Anna by the lake

[lateonomen]

Just finished working on a portrait from recent small photo-session
(I had to use strobe on the camera, so did not expect perfect lighting).
What do you guys think? I am split in my opinion of the result.


original here: http://photowaves.ca/p566364452/e38bcdefa

[MojoMojo]

I like the shot, looks very candid

[chopper]

maybe you should move this to the critique section to get some solid critique/feedback?

[lateonomen]

Yes, thank you. I've moved it.

[Moderator - I moved it for you ]

[Koala]

Nice clean image. Seems like she is balancing her entire weight on her hands, so kinda awkward to me. Maybe a closer crop would do the trick.

[chopper]

colors and feel are good. Blond hair works well with the black jacket.

Agree, pose looks a bit awkward in that weight seems too heavy on her elbow. And i wish there was more negative space in front of her to "look into". Crop might be a little tight in that regard.

[rhommel]

as far as color/exposure is concerned, i think you did well. As for the composition, I think this would have been better if you shot landscape to get more negative space where she's looking and it will also bring out more of that bokehlicious goodness you got going there

[jmphotography]

I agree with what's been said so far. If maintaining the portrait orientation, I might have swung around to face her more but kept her gaze off camera.

[jfotog]

I like the image but I think her face just isn't relaxed enough... that's the tough part of portraiture.

I would clone out the rust too, cause to my eye, it doesn't add to the image

[lateonomen]

Thanks for all your input, guys!

I was mostly concerned about a pose, it was rather unusual, but picture still had certain appeal for both of us, so Anna and I picked it as a first to post process (she also works on images).
Crop for face only is an option, but I wanted to have at least the main version with torso. After all, experimenting and thinking outside the box should be the norm
Both arms were meant to be included and naturally framing the image.
I do have another framing version, with the space in front, which can be turned into landscape. Will work on that.
I've learned not to clone out a rust, unless it must be sparkling clean glamour image Little things like that make the picture more alive.
Anna was not very relaxed because she was freezing, lol, but made every effort to appear on pictures like it does not bother her.