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Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa
liebe


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Best of 2005 (Advanced Editing IV*)
Camera: Sony DSC-W1
Location: Minnesota
Date: Jun 13, 2005
Galleries: Candid
Date Uploaded: Jan 1, 2006

My cousin Megan has the most enchanting eyes. They seem to carry on a conversation by them selves.

I took this image back in june. It was a candid moment, under the shade of a tree in her front yard. She was having a LemonAid sale/Dog Wash that day, (you can still see the markings of a KoolAid mustache), and she needed more customers, so I brought down my dog Max and my Camera.

This image would have been so much better if I had:
1. pulled away slightly and put the rule of thirds right between her eyes.
3. Sharper focus
2. a better camera at the time.

I am expecting this to be on the lower end of the score simply because of the challenge, but that's cool. Happy New Year! May your 2006 be the better than your best.

Edit, jan 15th 11:57: This is the 12th (and final) edit.

Statistics
Place: 721 out of 833
Avg (all users): 4.8753
Avg (commenters): 5.8889
Avg (participants): 4.8116
Avg (non-participants): 5.1500
Views since voting: 1104
Views during voting: 590
Votes: 425
Comments: 33
Favorites: 4 (view)


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AuthorThread
02/02/2006 04:42:05 PM
she truly does have enchanting eyes. nice expressive portrait.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/02/2006 03:27:02 PM
thank you guys for the comments! I knew from the get-go that it wouldn't score well due to DPC's usual standards, but I'm happy you thought it was under-rated.

Ellamay- Megan had absolutely no makeup on. After I desaturated the whole image, I went through each color and adjusted the lightness. She was wearing a red shirt and I wanted it to be dark in order to emphasise her face. As a result, her lips darkened too. I dodged them a bit, but obviously not enough.

A lot of people said it looked too over processed- and they are right. I did alot of editing on this one. I'll post the origional for you guys to see how much.

Message edited by author 2006-02-03 08:17:27.
02/02/2006 02:58:19 PM
Totally agree with Azrifel comments. Totally disagree with your comments on how it could be better, they way it is now, is the best results. Its the soft focus and subtle shadows that make this photo so great. Not to mention that Mona Lisa smile!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/01/2006 04:22:19 PM
Way, way, way underrated. But that's DPC. :(
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/31/2006 09:03:46 PM
Love this pic, the composition, soft focus and the b&w treatment is wonderful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/31/2006 03:06:24 PM
I like this kind of photo! It is a challenge for doing well in DPC, but who cares? Good work..... maybe the hair strands on the side of the head come over a little choppy!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/30/2006 11:25:55 PM
I find this the most challenging photo in this challenge to mark, I am not sure if it is cuz the little girl seems so grown up and or if its because she looks like someone I know. She is a beautiful little girl, but perhaps I find putting make up on a child this age disturbing. Perhaps it is a personal thing on my part. I am not sure if I should mark it down cuz it disturbs me, or mark it up for the same reason.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/30/2006 12:43:56 PM
Nice pose and lighting, but it just doesn't seem focused.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2006 07:15:55 PM
Those big eyes and smily lips jump out at you. I don't care about the softness, it's a lovely b&w portrait. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2006 05:15:19 PM
good composition but the picture is fuzzy
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2006 04:17:49 PM
What beatiful eyes this girl has. It is an interesting shot, with a nice soft focus. I am bumping up score.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/26/2006 08:20:03 AM
Quite sweet...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/23/2006 06:41:24 AM
Best portrait voted on so far: organic, relaxed feel to it
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2006 10:46:09 PM
the photo is real good B&W
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2006 06:03:24 PM
good composition but looks OOF
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2006 04:14:21 PM
Lacks the sharpness and focus needed to be a real contender here. Great comp and expression though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/22/2006 07:01:18 AM
allthough it's a bit softfocus (?) this photo intruiges me. you've captured her look very well. special!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2006 04:44:56 PM
nice eyes. at first i didn't think much of this shot, but i have looked at it several times since the first viewing and it's a good shot. I like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2006 01:22:10 PM
Beautiful girl. The eyes are great. (along with the smile!) Good luck.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2006 10:28:29 AM
Not real sure about the lighting here. I like the model and her expression.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/20/2006 09:21:46 AM
background is distracting and lighting not so good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/19/2006 08:55:29 PM
slightly out of focus, a little dark and perfect just the way it is. great pic
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/18/2006 10:46:39 PM
8 from me....good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/18/2006 06:31:50 PM
I imagine that the original file was beautiful... perhaps a little out of focus. I have to say you did a terrific job getting an honest emotion in the photo. She looks intreaging. I think, in the end, it there is just too much Photoshoping. I understand you are going for a high-key high-contrast image but there are too many areas of solid black with no detail and white with rough edges. It has potential to be a terriffic photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/18/2006 02:29:36 PM
Very beautiful photograph. It has a very classical feel to it, the tones and eyes really make this. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/18/2006 01:19:29 PM
wonderful expression but the focus seems a little soft. Was this on purpose?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/18/2006 09:50:12 AM
The focus seems a bit soft here, so maybe a USM would help a little. Also I think the lighting on her face needs to be a bit more frontal to get some light to the left side and not have it so harsh and bright on the right.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/17/2006 09:25:50 PM
Beautiful pose and great catchlights. Looks like it's a bit overprocessed to get rid of the background though, or maybe she was underexposed? In any case, the focus is very soft and in a portrait, the eyes (at least) should be crisp, even when you intentionally soften other parts.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/17/2006 11:56:15 AM
Cute model... Focus seems a little too soft. 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/16/2006 05:37:30 PM
Just not sharp enough
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/16/2006 04:03:05 PM
I really hope you don't get voted down for this not being the standard 'dpc tack sharp'. this is a beautiful portrait. good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/16/2006 01:04:27 PM
A very good portrait. I like the softness and the balance between the upper and lower parts. Good luck.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/16/2006 12:55:20 AM
Wonderful expression and interesting lighting, but the soft focus on her left eye bothers me a bit
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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