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

She was visiting from Norway, so I shot her. I think she liked it. Any comments and or criticism would be appreciated.

Shot . . . but she's doing fine

(Download)

bunuweld Loc: Arizona

A beautiful cousin and a beautiful portrait as well.

ArtzDarkroom Loc: Near Disneyland-Orange County, California

Is she dead?

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

If you haven't done so already, you should send her a nicelt framed 8x10 to remember the visit. :thumbup:

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

First off... You need to add that people must see the download. The thumbnail makes her look slightly jaundiced. The download is just fine.

Next, would it be wrong to remove those two lines on her neck? I don't think she would mind. Your thoughts.

Me

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

Well, not yet anyway, but it's still early . . .

ArtzDarkroom Loc: Near Disneyland-Orange County, California

lol... Shall we start a pool?

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

tainkc, thank you for taking the time to look and comment, and for the suggestion that UHHers look at the download, not the thumbnail . . . I'm always a little surprised (and disappointed) that the images I upload always look substantially different from what I see on my home monitor.

Your comment about the lines on her neck are interesting . . . I looked and looked at the photo before posting trying to correct as many flaws as I could find, and I didn't even notice the lines on her neck. It's always interesting what a different set of eyes will see, and yes, I think she wouldn't mind if they were removed.

thanks again, your comment is much appreciated.

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

Mike D, you read my mind, but first I will have to remove the two lines on her neck . . . . if that comment doesn't make sense, see tainkc's comment above.

Bobby Deal Loc: Loveland Colorado

Jon, nice job and yes the color space differences in the compressed images that appear here after posting are horrific at best. It is one of the key reasons I deep link my images from servers I have at least partial control over and which offer quality color management.

rlaugh Loc: Michigan & Florida

The download color really is so so different...just remember when removing wrinkles,don't try to make everyone look eighteen! I'm not saying not to remove these,but so many people go overboard,and her family and friends know what is really there! Great great shot that I'm sure she will love!!

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

I believe that this is a beautiful perfect of that gorgeous lady!!
The lines mentioned do NOT bother me at all!! The only change I would make if it was mine would be to make it a vertical....

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Well, you're a master of your craft so it's not surprisingly a great shot - but, I have real reservations about removing anything that is part of the character of the subject, and she sees those lines every day, is completely used to them, and they are part of 'her'. Quite a conundrum, I know, but if she had a birthmark, what would you do - I think I might go for lightening it a bit, but not removal. Same with the lines. Just a thought - and love your work.

Bobby Deal Loc: Loveland Colorado

typically in portraiture when it comes to skin blemishes such as birthmarks, moles and scars if they are permanent they get left unless the subject specifically requests removal. Signs of aging on the other hand are typically addressed at some level dependent upon the vanity level of the subject. I would likely remove the lines on her neck while only softening and maybe shortening facial lines.

When it comes to skin treatment vanity plays a huge role and while there is a responsibility to authenticity there is also a responsibility to the subjects own desires. One of the things I hear most often from any female subject over 30 is the request to make them look younger. Men tend to care less about wrinkles and lines while double chins and gray hair are big issues for guys. If you get a vain man he will drive you crazy beyond anything a woman can do. In the end a portrait should flatter the subject as much as possible without crossing the line into the unrealistic. Many issues commonly seen as retouching issues can be at least partly addressed via lighting and posing.

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

Wahawk, first, thanks for looking and for your suggestion to crop to a vertical format. When I shot my cousin, I took both verticals and horizontals, and since I usually like the traditional portrait format for portraits, I expected to like those shots the best. Well, as you undoubtedly know, shooting portraits is always an interesting micro course in human psychology, my cousin had never in her life sat for a formal-ish type portrait before, at the beginning of the shoot she was nervous and rigid and obviously wasn't having much fun. It took the first large batch of photos, and showing her on my tethered computer the results of the shot, to get her to loosen up just a little. All these were taken in vertical, traditional portrait format. Well, she was getting tired, and I told her that we were done. I could visibly see her relax and she was back to being her usual easy-going self. I took my camera off the tripod, and did a Bill Clinton, and said something like the light was so different with the camera off the tripod that I wanted to just shoot a couple more so she could see the difference - and of course, because I had said that the shoot was 'officially' over, and these were 'after thoughts' merely to show her the difference, she stayed relaxed and I think that came through in the photo. It just so happened that for this particular shot I was holding the camera in a landscape orientation. I thought it worked well and looked more contemporary than the verticals I had taken. So I didn't even try a vertical crop, but I just might do so to see how it feels. Thanks again for your comment.