Gina

[Alison]

CC please. Thank you.

[McMadCow]

Neat shot! I love the look in her eyes. You seem to have made a good connection with your model.
As far as improvements I could suggest, 2 come to mind.
-The focus looks a tad soft. Either that or the DOF is SO shallow, that you're not getting enough of her eyes in focus to make the shot seem sharp enough.
-The tonal range is a bit on the flat side. This looks like a digital color to B&W conversion. Is it? That's a huge symptom of digital B&W. Your highlights are where they should be, but there's not enough strong shadows IMO. Keep in mind, this second criticism is purely subjective and is my personal taste only.

Great work! This is an interesting capture of a good moment with a beautiful model.

[mpreslar]

Intense. That is the word for Gina's eyes here! I would agree with McMad about the softness, in particular around her left eye (our right). It might be solved by more mascara, the right eye has such beautiful lashes, the lack of such from this angle leaves the other eye lacking. The irises are good and sharp though!

Another option is, if you used difuse glow or gaussian blur or some such (not saying you did, but I know your tendancies! ) I would do it in a layer and erase back the original sharpness of the eyes, lips, tip of nose (and in this case the crease on the shadow side I think) and hairline. This will give you the overall soft look with sharpness where it counts.

You also might try darkenning just the shadows in PS (on the color adjustment screen).

All that said, it is a great shot and Gina is a beautiful young lady. She is SOOOO lucky to have a Mum that takes such beautiful portraits of her!

[Alison]

You're good Marty! And you know my weakness. Yes I did use a diffused glow. You know me well lol.
And I lightened the eyelids with the dodge tool because someone said her eyes were way too dark lol. I can't win can I? hehe
Thank you both for your comments.

[GB1]

Hi Alison,

It is well composed and interesting, but I dont know if it's just me, but the portrait seems too hot, like the flash was a little close to the subject and there was too much differential between the back and front areas.

I also think that using a soft focus is often a good thing but I am not sure on this one... her eyes are very intense and you appear to have softened that a bit, but it seems that there's two opposing forces here - her intenseness and the soft/diffused filtering, and neither of them are winning. Try sharpening it up and see how it looks.

GB

[Alison]

ewww yuck! I tried sharpening it but it went grainy it was awful! And no, it's not just you. I am still trying to get used to my lights. No flash was fired. I think I had the light a little too close to her. Plus I don't have a reflector, maybe that would have helped even out the shadows a bit.
I'll keep practising ;)

[freygr]

ewww yuck! I tried sharpening it but it went grainy it was awful! And no, it's not just you. I am still trying to get used to my lights. No flash was fired. I think I had the light a little too close to her. Plus I don't have a reflector, maybe that would have helped even out the shadows a bit.
I'll keep practising ;)

I found the photo good to go....... Besides I've always been told you what the portrait soft...

[SmartWombat]

Nice, soft with sharp eyes. I can tell you blurred it as usual
I agree you haven't got any really deep shadows, there is no black apart from her eyes and make-up. But I don't think it's a bad thing.

[yogestee]

Lovely portrait Alison..Sharp in the right places,,soft in others..Lighting is just about perfect as is the tonality and contrast..Only one little concern from me,,there is a slight shadow over Gina's right eye (left as we view it)..

Alison,,I'm going to crawl up you bottom now,,,you have found your niche in photography..Delicate,sensitive portraits of the female persuasion..

Jurgen
Australia