Geez, some of these responses are very strange! I don't know if the OP was showing what happen to his lens or was just posting an object lesson. The two most expensive things in photography, equipment wise, are your camera body and lenses. For many of us our investment in lenses far exceeds the cost of the body! Whether this was a real question or just an attempt to get people to repeat their opinions isn't the point. Quite a few individuals who read these posts are new to photography and deserve a serious answer. The answer is yes, protect your lens with a filter or a lens hood or both. I keep a CPL on all my lenses, UV filters seem useless to me, and a lens hood. I'm on a low budget and can't afford to damage any of my stuff due to thoughtlessness.

John, I agree with your thoughts on the artistic value of an image, with or without ink.

John, that is the opposite of what I said. But, your examples are exactly right. There is a difference between saying you don't like buildings and saying that you don't like that building or you see improvements in the image that could be made.

I haven't seen any posts from others here in a while. I know that I'm not so good that I'm intimidating some of you! So, let's see more of your work, I need to learn from you.

This image is another resulting from a photography class assignment. At one point my instructor said that I have an interesting face and that's why she likes to use me as a model in class from time to time. Well, people use to say that I was good looking, now, in my elderly years I'm called interesting! Yikes! In any event over time, I've decided to embrace my face and use it as an example of light, shadow and texture.

I used two light sources for this image, an octobox high on camera left and a lower powered soft box at camera right. I converted the original color file to monochrome using Silver Efex.

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Every time an image of a model with ink is posted there are always a few tattoo naysayers in the responses. To me, it's like saying you don't like architectural photography because you don't like buildings! Putting ink on your body is an art form and it should be evaluated as that. Everyone is entitled to their likes and dislikes. However, if you don't like the art form, don't comment and move on. I think that a more valid approach is, did the model's choice of design and placement improve the image or not?

Hi mjc925, Wow, a really good portrait. A little more shadow detail would be good. But your lighting and her pose and expression win out over everything else.

Hi Ski, I like the entire series. I like her facial expressions on the first three images the most. But the third one really does it for me. A little more detail in the shadows would be nice, but otherwise, wow!

Hi Fotoartist, a really nice restoration. I like how you improved the contrast and detail.

If I recall my photography history correctly, the phrase "say cheese'" was introduced by Kodak in the early 50's (?). It was in one of their instruction books on photographing people.

I really like the cover photo. I've had opportunities to visit several tall ships on the Detroit River and took a sail on the Western Union out of Key West. Your image brought back a lot of enjoyable memories.

Thanks to JD750 for the thumbs up. Thanks Ed, that's exactly the kind of advice I need to have. My eye for that sort of detail is not as good as yours is, yet. Each time you comment on one of my portraits I learn something new. I appreciate you taking the time and offering up your thoughts. I'll post a new one next weekend.

This one is another portrait that was the result of a class assignment from some years ago, where we actually attended in person! This was a similar assignment as the last one, where we had to get someone to come in and be a model for me and my classmates. Once again, we had various stations with different backdrops and lighting set ups. I had photographed MV multiple times over the past several years, so she was quite comfortable in front of the camera.

The one I'm posting today was taken in the stairway of the college building using only the overhead lights. After doing the usual PP, I decided to convert the color image to an antique monochrome style, using Silver FX software. While the resulting image breaks some Portraiture "rules," I think it conveys a timeless feeling. It would probably look great in an oval frame. For those concerned, her parents did sign a modeling release form for this session.

What do you think?

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Thanks Ed. Good suggestions. I'll try the Contra pose the next time I get somebody to bare their chest and pose for me. If I understand your idea, then, I could have put the main light to camera left, in the same direction that he was looking?

I think that the expression on her face and in her eyes really tells a story. The only change I would have made, either with the camera or when cropping, would be to arrange her more diagonally in the frame. But, I understand how it is when you have only one opportunity to make an image, you work with what is available at the moment. I'd say that you really did capture her personality at the moment though, really nice work.

I like the lighting and the emotional impact of the B&W. Looking at the original color version, it fairly begs for a monochrome rendering. I don't think that the grainy look detracts from the image at all.