BW Portrait of Ruth

[GoldenBokeh]

what do you say?
feel free to comment... i need critics to improve.

 

[manaheim]

If the eyes are the window to the soul, then this soul is not visible.

Lighting is kinda flat.

Hair is odd.

Like a mugshot of a dead person, really.

I guess I might ask... why?

 

[paigew]

gotta agree with manaheim on this one

 

[cgipson1]

DOF is really shallow, and the whole shot looks soft. Did you soften it in post? I agree with Manaheim, it would be much more interesting with her eyes open. Lighting is very flat... framing is very tight. What were after on this shot?

 

[amolitor]

Eyes closed makes her look vulnerable, and the soft light and the softness overall work with that. I think this is a good idea. I like the sense of vulnerability and sweetness combined with the slightly firm set of her mouth, corners turned slightly down. One gets a sense of something going on here, a sense that she's making herself vulnerable, and yet holding herself back a bit, or a little reluctant. Perhaps she is considering how wise this choice was.

These are fine themes to explore. You could try a little higher key look, more light, more softness, and see if she can push that ambiguous vulnerable/reluctant expression a bit more. If you want to go a little more radical and edgy, add in a tear, or some smeared makeup. Ok, my preferences are showing a bit much here, so I will stop

The other poster's are correct in that you are not following standard rules for portraits, but obviously you're not trying to MAKE a standard portrait, so whatever.

 

[jake337]

Eyes closed makes her look vulnerable, and the soft light and the softness overall work with that. I think this is a good idea. I like the sense of vulnerability and sweetness combined with the slightly firm set of her mouth, corners turned slightly down. One gets a sense of something going on here, a sense that she's making herself vulnerable, and yet holding herself back a bit, or a little reluctant. Perhaps she is considering how wise this choice was.

These are fine themes to explore. You could try a little higher key look, more light, more softness, and see if she can push that ambiguous vulnerable/reluctant expression a bit more. If you want to go a little more radical and edgy, add in a tear, or some smeared makeup. Ok, my preferences are showing a bit much here, so I will stop

The other poster's are correct in that you are not following standard rules for portraits, but obviously you're not trying to MAKE a standard portrait, so whatever.

I agree but would also say a portrait like this would work better within a set of similar themed images showing different emotions.

 

[SCraig]

If the eyes are the window to the soul, then this soul is not visible.

Lighting is kinda flat.

Hair is odd.

Like a mugshot of a dead person, really.

I guess I might ask... why?

Same here. Plus add some distracting shadows in the background. If it's supposed to be a portrait it doesn't do much for me.