Maybe a bit tighter crop but I like the textures included in this shot. And the color.I would like to see her face close up but that's another shot. As it stands, I really like this one.

I agree with a tighter crop, but this is an "unexpected" portrait, I like it. I like her facial expression and positioning.

I like this portrait; it looks like you're getting a bit of barrel distortion which could be corrected in photoshop (unless the wall behind her is curved); other than that it is really nice.

For a portrait she looks very uncomfortable, like she can't wait for it to end. Her left hand is almost pushing her up off the seat. I think it would have worked far better as a shot if the model was sitting comfortably and naturally.

I agree that the posture seem uncomfortable, just like the posture of young and sexy models in fashion magazines. But to my mind, this just adds to the "unexpected" atmosphere of the portrait. I also like this tender vision of an old person, which is not condescending at all.

I'm posting this version of this image because of the discussion I've had with some of you:

www.vazaar.com/topic:portrait-of-a-person/response...

I'm curious to hear thoughts if anyone has them. Thanks.

Yes, this works much better, if you ask me.

I have to remark though that this is based on my personal development as a photographer. I found myself tired of hyper-saturation, and I have also begun to use DOF as a tool. The question is how much do I want to isolate a shot from the background, what am I trying to achieve by doing that.

In this case it works, because I would want the fun ferris wheel and carnival to seem like a distant memory.

Very interesting comparison. I too think this one works much better. It seems to fit the sombre context.

Hey guys,
I understand what you're both saying. I'm torn. I like them both... one for the juxtaposition of emotions and the other for the 'appropriate' mood.
Either way, this is why I think Vazaar is so great. It give me, (all of us) this chance to discuss and experiment like this with feedback.
Thanks for taking the time.

I kept waiting for this to be featured. Nice image.

At last! I have always been proud of this image ever since I first took it, and I have to say it was a disappointment not seeing it get a feature, but everything comes to he who waits...
Thanks for your nice comment.

Great eyes.

Flatline,
thakns for taking the time to critique so thouroughly. Needless to say, it would make sense to try this with a more desaturated approach. And I did. But I chose to post this version becasue it seemed so wrong to me, just as the loss of lives in any war does. I felt that the amusement park in the BG with all the bright colors twinkling over make-shift graves along with the hint of a smile in her face all seemed to play against what I would expect to see. SO I took a shot and went this other way. Maybe I'll post another version for comparison.

Yeah, this is a really strange juxtaposition of so many different elements. In a way I like it, but in another I find it rather disturbing (perhaps that is the point). Compositionally this is good, but I feel there's just a bit too much emphasis on the background. Perhaps if it were darker, or as flatline said, a bit more desaturated it would work nicely. I feel like it needs some way to really draw attention to the woman's face without completely removing the crosses and the carnival lights beyond as part of the subject.

Jason, I understand. Reagrdless, at this point, I love the discussion and the fact that people have a take on this. Thanks to all.

Martin, please understand that I took a highly critical tone because it was marked as seeking critique. I have no real beef with it, nor your creative choices, I was just trying to think of as many things as possible that I would have done differently.

It's a good shot.

One more thing, I don't like selective coloring, but you could slightly desaturate some things, and just color-pop the candles.

Hey Flatline,
No worries. I enjoy this process and no offense taken.I'd played with this image so many different ways, but as i mentioned, decided to go over sat because it seemd so the opposite. BUt i'm going to post another version of this to hear some comments. I'll be curious to hear what you and others have to say.

Oh and that was meant to be a compliment!

A strong portrait with nice lighting, engaging eyes; I would have to agree though that the post-processing is a bit on the heavy side, might try to tone it down just a little (could be an artifact of compression too...)

Thanks Eli. I know it's heavy handed on the PP, but I guess I was going for effect=:O

Love the skin tone, and the color of the eyes is superb!!

Thanks to all for the comments and the feature!

Pretty soft that suits well for a portrait. Her look is interesting and the windblown hair gives dinamics. Nice.

Nice portrait. I don't mind that her eyes are gazing off the frame in this instance because it seems she is deep in thought. The expression on her face really lends to the feel.

Did you ever find out what's on the other side of that card?

I love the look of this photo because there are so many things crying for attention. First the background, the stripes in his shirt...the headphone wires, the message....wow...but they all come together somehow!

Is this a real character or staged? Quite clever...

Excellent, as soon as I saw it I sort of knew it was going to be British photographer or subject!

the expression is cool! altough the colors are strange and the whole photo is a lil bit blurry.

I love the hand.... it shows the frustration

I think this is awesome. How much more in your face can you get? A bottle pushed actually in your face. Great job Manuel.
I see your point Kyla but I agree with Ana and think it shows the frustration. Love it.

Nice pic. I'm sorry, is this the self-portrait topic?

ich denke nicht

@the lithograph
"in your face" is the self portrait topic.
---
du hast es in selbstportrait hochgeladen.
in "portrait of a person" wäre es richtig gewesen.

looks on 100%

Huge fork:))))