MaggieMay1978 Loc: Calgary Alberta

Used the hotel lobby ceiling as a backdrop, used a strobe with a beauty dish for some extra light on her face 1/125 shot at 2.8 iso 160 CC?

(Download)

davefales Loc: Virginia

I like the pose and the lighting but am not sure about the background. Seems distracting.

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

Very dramatic, I like the pose and the ceiling.

waltchilds Loc: Central Florida

I like everything about this image. The pose, lighting and composition are very nice. I even like the background as it gives it a mystical quality. Nice work.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

Hi Maggie,

I honestly like the background and you kept her head basically against the dark areas of the background promoting contrast and definition of her highlighted hair. The head/hair camera left by the cheek seems to get a little lost and undefined, but that is a picky point, perhaps. What I did notice immediately, that seems to be distracting for this type of shot, are the 3 bright circles or 'dots' camera left about waist/abdomen high as well as the one bright dot that is camera right toward the right edge of the image about shoulder high. The other spot I noticed immediately is the dark circle or 'dot' on her camera right breast just above her dress line. It looks like a misplaced nipple or big birth mark to me.

I like the dreamy affect, but do you think maybe her eyes/eyelids are perhaps a little too soft? I think I can accept the softness of her general facial skin, but I think sharpening of the eyes/eyelids would make the shot a bit more dramatic and accent the softness of the rest of her face and hair.

Generally speaking, I like the idea and the scheme of the shot and the use of the ceiling background and the lighting you used. Maybe just a few tweaks and cloning out those spots I mentioned might enhance the shot such that it would be more dramatic, and yet, still dreamy and become a better image overall.

Please, once again, these are merely my thoughts and my interpretation of your image. Only you know exactly what your intent was for this image and if it was achieved. Thank you, Maggie.

Best Regards,
Tom from SE Ohio

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

This really nice. There a a few tweaks I would suggest: I think her skin is a bit on the too-cool side -- probably accentuated by the warm background.

I LOVE that background but would consider burning it down just a bit.

I agree with Tom that those little circles around her waist area are small "eye magnets" that need to go.

alissaspieces Loc: New York

The photo is beautiful..her expression is fantastic and her body is lit so well. I am honestly not crazy about the background being so bright..it keeps drawing my eye away from her. Totally opinion of course.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Maggie,
Nice job, and I agree with Cliff and Alissa (what sane person would disagree with 2 such talented portrait shooters)

I do have a couple of my own thoughts, that I will share, and you can take or leave them.

1. placement of her hand seems uncomfortable, and it is the broad back of her hand. (I refer to that as "Frankenstein hand" since it looks so flat and stiff) In that pose, you probably can't get away from the back of the hand, but maybe the hand on the hip, wrist bent, with fingers gracefully spread. (hard to describe, but I think you can picture it, pretty basic hand pose)

2. I like all the curves. My old mentor told me that when posing people, "if it bends, bend it" and it does help. The only issue I have is the neck also seems bent just a touch too far, and to an old fart like me, who isn't flexible, it looks "uncomfortable" therefore, kind of unnatural.

3. I kind of have a mixed feeling about the lighting making her arm look "buff" but the pose is feminine. (if that makes sense)

Keep in mind, I find flaws with every shot I take, and try to use that to make the next one better. I'm not blasting your efforts, just doing the same thing to your shot, that I would have done if it were my own.

I know this is dorky, but I often will add a blank layer to a psd file, pick a fairly bright color, then circle things, and make notes on what I want to try to do better. Sometimes, I refer back to them, sometimes I don't, but I think the exercise helps me to remember it.

OriginalCyn Loc: Connecticut

This shot definitely has potential. I too am drawn to the spots at her waist, the cloning spot on her breast, and to the broad back of the hand. It makes me want to reach in and flex her finger tips up to her waist or thigh. I would also fix the very top of her hair where there is a strand doing its own thing. I have short hair too...so i know how crazy it can be and have a mind of its own. I happen to LOVE the muscular arms that she's showing off. So beautiful and feminine, co-existing with all of the softer elements of her body. Oh yeah, I would soften the background too. But that's just personal preference.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Like I said, it just bothers me, maybe because I'm a flabby old man, and I could just be jealous deep down.

Also, on your comment about hair. From what I remember about hair (It's been a long while), yeah, sometimes it can have a mind of it's own. Easy to get frustrated with it, but you sure miss it when it's gone. :oops:

Franku Loc: Wallingford, PA and Parrish, Fl

Once downloaded, the photo takes another dimension. The girl is better accentuated and the background is not as prominent as in the non-downloaded version. Everything about the photo denotes her pensive or sensuous attitude.
If you remove the attention-getting three lights beside her stomach the photo will be exquisite. That's my opinion. Other than that little thing it is a very nice photo.

MaggieMay1978 Loc: Calgary Alberta

Does this work better?

Franku Loc: Wallingford, PA and Parrish, Fl

That's much better.

greg vescuso Loc: Ozark,Mo.

Just took a look at this shot and read the comments. Now looking at your re-edited one. I totally love everything about this image. Excellent shot !

jonsommer Loc: Usually, somewhere on the U.S. west coast.

Yep, better, but still not as close to perfection as you can take this, de-emphasize the background even more, crop a little off the top so it becomes a dramatic portrait with an interesting background, not an interesting background that happens to have beautiful model in it, and finally, the spot thingey on her camera right breast has to go.