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 03/29/2007 10:24:03 AM · #1


Buried all the way down at 91 I thought this deserved another look for those who love subtly expressive portrait work. This is great work on many levels, and wanted to point that out one more time before it sinks into DPC history...
 03/29/2007 10:25:16 AM · #2
I'll second that.
 03/29/2007 05:02:02 PM · #3
Ditto, I mean, me too. That is, I agree. :-)
 03/29/2007 06:08:56 PM · #4
Absolutely agree. I gave that one high marks and was quite surprised to see how it finished in the voting.
 03/29/2007 06:33:12 PM · #5
the shot makes me feel like she knows me - that familiarity is very appealing in a photo, and very hard to do. I'm guessing a great relationship between photographer and subject - maybe a photog that is very good at putting subjects at ease and helping them feel very comfortable.

Either way, it's really great work.

No gimmicks here though - and the voters seem to reward gimmicks - so what I consider a great shot finishes way back in the pack.
03/29/2007 06:43:11 PM · #6
Very well put.

digitalknight wrote:

the shot makes me feel like she knows me - that familiarity is very appealing in a photo, and very hard to do
 03/29/2007 08:28:26 PM · #7
I dunno... when I saw it, I thought the pose was too straight on, the expression just bordering on stiff, the light too harsh, and the hair merged too much with the background.

But I hope that my saying so doesn't discourage fencekicker. Like anything else in art ... we each have our own tastes and this one just wasn't/isn't working for me (and not for lack of gimmicks).

However, I'm really glad that you've let her know that she has successfully reached out to you. That's the kind of encouragement we all need.

Message edited by author 2007-03-29 20:58:58.
 03/29/2007 08:55:34 PM · #8
Sorry to be so negative, but it deserved to place where it did, and no amount of digging after the contest will rearrange that. The lighting is overly harsh, and exaggerates the blemish on the chin - that also breaks the symmetry which the entire composition of this photo gambles on. Without the dynamism offered by an unbroken symmetry with a bias to one side, or a strong diagonal element, the square framing only serves to make the image feel more frozen and static - the eye is quickly led out of the frame, and the viewer is quickly bored. The red background downplays the red hair, which ought to be a strong feature in this particular shot, and only serves to enhance the noticeability of the noise - which is definitely excessive in this photograph for a shot of this kind (which is clearly studio-shot and hence should have adequate light for a decent ISO). Finally, the odd shaped reflection in the eyes only hints at some deeper meaning, but leaves it unclear as to whether the shape of the lightsource is relevant to our interpretation of the image, or simply a limitation of the photographer's studio.

Edit: Having just checked, the image appears to have been shot at ISO 100, which should definitely not produce the sort of noise seen in the background - i can only put that down to compression or sharpening artefacts. I might also add the amount of light on the neck and the shadows that casts is rather unflattering, along with the width of angle of the lens that exaggerates the shape of the nose. Is this a self-portrait? I ask because it seems to me unlikely that a studio photographer would pose his model in such a way...

Message edited by author 2007-03-29 21:00:01.
 03/30/2007 02:22:34 PM · #9
Riot, I disagree with some of your assessments. I think your comment that the "entire composition" rests on symmetry is merely subjective. The fact that there is not a strong diagonal element seems besides the point; it's the square, head-on (direct, face-forward) composition that makes this photo stand out. This viewer was not quickly bored.

The red background is a valid and I think creative choice, and avoids what might be a cliche (e.g., green). I don't think the hair gets lost at all.

As for the model's nose, blemish, etc... perhaps beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Any imperfections, exagerated or not, are for me offset by her coloring, high cheekbones, and lovely expression. It is not a bland face, and I find the image arresting.

I'm not saying this photo should have gotten first or third or even necessarily top 20, but I'll echo the original poster's sentiment that it is a shame this photo ended up as low as it did.

Message edited by author 2007-03-30 14:23:21.
 04/02/2007 03:21:33 PM · #10
*BLUSH*

I'm really flattered by the strong support for my photo. Thank you for the compliments and encouragement. Its nice to know in such clear terms what was liked and not liked about my photo.

Regarding the "blemish"...

I debated about whether to remove it or to leave it in. Its not, in my opinion, a blemish at all as it is very much a permenant part of her face. Since most people don't have a mole on their chin it can be a distracting element for viewers. However, it is also as digitalknight put it in his very nice comment "her distinguishing mark" and therefore part of her identity.

Regarding noise in the photo...

I didn't really notice the noise. I guess its in the OOF backdrop? As I am very much an amateur, how would I acquire a noiseless out of focus background? Should I have instead set the camera so everything was in perfect focus? Whatever suggestions you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Choice of background...

I agree the photo would have more pop if the reddish background on the left side were a bit darker. I do however still like the warmth the red gives the image.

Overall...

I had wanted to reshoot the photo because I felt I could have done better, but I ran out of time before the challenge deadline. After watching the first day of votes come in, the photo ended exactly where I expected it to as far as score is concerned. Prior to watching the voting, I thought it may have garnered an extra tenth or so. However, I do like the photo, I'm not disappointed with my score, and I am THRILLED with the comments.

Thanks to all of you,
fencekicker
04/16/2007 03:57:29 AM · #11
Being an advanced challenge, you could have blurred or Neat Imaged the background separately, leaving the face and hair sharp. Masking hair can be tough though. I'm sure there are other solutions that are more preventative and less corrective; maybe someone else would be able to give more suggestions?
 04/16/2007 04:59:54 AM · #12
An interesting shot, particularly on my laptop, where if I move the screen around as I look at it, the vote that I would give the shot moves between a 4 and a 7. Amazing the difference the monitor can make.
 04/16/2007 11:25:07 AM · #13
thanks you digitalknight for starting this thread. I didn't have a chance to vote on color portrait and I would have missed this wonderful photo.
 04/17/2007 09:02:42 AM · #14
so... you don't like it?

Originally posted by riot:
Sorry to be so negative, but it deserved to place where it did, and no amount of digging after the contest will rearrange that. The lighting is overly harsh, and exaggerates the blemish on the chin - that also breaks the symmetry which the entire composition of this photo gambles on. Without the dynamism offered by an unbroken symmetry with a bias to one side, or a strong diagonal element, the square framing only serves to make the image feel more frozen and static - the eye is quickly led out of the frame, and the viewer is quickly bored. The red background downplays the red hair, which ought to be a strong feature in this particular shot, and only serves to enhance the noticeability of the noise - which is definitely excessive in this photograph for a shot of this kind (which is clearly studio-shot and hence should have adequate light for a decent ISO). Finally, the odd shaped reflection in the eyes only hints at some deeper meaning, but leaves it unclear as to whether the shape of the lightsource is relevant to our interpretation of the image, or simply a limitation of the photographer's studio.

Edit: Having just checked, the image appears to have been shot at ISO 100, which should definitely not produce the sort of noise seen in the background - i can only put that down to compression or sharpening artefacts. I might also add the amount of light on the neck and the shadows that casts is rather unflattering, along with the width of angle of the lens that exaggerates the shape of the nose. Is this a self-portrait? I ask because it seems to me unlikely that a studio photographer would pose his model in such a way...
04/17/2007 09:40:41 AM · #15
Fencekicker,

I am glad I stumbled on this thread....and would like to add my thoughts. First of all, when I first saw your portrait during the voting, I was struck and moved by it.

I think there might be two camps in portraits. There are those that strive for technical perfection...the lighting, the colors, the right shape of catch lights, then PSed to create the perfect skin and eyes. When you look at these you say, wow, that is a great shot...look how sharp...I can see each eyelash...the lighting is cool, and ooh, the bokeh of the background! Then there are those that try to create a portrait that truly captures the person. The kind of portrait that when you look at it, your emotions are stirred. You might feel uneasy, you might feel comforted, but a deep emotion is elicited. Technically it can actually have flaws, but it is still a great portrait.

Yours is most certainly in the latter category. You look at her and she is a real person, real skin, real eyes and if you let her, she draws you in and you feel like you should say hi to her or that she is seeing inside of you.

I am not surprised at all by your score because I am convinced that the majority of DPCers spend only a few seconds on an image when they score. With a limited amount of time they go: "Is it sharp?" "How is the lighting?" "How does it conform to my pre-determined rules for a good photograph?" Then, if it is high in these categories, they look at it for impact. Then it is click and move on. There is little time to study images. As a result, the real beauty of many images goes unappreciated, but not by all....and hence this thread.

Keep up the great work and I am anxious to see what is next.

jeff (spizzer)
 04/17/2007 08:16:36 PM · #16
Wow, thanks again for all the wonderful comments. You all really know how to encourage a girl. :D
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