks her eyebrows. The side lighting accentuates the bumps and hollows in her skin and picks up flaking lipstick (which seems to be drying out - yes, at this range that can be seen) and the clumps in her mascara.

 With that said, I like the thumbnail version because none of the above can be seen. Back up about 10 feet and use a telephoto. Be kind to your models!

A standard anonymous beach shot with attractive women in bikinis made more interesting by what looks like a rather large wave cresting in the near distance setting up a bit of tension.

John, I've liked this photo since the first time I saw it some time ago. I've done some tweaking (dodging, sharpening). I think it helps. Again, I like the photo.

Hmm... I liked the haziness of the original. I would have to add a haze layer.

Thank you, Graham! Yes, I am a rossophile (if that's a word). She was a lovely model. Her eyes were dark brown so I'm not sure I'd lighten them. I have more redheads in my portfolio. Thanks and enjoy! I'll try to find and post more - a labor of love.

A lovely model and pose and good lighting. I do have one or two quibbles:

1. I would have pulled back or not cropped so tightly - there's too much going on in the center of the picture without meaning. Not enough of the bow shows to make the title immediately apparent; we are too distracted by stockings, garter belt, hair and breast and white space dead center.

2. Model expression is a bit vacant for a person looking at camera. I burned the irises of her eyes a bit and lightened the whites which brought out their blue-green color and gave her look a bit more feeling.

I may be looking at it too long but her hand seems oddly positioned (like it's not hers). Maybe that's just me.

And yes, redheads are a definite plus.

Ruslan - You're right, the shutter speed was too slow since she was moving, not posing. Anything else? I need to do something about the red fingernail.

Carlos, Sorry I haven't replied. I didn't realize I was getting comments. Post the picture here.

Howard

Thanks, Tore.

Thanks, Robert. It's one of my favorites, too. One of a kind.

Howard

For a less desaturated look than above and if you wanted to keep more of the bridge structure, I cropped less severely, set the grey and white points, using her tiara and her dress where it's on the ground and white. It is, in fact a blue dress, yes? I used Photoshop Elements 6.