I agree. I think the shot is stunning. Your DOF seems spot-on, keeping the face in focus but with the neck sliding out, fitting with the fade of light. The catchlights are great. The only flaw I can see is the border, which seems to defeat the purpose of the dark background, which is to hold the focus on the face. I'm drawn by the eyes, want to keep looking at them, but my eye keeps getting distracted by the line of yellow, and I have to look even though I know what it is.
I think the border may have worked better if the background were closer to that colour.
They seem to be most effective when they're needed to tie everything together, or to bound the shot and keep some element in it from sliding the eye right out of the frame, but in this case the eyes hold interest enough without needing it.
Btw, this is as much for me as for you, as it allowed me the chance to analyse just why I didn't care for it, and will hopefully be able to apply the knowledge myself :) |
