Coquettish...

[Bearface]

I've been archiving my stock projects for 2006 and in doing so have come across quite a number of images which I'd originally paid little attention to. This one of Corinne had been converted to JPEG and placed in a folder, but I'd never got around to processing it. I really admired the ease with which she portrayed various emotions and attitudes so naturally during the shoot, and this image captures those qualities, at least to me.

Anyway, I thought I'd post the shot here for comment and/or critique. It wasn't used commercially (although I can't think why I didn't put it forward), but I may use it for something this year.

Thanks

[Pol]

Re: Coquettish...

I'm not keen on the pose. She looks as though she's nursing a toothache with her right hand distorting her mouth as it is. I feel her right shoulder looks too tense and hunched too, further emphasising the tension of toothache.

If I scroll down, or block out the eyes and just look at the picture from the tip of the nose down I see nothing coquettish - just an unhappy face of someone in pain.

Shame though as the area of focus is superb imho. Gorgeous model, lovely eyes, hat, hair skin too.

Pol

[Bearface]

Re: Coquettish...

I'm not keen on the pose. She looks as though she's nursing a toothache with her right hand distorting her mouth as it is. I feel her right shoulder looks too tense and hunched too, further emphasising the tension of toothache.

If I scroll down, or block out the eyes and just look at the picture from the tip of the nose down I see nothing coquettish - just an unhappy face of someone in pain.

Shame though as the area of focus is superb imho. Gorgeous model, lovely eyes, hat, hair skin too.

Pol

Thanks Pol; that's good, honest feedback

I figured that the hand distorting the mouth might prove an issue for some people, but it was the whole image (the eye contact and the overall flirtatiousness) which appealed to me personally. Had I looked at the mouth and shoulder in isolation, I'd have probably reached the same conclusions as you did

This is why sharing our images is so important - people generally see things differently and it's that variety of (honest) opinions which makes us look more closely at certain techniques and even revise them if necessary.

Thanks again.

[Autumn]

Re: Coquettish...

Beautiful skin tones and exposure and sharpness of the face, but like Pol it doesn't really appeal to me. I don't think I would have thought about toothache, but really I have to agree with everything she says, on this occasion. Sorry Tim.

[Archangel]

Re: Coquettish...

I've been archiving my stock projects for 2006 and in doing so have come across quite a number of images which I'd originally paid little attention to. This one of Corinne had been converted to JPEG and placed in a folder, but I'd never got around to processing it. I really admired the ease with which she portrayed various emotions and attitudes so naturally during the shoot, and this image captures those qualities, at least to me.

Anyway, I thought I'd post the shot here for comment and/or critique. It wasn't used commercially (although I can't think why I didn't put it forward), but I may use it for something this year.

Thanks

Tim,

I don't mind the mouth really, for the simple reason that it could be (and it is) a natural human pose. Photography is mostly about capturing natural scenes and moments and not only about capturing pleasing to eyes images. The mouth personally does not remind toothache to me, simply because it is not a photo of an isolated mouth only.

Further to that, I disagree generally when viewing a photo, in isolating parts of the picture and try to imagine what feelings or views someone can get by isolating these parts of the photo. A photo is a photo and should be judged as a whole (in the way it is presented) in order to get the correct feeling(s) or trigger correct imagination issues.

What I mind are two other things though. The swallow DOF (apart from the background which should be blurry as it is, I see some blurriness on the person itself). Also maybe some local post-processing work can correct the intense highlights on the girl's nose and right chick.



Regards


George

[Pol]

Re: Coquettish...

Further to that, I disagree generally when viewing a photo, in isolating parts of the picture and try to imagine what feelings or views someone can get by isolating these parts of the photo. A photo is a photo and should be judged as a whole (in the way it is presented) in order to get the correct feeling(s) or trigger correct imagination issues.

George

I didn't isolate part of the picture. I did draw my conclusions from my overall impression of the model's overall expression and posture.

I merely expanded on my thoughts when I mentioned specific features.

Pol

[Archangel]

Re: Coquettish...

I didn't isolate part of the picture. I did draw my conclusions from my overall impression of the model's overall expression and posture.

I merely expanded on my thoughts when I mentioned specific features.

Pol

Hi Pol,

I just expressed my personal opinion based on the photo. It is nothing personal with you. I just referred to some issues/approaches mentioned in the post comments generally in order to justify my different way of thinking/approaching the photo.
Really, it is nothing personal with you or on the way you judge a photo.
Besides that there are exist different variations of judging a photo, all respected, but not necessarily adopted.


Regards

George

[Ian]

Re: Coquettish...

Beautiful skin tones and exposure and sharpness of the face, but like Pol it doesn't really appeal to me. I don't think I would have thought about toothache, but really I have to agree with everything she says, on this occasion. Sorry Tim.

Bear (haha!) in mind that we're splitting hairs at this level, but I see desaturated skin tones, so it's almost as if she looks off-colour?

Ian

[Bearface]

Re: Coquettish...

Tim,

I don't mind the mouth really, for the simple reason that it could be (and it is) a natural human pose. Photography is mostly about capturing natural scenes and moments and not only about capturing pleasing to eyes images. The mouth personally does not remind toothache to me, simply because it is not a photo of an isolated mouth only.

Further to that, I disagree generally when viewing a photo, in isolating parts of the picture and try to imagine what feelings or views someone can get by isolating these parts of the photo. A photo is a photo and should be judged as a whole (in the way it is presented) in order to get the correct feeling(s) or trigger correct imagination issues.

What I mind are two other things though. The swallow DOF (apart from the background which should be blurry as it is, I see some blurriness on the person itself). Also maybe some local post-processing work can correct the intense highlights on the girl's nose and right chick.



Regards


George

Thanks George.

I can see what Pol's getting at; I knew before posting that some people would be drawn to the mouth and the slightly twisted posture and that it might be a deal-breaker. I often go with my own instincts when it comes to my commercial work, but it's great to hear alternative views because it constantly reminds you of the wider audience this kind of thing needs to appeal to.

I think you're right about the highlights - it's something I probably exagerrated during post-processing. The DOF however doesn't particularly present an issue here, as her features (eyes, nose and mouth) are all in focus and there is plenty of detail in the hair and hat. A gentle softness to the outer edge of a person's face and hair is perfectly acceptable in portraiture (as is a very shallow DOF where only one feature remains in focus), but I realise this is your personal point of view and I appreciate the feedback anyway

[Bearface]

Re: Coquettish...

Bear (haha!) in mind that we're splitting hairs at this level, but I see desaturated skin tones, so it's almost as if she looks off-colour?

Ian

Yup, you're right. I bunged a cooling filter on it actually, as the warm version somehow didn't work for me

[Bearface]

Re: Coquettish...

Beautiful skin tones and exposure and sharpness of the face, but like Pol it doesn't really appeal to me. I don't think I would have thought about toothache, but really I have to agree with everything she says, on this occasion. Sorry Tim.

Hey, no need to apologise Audrey

I was talking to Steve on Messenger last night and I told him I was posting this simply because I liked it. As a shot, it's a fairly ordinary example of the genre and by no stretch of the imagination did I think it would be universally praised; far from it

I'm always grateful for your feedback, positive or otherwise

[Archangel]

Re: Coquettish...

Thanks George.

I can see what Pol's getting at; I knew before posting that some people would be drawn to the mouth and the slightly twisted posture and that it might be a deal-breaker. I often go with my own instincts when it comes to my commercial work, but it's great to hear alternative views because it constantly reminds you of the wider audience this kind of thing needs to appeal to.

I think you're right about the highlights - it's something I probably exagerrated during post-processing. The DOF however doesn't particularly present an issue here, as her features (eyes, nose and mouth) are all in focus and there is plenty of detail in the hair and hat. A gentle softness to the outer edge of a person's face and hair is perfectly acceptable in portraiture (as is a very shallow DOF where only one feature remains in focus), but I realise this is your personal point of view and I appreciate the feedback anyway

Tim,

Indeed everybody can have some specific preferences on specific type of photos.
From what I've seen in your portrait photos so far, except from the background you also like to blur the outer edge of the person's face/figure.
That is perfectly OK, but because my style is slightly different (I like total blur background and tack sharp the person's face/figure all around), I commented according to my style of preference.
Please don't misunderstand me as, both are photographic styles and both are perfectly OK as personal preference of each photographer



Regards

George

[Tinka]

Re: Coquettish...

Hi Bearface,
I always try to be honest if Post comments, when I am more experienced I may be in a position to offer technical critique, to be honest I think this image is very appealing. certain areas in isolation may not be perfect but the picture as a whole works and is very natural, I love her expression, which looks as though she is saying to herself, " what is he playing at ?" while you are playing around with the camera/set etc: A lovely subject with gorgeous eyes.

[ddigit]

Re: Coquettish...

Hi,
Have to admit that I am not much of a portrait photographer - not forthcoming enough. However, like everyone else in this world I see portraits everywhere in everyday life - magazines, tv, mirror (ugh). What I would like to say about this photo and the blue eyes one is that you are in complete control of the photo and also the final image. In this way you are stamping your unique style on the image (s) and they cause people like me to take notice because of the unique factor. Brilliant.
PS - only critism (?) remark - is the light in the models eye - is that you ??

Trevor