mike_pucher

interesting use of foreground/background. i think it's visually appealing how the lines are almost parallel, but they still create some dissonance.

 

i think the bottom of the picture gets a little bit heavy; have you considered cropping some off down there?

I think that this is a wonderful image. I love the abstraction of the bottles and the vibrance of the colors on the curtain.

 

Although I wonder if the bottom of the picture could be improved. The area under the curtain has a muddy look and lacks the contrast of the rest of the image. I really feel like that area weighs down the the whole image. I don't think it is an issue of balance, if the bottom area could be digitally enhanced to a more pleasing tonal range, then it would serve to complement the rest of the image.

 

I wouldn't suggest cropping off the bottom; the s-curve is definitely the most interesting compositional element of the picture. Good eye!

Visually and figuratively, I dont think that the quote connects to the image. I'd like to think that if you're going to lay down your life for your friends, you're more than just a pawn. Pawns are often viewed as disposable, and that verse suggests inherent value in the act of sacrifice.

I think that the composition is very unique, and it puts a lot of emphasis on the shape of the boat.

 

I'd like to suggest that you add a frame to the scanned image. With such a large white area, the left, top and bottom edges disappear on the photo.net layout, against the white background. Adding some kind of border or frame would define the image, emphasizing your use of space.

When the image first loaded i thought that the petals in the background were beams of sunlight.

 

Have you thought about doing some extreme cropping on this to emphasize the drama of the background? Playing around with the image in my window, I think you could get an awesome result if you left the top and sides where they are, but bring up the bottom almost halfway. It becomes wonderfully abstract.

I think it is rather bland for a postcard style shot.

 

I see some merit in this image though. I don't know if you've recognized this, but there is some really neat stuff going on in the hills on the left side. You could make some really dynamic images playing around with the towers and the shadows cast upon the hillside.

interesting lighting and execution. it would be nice to see more of her hair, just to show some more detail.

 

it's a very classic composition.

You captured a cute moment; the raised leg gives a feeling of movement to the picture. I agree with David that it needs some contrast.

I don't know if it is just my monitor, but I see no texture/detail at all in any of the black areas; especially in his tuxedo. I don't even see the lapels of his jacket. Maybe moving the main light to the left of the camera would have spread the light across his jacket, adding some depth, showing some texture.

 

I don't mind the shadows at the bottom of the picture. I think that cropping the top down and adding some shadows there would help draw the viewers attention into the picture. What do you think?

I think that this is a great portrait.

 

Critically speaking, I think that the subject needs just a little bit of fill on the dark side of his face. Perhaps it is just my monitor, but I can't tell where his face stops and the background starts. It needs just enough fill to show some texture and a little detail. When I am using dramatic lighting in the studio, I usually like to have my fill at 3.5-4 stops, I think subtle fill would add a lot to this shot.

 

Also, I think that the thick black border isn't the best choice for this image. It obscures the cropping and blends too much with your image; I had a hard time finding the edge on the left side.

i think that the model could go without some of the jewelry, especially the watch.

I'm not too crazy about this angle; her cheek looks huge compared to the rest of her face.

 

The shadow on the background doesn't bother me as much as the shadow from her hat. Was the lighting from on camera flash? It looks like the lighting came from slightly above the lens. If it was from on camera flash, you could have turned the camera upsidedown so that the flash was below the lens, and it would have eliminated the harsh, contrasty shadow below her hat.

what a pleasant scene. i don't see things like that in the city.

 

i really like the lighting on the kid, it really shows the shape of his face, which gives the image a lot of character.

 

i'd like to see sharper focus on the subject, it looks a little blurred. i think that softness is okay in a shot like this, but the lack of sharp focus looks more like blur than just soft lighting.

I'm not too excited about the shadows in the foreground. But I like the values in the rest of the image. The blur in the clouds gives a feeling of time passing by and that the cross has withstood the trials of time.

 

It looks like some of the shadows in the foreground were just burned in. Do you have a version where they weren't?

I think this image would have been better without the sunset filter; the sky is red/orange and there are blues in the water. Visually I am confused because the blues in the water just look totally out of place.

i really like how the pose, background/angle, clothing, expression and model work together to really give a real "hollywood" feeling to the image. the only thing that bothers me, and it's really bugging me, is that you can see "ROBERT" on the bottom of the image. if only the model had been standing three inches back, that could have been cropped out. it's a distracting little detail that as far as i can tell has nothing to do with the model.

but otherwise, i really like this image. good job.

i can't decide if her expression works perfectly with the lighting or if the lighting works perfectly with her expression. either way, it is a beautiful portrait.

 

i'm guessing that the vignetting in the upper left corner is just the edge of the circle of light from a studio light. i think it works well to frame the image, i almost wish that there was also one on the right side.

What a beautiful slice of life. Great job! It's like something out of a folk song.

i think the lighting on her face is a flat. there is a nearly seamless transition from her cheek to her forehead. if you want to draw attention to her eyes, you could use the natural contours of her face to do some of the work.

were you using an on-camera flash? there is a very defined shadow caused by the brick wall and also another shadow behind her head. if it was the case that you were using an on camera flash, you might want to try bouncing it off of a fill card, reflector or the ceiling. i dont think that the camera you have listed has a built in flash, so you probably have a flash that can be angled.

 

i think it is a very nice pose, and the composition is pleasing to the eye. i think i'l like to see a little bit cropped off of the top and a background that isn't so plain, and this would be a great image. good job!

I think you need to decrease the contrast. Her face is washed out and lacks shape and definition.

the lighting on her face is great. the shadows are there, but they're very soft. you can really see the shape of her face.

 

i think that her hair in back could have used some flattening down. her hair in front lloks like it is wetted down, but that curl that sticks out in the back takes away from the grace of the composition. in general, her hair in back is a little poofy.

 

her head tilt is a little tough looking. i think it might work better if the head was tilted towards the forward shoulder.

I hate heights. Just looking this picture freaks me out.

 

If the purpose of a photograph is to make the viewer feel something, this one works.

 

The key detail for me is seeing the tops of the other buildings below.

I'd like to see more detail. Having some shadows on the petals would add depth and dimension that the image needs.

I agree about the cropping on the left. That was the first thing i noticed when I saw the picture. If the cropping on the top was closer to her head it would eliminate the distracting reflection on top. I think it would make the picture more interesting.

 

Also, in regards to her pose, I would like to be able to see her eyes. Being able to see her eyes would add a lot of emotion to the image.