Please critique: "I don't like it" is no more of a critique than "How lovely". I am having a love-hate relationship with this image, and have had since I took it 10 years ago. Again...

buckwheat Loc: Clarkdale, AZ and Belen NM

"I don't like it" is no more of a critique than "How lovely". I am having a love-hate relationship with this image, and have had since I took it 10 years ago. Again, this is a scan from a 4x6 print, but I'm interested in what you people think.

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

This image doesn't convey a mood, nor an emotion. The image would say the same to me if she were clothed, and it says nothing, really. It is not about the woman, and it is not about the scene. For me it is simply a naked woman on a rock -- nothing more; nothing less. Sorry, but if I were you I would put it back into storage and find something more interesting to work on.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

as I look at her head against the sky, it looks like you played with the sky a bit I see a halo . Maybe if you used a flash to brighten her It would look a bit better IMHO.

buckwheat Loc: Clarkdale, AZ and Belen NM

I thank the two of you for your comments. I redid it (again) and lightened up the model. Now it really looks like a naked girl staring into the canyon. Or could it be the definition of freedom? Or some other heady philosophical thought?

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

The image remains unremarkable.

TheStarvingArtist

I like it because it is different than what others post. She looks natural because this is just what a woman would do, so it doesn't look posed. I would like it better if she were smaller and the scenery overpowered her. If the scenery overpowers her then you have a nice mountain view with a nude woman in a garden of eden setting. I don't care for how the horizon cuts thru her body.

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

TheStarvingArtist wrote:

I like it because it is different than what others post. She looks natural because this is just what a woman would do, so it doesn't look posed. I would like it better if she were smaller and the scenery overpowered her. If the scenery overpowers her then you have a nice mountain view with a nude woman in a garden of eden setting. I don't care for how the horizon cuts thru her body.

Your suggestions could turn a snapshot into a photograph with meaning.

papakatz45 Loc: South Florida-West Palm Beach

buckwheat wrote:

I thank the two of you for your comments. I redid it (again) and lightened up the model. Now it really looks like a naked girl staring into the canyon. Or could it be the definition of freedom? Or some other heady philosophical thought?

The first image is too dark. Neither of the images do anything for me. I think with the mood it would have been better if she had clothes.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

The second, lighter version works better than the first, and StarvingArtist has some good thoughts, I think.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

buckwheat wrote:

"I don't like it" is no more of a critique than "How lovely". I am having a love-hate relationship with this image, and have had since I took it 10 years ago. Again, this is a scan from a 4x6 print, but I'm interested in what you people think.

buckwheat,

I think this is a prime example of making sure the subject and the pose match the background. In this case, and I am not meaning or being a male chauvinist, whatsoever. I think this would be a great shot if the subject was a male and not a woman. Look at her stature, her size, and how large she appears (ratio of her size to the rest of the image), vs. the background and the setting in general. She just seems out of place or out of her realm.

I envision Custer, Hitler, Atilla The Hun, a General in the Armed Services, or a Warrior standing & overlooking a battlefield or thinking out a plan of attack. I just hope you understand what I am envisioning the way the shot was taken. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact she is naked. That just doesn't enter into the equation for me on this image.

I might add that I do like the lightened image much better than the original you posted which is way too dark for my liking. Thanks for posting this one and getting the thought processes jump started!

Best Regards,
Tom

Cherish Portrait Photography

I like the composition. To me there is an attitude expressed by the model's pose. I am bothered by the halo around her head. Overall, I like this image and could imagine it blown up for a large print.

buckwheat Loc: Clarkdale, AZ and Belen NM

But she had a "heavenly" figure!

Cherish Portrait Photography wrote:

I like the composition. To me there is an attitude expressed by the model's pose. I am bothered by the halo around her head. Overall, I like this image and could imagine it blown up for a large print.

Benttree Loc: GA.

Well, for me her pose is not on it best, by holding her hand and her feet, kind of masculine standing.
I'll Think a better pose on female would be by standing slightly sideways with her weight a bit more on one of the legs. That would make some intersting s curve on this beautiful hipped body.
As well since subject is this beauty maybe larger F stop would soften background and adding bit lighter setting.

ArtzDarkroom Loc: Near Disneyland-Orange County, California

It could be great photo displaying clearly an emotional quality of profound meaning, if it were completely different. IMHO.

ArtzDarkroom Loc: Near Disneyland-Orange County, California

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