flirtaceous.
by
theodor38Comment by graphicfunk: From the critique club:
A portrait is a study of character in a visual form. Photographic technique is carefully examined even by the neophyte. This is because we all communicate with people daily and we can not help at times, to study their facial expressions. We are sometimes moved by how the light plays upon the facial features and the hair. Of course, the human eye, being more sensitive than a camera is able to capture more detail.
Your self portrait exudes a warm candor, so warm, in fact, that its minor technical oversights are almost made so unimportant that they fall by the wayside. To do a self portrait of this caliber is indeed a remarkable feat and it speaks of your inherent talent. So, let us proceed with the assumption that this is a great self portrait.
However, let us make believe that you were photographing the subject from the viewpoint of the camera and make this a perfect 10. The chosen light scheme required another fill light in the front. You know about the inverse law of the intensity of light. Two lights of same value, placed at identical distance yield 100 percent. Move one light back half the distance of the other and this light is now 25 percent effective. Well, the frontal fill light of same value could have been placed just over a full distance and this would have aided the detail in the left eye of the subject and reduced the 2nd zone at the crease of the smiling cheek line and gave a hint more detail in the hair line. This would have retained the identical character of the lighting and the only drawback would have been a slight reduction in the definition of the dimple.
The composition is strong and the offset placement fit the image like a glove. You also managed to maintain a consistent coloration between face and hands. The highlights are a bit subdued, but the study remains very strong regardless. There are two distinct schools, those that love and those that hate the well defined highlights. One group says, highlights are too formal and stiff for candid and modern portraits. The other group uses them much like the artist that sketch faces or to add shape and form.
In looking over your portrait, I accept it as is. You achieved almost the impossible because you put forward such a wonderful and natural pose just like when an expert photographer elicits the best from its subject. Great job.
Photographer found comment helpful.
