The Look

[Alison]

Would love to know what you think.

[Old Timer]

Would love to know what you think.

Glad you moved this to the critique forum. I think this is a lovely image. I love the models expression and the way you have captured, "The Look". Her eyes are full of intrigue and draw the view into the image. The lighting is beautiful and soft, a real enhancement to the overall effect. My main nit on this photograph would be the placement of the hand, in my opinion it seem somewhat stiff and lifeless. Overall I think this is a superb image.

[Alison]

Yeah I see what you mean but...
I told her to loosen her hand because there is a tendency, I have noticed, to push flesh creating wrinkles and whiten finger nails.
Any suggestions on how I could have positioned her hand differently?

[SmartWombat]

Definitely, that's captured a look alright.

I agree, I think her hand looks odd in this pose.
It reminds me of my grandfather's pose with his thumb in the waistcoat - except maybe it's in her bra strap. It just doesn't look right somehow, but I wouldn't know how to improve it.

On my monitor it looks as if the skintones are lacking in detail.
Not smoothed, just flat and grey.
Particularly on the knuckles of her hand, and the breast below.
I know it's not peak white, but it seems like it might have been, then flattened into a midtone somehow?
I can't exactly work out what it is, but it seems not quite right.

Did you stretch the contrast to push her clothes in the black?
There's a gap between 230 peak skintone and 255 peak white in the eye catchlights.
Quite noticeable in the histogram as a gap in the luminosity.

[Old Timer]

Yeah I see what you mean but...
I told her to loosen her hand because there is a tendency, I have noticed, to push flesh creating wrinkles and whiten finger nails.
Any suggestions on how I could have positioned her hand differently?

You are right on those points. And I may be totally off here but I think if you had kept the slightly arched hand lowered it a little and had the fingers pointing up in a 45 degree angle it may have helped. With the perpendicular fingers and the near center placement of the hand in the image it seems a little distracting. Keep in mind this is only my opinion. Still love the image.

[drg]

First let me say I saw this in the gallery first and liked it and then noticed you were going to post here. I prefer to leave longer comments in the forums.

What I like:
- The tilt of her head and positioning in the frame.
- The set of her shoulders in relationship to the photograph's composition.
- The cleavage is also very well positioned.
- The fall of light/shadow on her neck/throat and left shoulder.

What I have concerns about:
- The lighting on her face and upper body don't quite match or blend. Particularly in the larger version in the gallery the models face is almost gray compared to her other skin.
Looks like from the fall of the shadows that a slight warming reflector is needed or minor repositioning of the key light could be the remedy.
- As previously noted, the hand. If it were straighter from forearm to fingertip or the fingers had a slight bend it might help. Of course you could always have her twirl a strand of hair or two.
- The bra needs a touch of texture or detail.

O.K. all that being said, I really like this photo. Technically one of the best of yours I've seen.

[Seb]

Would love to know what you think.

I have no experience with studio works but I find your picture to be very appealing. I get a feeling of lightness emanating from the picture as a whole and your model is truly elegant.

I can't relate to the issues others have expressed but then I don't have their experience with this kind of work so I can't further comment on the subject, other than the skin tones seems fine and sufficiently detailled on my hardware calibrated monitor.

regards

Seb

[Alison]

Wow! I asked for it and you really gave it to me didn't ya?! lol

SmartWombat - It's probably the B&W diffused glow filter I applied in VP. I even turned it down because there was even less detail in the skin tones when turned up fully. When I turned it to grayscale it was just missing that special something. I dunno maybe it's the look I like to create

drg - I love that idea of twirling her hair

seb - Thank you for your kind words

I'll upload another of her and prepare myself for another tongue-lashing lol.
Maybe one day I will produce a winner ;)

[SmartWombat]

Ah, the filter could have done that, yes.
How did you turn it to greyscale?
I've not tried it yet (but will when I rebuild my desktop PC).

[Alison]

By the way, its not a black bra its a black top.

Here it is in glorious technicolour.
And ordinary grayscale.
Simple image application, Irfanview, Image > convert to grayscale

[readingr]

Alison,

I think I prefer the new version of the B&W seems to have more testure to it. Is the model new to modelling? From the neck down she seems a little stiff, probably from the hand. I also thought of my grandfather holding onto his braces just like Paul.

I think you over did the post processign in the original and in the new B&W the hands bother me less because of the added detail.

Roger

[Alison]

I think it's just me, I just like the look of the diffused glow and that porcelain skin effect. I do have a tendency to overdo my effects I suppose.

The ordinary B&W looks just that to me ORDINARY. It's suprising how other people see my work and I really love hearing the differences of opinions.

The model is one of my daughter's and she is not a model but would like to be one. She hasn't had any training in modelling just like I haven't had any training in photography.

All this in-experience is obviously showing through. I shall just have to try harder.

Thank you so much for your opinion readingr it's much appreciated.