Eachtra
by Rasai

Comment:
i don't know anything about portraiture, so i'm using your image as a guinnea pig as to 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 first reaction to this is that it is more of a snapshot of you than an image that i would consider a portrait. but, as i look at it more, you have captured the essence of you, which is the whole purpose, isn't it? maybe it would have a bit more impact if it was more tightly cropped to your hands and face. all the same, good luck!

Stage Fright
by Kha0S

Comment:
while i admire the effort you went through to produce this image, i'm afraid the execution has let you down.

A "long-shot" in Self Portraiture
by bellatrix

Comment:
i can be as forgiving and open minded as the next guy, but this is stretching it just a bit too far. 5 is the best i can do at the moment.

Self Portrait with Flowers
by banmorn

Comment:
i still say someone visiting with limited time should spend more of their time east of city hall...

Hidden During Voting
by e301

Comment:
this is a RIOT! and sure to be one of the most commented on images in the challenge. well done, all the way around. lighting, colors, composition, pose--it all works. good luck!

this is me [i hope]
by whiteroom

Comment:
this is simply stunning. i don't know squat about portraiture (i specialize in bugs, sunrises, blurry taxis), but this is something i hope to learn to do. i just love images that are on the edge, but so subtly under control that when you realize that it's not accidental all you can do is go WOW. this is one of those images. great work. at least a 9 from me.

Vacation Mode
by Mick

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

what am excellent capture. damn! i hope to learn how to do this. the lighting, composition, focus, expression--you've done it all. love the hat. really hope to see this on the front page. 9 from me.

Just me
by caba

Comment:
i don't know anything about portraiture, so i'm using your image as a guinnea pig as to 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 it is a bit too centered. i like the lighting, the expression, the pose. i especially like the range of colors across your face--very nice work. it just feels that there is a bit too much space behind your head (maybe take a look at a 1.25:1 crop from the left?). all the same, great work, and good luck!

Gordon
by Gordon

Comment:
dare i say...nice bokeh! excellent work, gordon. the lighting is tops. you really have captured the full range of your face. honestly, i don't know enough about portraiture to really critique this, so i'm just going through, looking to see what seems to work and what doesn't. this pretty much seems to hit all the way around. good luck! 8 from me.

Camera Shy
by om10

Comment:
i don't know anything about portraiture, so i'm using your image as a guinnea pig as to 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 beginning to see portraiture as the quest to capture the essence of someone. in that, i believe you have succeeded, if but just a bit too much. there is not a single thing i would do differently, if this is what you wanted to do. and, along those lines, i think the strength of your light is perfect, as is the negative space in the top right. good work, and good luck!