Looking for some critique on this photo.

Its been a while since I have posted here. I've just been going through some old photos from a couple years ago and doing some re-edits. Let me know what you guys like and dislike for this one. Thanks!!

B.

Not much NOT to like about this photo to me. I really like the composition and overall execution. I wonder what this photo would have been like with a bit of backlight to separate her from the background just a bit. But part of me likes how she kind of fades into it. I would like to see this in B&W. But really- great photo as it is!

I like it a lot. Lake of backlighting keeps the focus on her face, there is enough separation of her hair from the BG.

I also like it a lot. Just getting into finer points, I'm undecided on her eyes. They could be closed, or open just a bit more, or looking into the camera. I get the contemplative look and not looking into the camera, and I'm fine with that. I'm kinda leaning towards wishing her eyes were open just a bit more. However, that's not something fixed in post!

Still, even with no changes, I like it.

Thanks for your comments! Some back lighting might have been interesting. Here is a quick B&W version. I think I prefer this version over the original. Good call!

Glad you like it! I agree, while backlighting might worked as well, I like how it works without.

I'm still undecided about her eyes. Part of me wishes she was looking at or past the camera but at the same time, I like the emotion you get with how she is looking down. I actually think I captured the shot just before she looked up. One thing that bugs me about that shot is all the stray hair on the left side of her head towards her shoulder. Ive tried varies ways to remove it but it always ends up looking more muddy than the way it is. Anyone have any suggestions on how to make it less noticeable while not giving it an over processed look?

At most a touch of hair light, but I tend to like it as is. It's a beautiful portrait.

Some things bother photographer more than others or even the subject themselves... The stray hair doesn't bug me at all.

I really like the color version more than the B&W. Both are nice. But the color red conveys emotion or passion and with her lips and the red hint (or maroon) of her shoulder to tie it together... I like it.

In the b/w i like how the depth of the lip shade blends in with the dark shadow on the face. In the color i love the lips. I would have adjusted the lightness of the tatoo to show more of the tourquoise color there to insert it more into the líp/eyes interplay. The vignetted halo around the hair is very classy to me, also.

The color version is far nicer than the b&w.

I don't like how her eyes seem focused out of frame to camera right incompatible with her body language. It's a stress element in a relaxed disguise.

Gungnir wrote in post #18245391
I don't like how her eyes seem focused out of frame to camera right incompatible with her body language. It's a stress element in a relaxed disguise.

Very interesting observation.
I still very much like the image, either B&W or color.
The comment about the lips in the B&W was spot on also.

Maybe ease up on the burning of the background too. There is a halo around the subject that looks unnatural. And straighten up the eye-liner in post a bit.

Oreol which left after bkg darkening reminds me some glory portraits of LF era.