Hidden During Voting
by e301

Comment:
most excellent work, highly underrated. maybe the lighting on the bag was just a tad to strong, washing out the finer textures that might have added more character to the image?

Big Blue Ben (Ben Franklin Bridge - Philadelphia)
by SURBANNA

Comment:
ok, we have another philadelphian! hope you aren't getting too hammered for the size. just don't take it personally. good luck!

Profile
by kellian

Comment:
i don't know anything about portraiture, so i'm using your image to try to figure out what i think i would or wouldn't do in this situation, as well as what i notice and get out of your image.

my initial reaction is that this is a strong, sharp image. while i like the contrast, i think the lighting is just everso slightly too strong. the expression and pose is perfect, especially for a self-portrait. the only things i really have qualms with are the centering of the subject and background on right. i think if you went with a 1:1.25 crop from the left, it would be perfect. but then again, what the hell do i know? i shoot bugs and blurry taxis. you have a fine image, and i hope it does well for you!

Suits You Sir
by mrmorris

Comment:
i don't know anything about portraiture, so i'm using your image to try to figure out what i think i would or wouldn't do in this situation, as well as what i notice and get out of your image.

excellent work here. everything--lighting, focus, composition, expression--comes together to make a most enjoyable image. i do believe you have captured the essence of the individual! i hope this does well for you!

Up close and personal
by arpita

Comment:
[ok, i'm really sorry about this, but i'm having a hard time scoring your image. the thumbnail looks great, and if i don't look too closely at the full image, i like what i see. BUT, on close inspection, i am finding areas of blurs right next to areas that are very sharp, particularly around your lips, your eyebrows, and your right cheek. i have a 21" monitor with high resolution, and i have to believe what i'm seeing is in the image. as much as i would like to offer more, the highest i can score this as i'm seeing it is a 5. it's a shame, because it does look like you put a solid effort into this.]

blk
by Geocide

Comment:
i don't know anything about portraiture, so i'm using your image to try to figure out what i think i would or wouldn't do in this situation, as well as what i notice and get out of your image.

this is a very interesting image you've turned in here. i'm really not sure what to make of the pose. the lighting and soft focus put more of the burden on the imagination of the viewer than a more traditional portrait, which may be exactly what you were after. good luck!

Ken
by whatdewuc

Comment:
i don't know anything about portraiture, so i'm using your image to try to figure out what i think i would or wouldn't do in this situation, as well as what i notice and get out of your image.

nice effort. these are such hard shots to make. i'm not quite sure how i would handle the lighting. this looks a bit too strong from the top, as if it's washing out a lot of tones and details that could contribute to the character of the image. while you have a decent contrast with the background, i think the folds that are showing tend to detract. also, i can't help but feel that the image would be a bit more dynamic if it wasn't so centered. but, then again, what the hell do i know? i take pictures of bugs and blurry taxis. good luck, thanks for sharing!

Part of me
by MikeO

Comment:
i don't know anything about portraiture, so i'm using your image to try to figure out what i think i would or wouldn't do in this situation, as well as what i notice and get out of your image.

this is really an interesting interpretation of portraiture. what i'm getting out of this is that one shouldn't be too quick to take the safe road, but instead, should be more willing to explore alternate routes for capturing the essence of the individual. thanks for sharing, and good luck!

Gangsta'
by postoakinversion

Comment:
i don't know anything about portraiture, so i'm using your image to try to figure out what i think i would or wouldn't do in this situation, as well as what i notice and get out of your image.

my initial reaction is, "whoa, dude, i didn't know that was your sister..." what a look! excellent job with the lighting, all the way around. you've really captured a wide range of tones and textures that all compliment that steely glare. i would have to say you have succeeded in capturing the essence of the individual. good luck with this. 8 from me.

Through the looking glass
by carlosmfernandes

Comment:
i don't know anything about portraiture, so i'm using your image to try to figure out what i think i would or wouldn't do in this situation, as well as what i notice and get out of your image.

i'm not quite sure how you arrived at this image--i assume from the title that you shot it through a mirror. it is a very interesting crop you've chosen. it's a shame your focus is on the soft side; that's just seems a bit out of kilter, considering the effort you made to draw us into your eyes. the soft focus also takes away from the range of tones in your face, which i believe would add even more character to the image. but, then again, what the hell do i know? i shoot bugs and blurry taxis. this is probably exactly what you were aiming for. good luck, and thanks for sharing!