I think this photo is underrated for sure. It's a very nicely done portrait. The reason it is underrated is rather simple though. It's not your soft focus, technique, or composition. It's the subject. Your subject is indeed beautiful and, as I said before, it's very nicely executed. The problem is that the viewers of this image have no attachment to the subject and there is no particular wow factor that creates a link to the unattached viewer of the image. When presenting a portrait to a general public audience, you can't expect much in terms of artistic merit recognition.
My personal opinion of the image is that the color tones are possibly a bit too warm for the image.
I'm no fan of this kind of portrait - simply too gooey for my taste. hiowever, this is a very professionally done version. Bringing the hands more into frame would have suited this crop more, I think. The 'rules' pertaining to square frames are a bit different from otherwise, favouring the symmetrical and diagonal compositions - which you nearly get to, but not quite. More of a parallel between the line of her face and shoulder, and the lines of her hands and arms, set diagonally across frame would make a very strong composition.
Lovely. I like soft focus and this is fitting. The only thing I might wish for is a less tight-lipped expression on the model... maybe a little more relaxed to match her dreamy pose. Possibly a little too smooth over her right eye, no eyelid shadow... neat image?
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
