Dave Johnson Loc: Grand Rapids, Michigan

This shot has a number of problems but it seems to work. Her shoulder is hunched, her left hand is splayed, her knees and feet are pointed toward the camera, etc. I entered it in both of the camera clubs I belong to and in both it scored pretty well especially when you consider that traditional photos do better in our more mature club membership. I know that not everyone will like this but I would be interested to know whether you like it or not and why.

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Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

I know from watching "America's Next Top Model" episodes that editorial magazine model photo shoots like to put the models in awkward body positions. They call it "broken." It's not necessarily classic or pretty, but it's high fashion. Your photo has that editorial feel. It's colorful, unusually arranged, I'm not surprised the judges liked it. Technically it looks good, too. Just another way to portray a woman.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I think the hunched shoulder works because it follows the angle of the stool, her legs and her other arm.

Shakey Loc: Traveling again to Norway and other places.

The bulge, created by hunching her right shoulder, I don't like. In my opinion it spoils the symmetry and it draws the viewers eye away from her face. Once you notice it your eye keeps returning to it. Dropping the shoulder by taking her right arm off the armrest would have balanced things nicely. Other than that grumble it's good.

Nightski

I like the colors and the background. Tube tops are not the most flattering piece of clothing a woman could wear. It flattens out a place that should look curvy. She has a great figure, but I'm not sure you posed her in a way that accentuates it. There are a couple of shiny spots on her face.. You don't have frontal lighting, but maybe your lighting position still needs a little tweaking. I think you are close on the lighting, but not quite there.

Dave Johnson Loc: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Thank you all for those comments. I really appreciate your insights. Special thanks to Heirloom for drawing my attention to the "broken" style.

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

Critique:

Overall, you have something very nice going here.

If I was directing this, I'd say she needs to be more fluid, less stiff- cat like. Loose the shadows from the settee- light em out or re-touch 'em. Do you have a rim light going, stage right?

Go here to work out light placement, note rim light effects. Does not have to be a fancy flash... improvise!
Look under fill light, 11:00 position. Just less intense then what they have.

http://lowel.com/edu/foundations_of_lighting.html

I like the feeling of vertigo. Just a few "tells" to fix.

I'd try having her duck her head and look up at you with just her eyes slowly I guess I would look for a smoky, sultry look with a "Mona Lisa" sexy smile. If looking up didn't work, then profile and doing the same thing- looking at camera first with eyes and turning head slowly While you shoot in rapid sucession...

Variations on the shoot I might try- not necessarily improvement on yours.. for whatever you find it is worth.

I like the angle, the outfit, the setting, the model.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

The repeating reds and the unusual angle give the photograph impact. Well done. :)

Dave Johnson Loc: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Thanks Bmac, Thanks Richie for taking the time to critique and suggest. I only had two lights going at this time. A big soft box to my right and a smaller soft box as a fill light on my left. I do wish I'd have bumped the fill light up just a bit. At the studio I belong to we'd normally use a hair light but I don't remember using it on this shoot. I don't remember why.