Shadows

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Does this make any sense?

[Mjollnir]

Does it have to?

Sort of has a 1940s glamor/Greta Garbo feel to it.

[Dahlmann]

I like it a lot.
Well done mr Slobodan.




/Dahlmann

[Chairman Bill]

Printed big, maybe on a canvas, hanging in a smart cafe or bar. Would look really good.

[popnfresh]

I like the shot and I think the grain structure enhances it. Well done.

[Chris Calohan]

Make sense? hmmmm I am not sure making sense has a lot to do with making fine photographs..and this is a fine photograph...so, I guess it makes sense, I guess.

[marvpelkey]

When I first viewed the image in its small size, I found it sort of so so, however when I enlarged it I found it really came alive. Like Chairman Bill, I think it would be terrific blown up large.

Marv

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Make sense? hmmmm I am not sure making sense has a lot to do with making fine photographs..and this is a fine photograph...so, I guess it makes sense, I guess.

+5.

[Josh-H]

I like the shot and I think the grain structure enhances it. Well done.

+1

[Dave (Isle of Skye)]

Ah the joys of the random grain effect in LR - I agree with Bill, this would look really good in a trendy cafe printed large. Excellent shot and the grain really adds to it!

Sort of reminds of a recent image of mine, similar kind of subject different species, although I can't work out if I like it or not..

Dave

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... I can't work out if I like it or not..

I do 

[RSL]

It's well done, Slobodan, and it follows a long line of similar work from people like Lucia Moholy, John Gutman, and others early last century.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Make sense? hmmmm I am not sure making sense has a lot to do with making fine photographs..

About "making sense."

A forum member posted recently this, in another thread, in response to a similar question (which version works better):

I am curious about your rationale for this "poll". Why are you doing this? Is this your vision or you plan to make your image based on popular opinion?...

Well, I did have a vision. But not all visions are crystal clear. Some are blurry, just a hint, an outline of an idea. We were sitting under a lamp and I noticed those interesting shadows, created by eyelashes. It caught my attention. I knew I needed to grab that shot, but was not exactly able to pre-visualize the final outcome. Blessed are those who can (pre-visualize, that is, like AA). My inspiration comes mostly in the post processing stage.

And there, in post, I kept reducing the image I was working on. Not just cropping, although I did that too, even tightly so, but reducing the size of the image, using LR's 1:4 view. Somehow, I thought it, just because the initial interest is a small area under the eyes, that the whole image has to be small. I felt unsatisfied with the outcome, yet kept sensing there is something in that image.

Not until Bill mentioned it would work big i realized it is indeed so. The complete opposite of what I was trying to do.

And that is the value of the critique forum.

[wolfnowl]

Well done.  Can't help but wonder what she's dreaming about.

Mike.

[kikashi]

When I first viewed the image in its small size, I found it sort of so so, however when I enlarged it I found it really came alive.

My thoughts exactly. The thumbnail doesn't come close to doing it justice. The grain is just right.

Jeremy

[Rob C]

Beautiful shot, Slobodan; you should think over what I said to you some weeks ago...

Rob C

[cmi]

I dont like the crop at the mouth, probably would go a bit higher. Same with the eye, a bit irritating to have it cut in such a way, almost like negating it. But aside from that I like it, the idea to go in that far, and also the general focus point where the attention is. Also the texture fits the image very well

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

I dont like the crop at the mouth, probably would go a bit higher. Same with the eye, a bit irritating to have it cut in such a way...

Aha! Thanks for the comment.

I was expecting much more comments about the (tight) crop, and that is the second part of the "does it make sense?" How much to include/exclude, that is. My dilemma was: by including more (of the face), am I diluting the focus on the eye(s). Shall i include the whole right eye (her) or just hint that shadows are the same as on the left. Ultimately, I settled to make the left eye (her) the focus of the whole image. I also placed it in the classic intersection of thirds.

More comments on cropping welcome.

[kikashi]

More comments on cropping welcome.

It's good. Leave it alone.

Jeremy

[Chris Calohan]

This is a story about what my best friend always called, "Bedroom Eyes." Any more image, any less image would tell a completely different story. The capture is perfect, the texture is perfect and the elicitation of the look is to die for...leave it alone!