Really like the emotion showing here, she seems really happy. If I were to make one suggestion it would be to maybe try a square crop with her head slightly to the right of centre frame. I think it would help concentrate the eye on her and hide thos brick and blue seat. However, it is a lovely portrait.

I really like that you've kept this beautiful lady in color instead of going black and white. The lighting is wonderful on her skin and I want to smile with her.

I like the capture, the DOF and the light but wish it was a bit sharper.

Thanks. As for sharpness, it is actually a scan from a negatve, and so that is why it is so soft.

Another one of my favorites in this theme.

Great eyes... wonderful, rich colors and light.

His beard and his hood really fit well together.

Thanks very much for the comments guys.

@doilyboy: I have no idea why the reds got so saturated when I posted it. It does not look like this in PS. Maybe its my colour profile settings? I tried to delete the submission, but I guess you cant do that. Please try and imagine it with a significantly less red hue. :(

really great photo, love it!

Thanks very much Michael. I just regret that the colour profile was off and it projects with the high red saturation.

Congrats on the feature! and I for one don't mind how red it is.

I like this. So much going on his mind that translates. Might be interesting in B&W?

Nice photo.
The only thing that bothers me is the negative space behind the subject. It may have worked better with the negative space on the left. In this case, a tighter crop may do the trick.

Thanks for the comment notter. I'll think about a crop.

i have to disagree, this crop is great. it creates a different mood, a loneliness, than a standard open neg space would not. sometimes you have to break the rules.

Wonderful contrast....

nice texture. extremely sharp. and an interesting subject.

Thanks all.
This image is a part of a series I recently shot on assignment in South Africa, on the illegal squatter camps, which still dominate black life in the country.

He was an interesting guy to talk to and explained what it was like growing up in the Apartheid era

This is a great portrait. I find it reveals so much about this manly man's character.

vernon man, you are on a roll. one striking image after another. this is super. your work is inspiring!

Great photo!

Great capture. One of my favorites in this topic. It brings an "extra" human touch (well I'm not sure how to say that... I hope you see what I mean)

philippe, i think i know what you mean; it was a human moment: i was trying to take pix of my youngest daughter, casual like, but she cottoned on to my ways right away. the only way out was to let her take her own pix of me. thanks for the comment mon ami :-)

She's really cute. I think it says a lot about childhood. I guess that's what I wanted to say. ;O)

Is this inspired by Mapplethorpe?

Yes, it is. I'm a great fan of Robert Mapplethorpe. But this is no self-portrait.