Burlesque portrait

[gahspidy]

So I keep coming back to this image from a shoot I did a month ago with Katya.

There's something that attracts me to it and I'd like to know if you think there's something here as well. The good and the bad. . . .

Thanks

[daq7]

Hard to critique. Nearly perfect. I don't particularly care for the white background with little drama, but that is the style you are going for so it seems flawless for what you were trying to do.

[emiles]

I agree with daq, only thing that bugs me is that her right (when looking at it) arm, right above the glove seems to disappear against the white background. Don't know if that's what you going for, but other than that it looks great.

[draymorton]

I'm not sure whether or not you should get rid of the shadows cast by the stool legs. Or whether the wrinkles (or the shape) at the top of the right legging are good or bad. Neither one matters, really, I'm just reaching here.

The portrait itself is fabulous.

Speaking of burlesque... I'm sure you heard that the legendary Tura Satana passed away last week...

[LeeIs]

I think it looks amazing. very clean and perfect type shot. I can't find anything (which I usually do and nitpick away )

the high keyish exposure works really good on this. i love that the bg isn't pure white but has a nice subtle colour to it.

honestly this is pretty much perfect down to the reflection on the stool. Also the red trim at the bottom of her shoe goes well with the lipstick. lol.

[draymorton]

^^^

I kinda like the reflections, too.

Critiquing an image like this is a little like critiquing a Michael Jackson performance.

"Uh... well uh... that glove looks a little small. It's distracting."

[PhilF]

what attracted me here are the tones. even the off white background complimented with her hair color and her skin... then black.

I would get rid of the shadows though and that brown reflection on the chrome seating... looks like a wood table.

I like it.

[gahspidy]

Daq, referring to the comment on the white bg. . .I think thats partly what makes me undecided on this. I like it in that it seems to have the classic look I'm after, but then again I feel it might not be enough. The subject, pose, shape of form and other variables need to be strong enough to work on white. I think it has, but then i'm just not absolutely sold.

Eric, yep wasn't quite sure it is enough to hold its own on the white bg. As for the arm, i guess it comes down to the individual monitor issue. I'm showing full definition of her arm against the white, but granted she is very light skinned and its a close call. Thanks for the thoughts

Liban, always a relief and a good feeling to get a thumbs up from you. .You floored me that you can see her red trim on bottom of her shoes!! I can barely identify that in this web version, and I know its there Good eyes, but then your like an Owl anyway with all the night photography you do lol :P

Dray, yep heard about her passing. she was one very exotic looking woman with an interesting background. some real hardships and bad deals she had as a young girl growing up.
I was torn on the shadows from the stool. glad you brought it up. i actually emphasized them thinking it would add a more 3 dimensional feel but I am thinking maybe better without them for a cleaner look.
What do you think about coloring the seat, say a 50's green or yellow? Right now its dark gray metallic ( picked up three of these from a lady in tribecca for a 75 bucks)
Your comparing me to a MJ concert. . .and his glove no less?!! lol, alright. . i'm outta here :P

Phil, thanks man. I'm sold on getting rid of the shadows. I prefer the creamy warm tones even in my bg as opposed to stark white so i'm glad you feel it adds to the other tones in this.
Off to erase some shadows and maybe a reflection or two

Thanks all, feel a bit more confident that theres something worthy here. The edits should help improve as well.

[gahspidy]

I have an edit here that i think is better. I did not lose the shadows of the stool completely because it wound up making it look like it was floating in air.

I reduced reflection in the stool side, and added a sorta coca cola color to the seat.
what thinks ye?

[jetrim]

The red shift in the seat color is a plus for sure. I've looked at this a few times now... I keep coming back to it, but I think what I'm missing here is the ever elusive "wow factor". This latest edit is even more technically perfect than the first, and yet it's not saying anything to me. It's a perfectly lit, perfectly composed photo of a somewhat unremarkable woman in an unremarkable pose, wearing unremarkable wardrobe, while showing no emotion. She does have great hair though...

[LeeIs]

The red stool definitely an improvement, ties it all together nicely.

[GB1]

Hmm. This one's different Gary. I usually see Burlesque shots in context: old studio, lounge, mirrors, etc. This one is sort of a minimalist spin on the idea. I do like the dreamy look in her eyes/on her face, though it isn't quite as polished as I think it could be (slightly awkward pose, garter straps straining, etc). Good composition. Another thing that's different is that she's looking off at 45+ degrees, and I've almost always see burlesque shots that have the model looking directly at the camera.

G

[kevinlipo]

The combination of colors to produce eye-catching image is truly worthy of an applaud. But same with the comments above, you can still improve it.

[draymorton]

what thinks ye?

What is this, Deadwood?

The color shift of the stool is a huge improvement that I didn't see coming. Very good call. You have a knack for color that I wish I had.

The shadows are perfect.

Tura Satana - Yup, very interesting life story was hers. I actually have an original slide of her taken by Harold Lloyd in the early 50s... back before she was The Tura Satana...

[gahspidy]

Jet, I agree with the wow factor aspect. there are things I like here that keep pulling me back but ultimately i think its not "special" in any way really. Yep, i think the color in the seat def adds some better visual.

GB1, I did not give much thought to my title here other than she is wearing some typical burlseque wardrobe. Not a live performance or in a setting but rather just minimal with a lean toward pinup simplicity.

Liban, thanks the colors do help i think.

Dray, thats amazing that you have an original slide from Harold Lloyd of her early days. I would imagine its value has just gone up considerably.
Deadwood is HBO perhaps as its fans are fuming about the plug being pulled on it.
Never watched the series, but there seem to be some memorable and snazzy quotes from the show

[ScapeGrace]

See this is what I hope to do someday, portraits and glamour shots along with nature photography...architecture too. I watched an HBO? documentary on burlesque dancers. Very interesting, I thought they were so brave to do what they did in that era. You did an excellent job capturing that refined yet subtle flirtatious charm. I'm sure it was difficult to pull off seduction while keeping that composure and poise. Very appealing, nice shoot Gary I would have said there's not really anything to improve but you somehow managed.

[PhilF]

I have an edit here that i think is better. I did not lose the shadows of the stool completely because it wound up making it look like it was floating in air.

I reduced reflection in the stool side, and added a sorta coca cola color to the seat.
what thinks ye?

so much better. I think that's it... you cannot do anything better than that.