I have always felt he could have put her in a better setting. I know the one behind her has a tale to tell, but as beautiful and enigmatic as he made her, I just feel she deserves velvets and riches, maybe a hound or a lapdog at her beck and call. Even an idyllic outdoor setting could have been behind her, but just like our photography, that would have changed the whole impact of the subject and the painting overall, so who are we to second guess the masters, eh??

I don't think there are many photographers who could do the same with a real lady and settings...not without Photoshop anyway!!! :)

Yesterday after church I asked my wife if she wanted to head out to the beach with the kids.

"How's the weather look?", she asked...I looked into it and noticed what looked to be a strong system coming across the lake right at us (Traverse City).
I said,"yeah, probably not a good day for the beach, but I bet I could get some awesome storm photos."
"Go for it, I'll watch the kids."
Hmmm, I thought, but I was just out there the night before in Glen Arbor, and didn't get home until late last night. "Nahh, I think I'll pass and hang out here with you guys."

Good thing I did. I likely would have been trapped in a remote area without cell service, as after the storm (and tornado) ripped through, there are was impassable both in and out of the city.

Here's the news reports after the storm. The photos of the system have been amazing to see. In some photos, it looked like a hand coming out of the sky to rip up the earth.

http://www.mlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2015/08/see_storm_devastation_around_s.html#incart_river