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Ashleigh
Ashleigh
train


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Color Portrait (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S3000
Location: Hamilton New Zealand
Date: Sep 11, 2005
Galleries: Family, Portraiture
Date Uploaded: Sep 11, 2005

My 15 year old daughter Ashleigh

Statistics
Place: 157 out of 284
Avg (all users): 5.2449
Avg (commenters): 5.8333
Avg (participants): 5.0290
Avg (non-participants): 5.4359
Views since voting: 991
Views during voting: 438
Votes: 294
Comments: 13
Favorites: 0


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AuthorThread
09/24/2005 09:26:20 AM
*Greetings from the Critique Club*

Portraiture is not my forte...but I'll do my best.

First Impressions: Lovely subject! Beautfiul tones! Nice expression! What unusual red hair! I like the way she's looking at "me"!

Then my critical side kicked in...I wondered first about the heavy chain--it doesn't seem to fit the mood of the portrait or the character being expressed of your daughter. The stray strap draws attention next. These two elements seem to fight for attention with the rest of the image. I like the proportion of the image, but cropping some from the bottom would eliminate these seemingly contradictory elements.

The image is high key without deep shadows. I think that's good. But something about it seems odd--it's as if there were a shadow behind her that was lightened bringing the rest of the picture up in tone. Perhaps the background doesn't recede enough--could be caused by the subject being placed too close to the background or small aperature setting.

I like to see a single well-defined catch light in each eye. Multiple reflections just seem to steal some of the magic of the eyes. Otherwise the lighting is very pleasing.

Your commenters were contradictory--some like it soft, some like it not. Some find it delicate, some find it blah. Her expression is nice, her expression is tentative. I don't disagree. =o By that, I mean, I can see that the viewer wants you to come down on one side or the other of these choices...without being overtly obvious, of course. If you made the edges of the image a little softer, for example, the viewer would believe the intention without wondering if it's just slightly OOF--that doesn't mean that the viewer would like it better. If you had chosen a slightly different moment to capture her expression her lips would express less of a smile or more of one--it would take away the uncertain expression.

Overall, I think you have a very nice portrait of your daughter. There are technical things I and others have hinted at that could help you take the image in a slightly different direction if you want. You have captured her beauty and sweetness...though her deeper personality seems to be a bit hidden yet. A lovely image for the yearbook or family "wall-of-fame"...not yet "high art" but maybe it doesn't need to be.

(I see you have the approval of "graphicfunk," an artist whose work I admire for his ability to see people so well. If he thinks it has a touch of delicacy, how can I argue otherwise?)

Looking forward to seeing more of your portraits!
--Kadi
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
09/18/2005 11:32:19 PM
Very nicely done with that added rouch of delicassy in both colors and expression. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/16/2005 05:02:21 PM
I like the crop and her smile...but there's something washed out looking. Perhaps some makeup would remedy that.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2005 12:39:56 PM
i think this shot is a bit too soft in that it draws the eye away from the subject.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/14/2005 08:20:20 PM
Great image and subject... a little too glowy around the hair for me but I appreciate what you were trying to do... more artistic than most ion this challenge... very well done... :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/14/2005 07:29:26 PM
not bad, a little soft for my taste though
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/14/2005 06:52:28 PM
I enjoy this image, but with all these wonderfull colors it seems overly soft IMO. Regardless well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/14/2005 06:50:35 PM
I think the soft focus works pretty well here with her. I'd have maybe moved the bra / shirt strap on her right shoulder and possibly upped the contrast +5 or so. Nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/14/2005 07:38:41 AM
Good picture although the smile looks a little unatural.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/13/2005 09:46:18 PM
I'm not sure what it is about red-dyed hair that catches my attention, but it always does. I like it, and this model is extremely beautiful. I'm wondering if some more red in this image might have carried it farther, such as lipstick or a red dress instead of straps. Overall I like it and I hope it does well. Good luck. <7>
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/12/2005 07:48:56 PM
A nice, friendly portrait. Something about the softness, and the slightly out of focus eyes (or it could be my own aging eyes) :-) Nice photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/12/2005 01:04:39 PM
Nice! Love the soft feel of this photograph. The eyes are captivating.
Good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/12/2005 12:42:38 AM
Cute shot! decent lighting, and pretty eyes, but just a little blah. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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