Diana in a way she had never seen herself

Awesome! Happy New Year, Monty! Shawn

Phenomenal light.
- Thomas

Monty-

I think you have the start of a good idea here. Looking at her hair as the subject of the portrait is interesting. However, there is too much distracting background, and the printing execution leaves something to be desired - there's a big blown-out highlight blob in the middle of her hair. Think about posing and composition more the next time you shoot her.

I think perhaps you are giving us too much information Monty, the darker hair at the bottom is very interesting but the highlight at the top is so distracting. I think it is improved by leaving the viewer to decide for themselves how the reat of the back view looks.

Yep, after all how hard can it be to pose and compose a 20 x 24 camera with a 16 x 20 reducing back?

I'm with Dinesh, Monty. Like how easy is it to ask permission to photograph someone with a bank vault and then have them wait forever for you to get around to some exposures. How dare you!...and then not make them so friggin perfect that you dial up the Good Lord to make sure the light is just right on her hair. Your critics need to go rent a 20x24 and let's see what they produce. I need a Valium.

Tav

Tav-

just because a photograph was made with a 20x24 is no excuse for poor exposure control and/or printing. If you're in the mood to burn a $20 piece of film, take the time to set up your environment beforehand so you know how the light will fall, then compose, expose and process accordingly.

Scott's got it right IMO. The size of the equipment used cannot be given as an excuse for poor control in both exposure and printing. Making a light reading is the same with a 35mm camera or a 20 x 24.

I've looked at this again, and I guess I don't share your opinions. I don't dislike the lightness of the hair in that spot, I think it adds radiance to the image. The brilliance of light is what gets me hooked and just wants me to continue looking at it. That just means that I completely adore the subject matter and how it was communicated in this photograph. I see serenity and I see bright beautiful light.

I agree that the size of the camera equipment shouldn't matter. It's always the final results that matter.

- Thomas

First of all thank all of you for being honest and open in your critiques. This is exactly why I put it in the critique section. I have lots to learn, some in the areas ya'll mentioned and countless others. I'm still am not habitual with the camera yet. It is cumbersome and the only way to get around that is to shoot it, even in less than optimal situations when the opportunity arises. When it becomes second nature then some of the things I miss now might get caught. I realize that probably shouldn't be said by someone who owns a 20 x 24 Ebony but I've led with the heart more than the head on most things in my life--which leaves some holes!

I agree that the size of the print is no excuse for either poor exposure or poor printing which in this case there is a little of both. The negative has detail in the hot spot but it is by no means a perfect negative-- the light was changing fast and my model had to go!!

Scott as to the mood to burn a 20$ piece of film and controlling the environment that would be optimal. With my travel schedule (in excess of 24 days a month on the road) for work I would never shoot the damn thing if I had to wait until I had time to set up the environment beforehand and control it!! I wish it were different. Unfortunately I have to take my skills and my life and try to marry them in some coherent way while not ignoring my family. Damn kids needing to be fed-curses!!!!

I do believe it can be printed better in the ways suggested and when I get in off this next trip I will try to bring out some of the points made and repost.

Les,
thanks for the critique on less in more. I think there is much validity in that comment both in regards to this picture and my photography in general. I would like to learn how to lead the viewer to a point of thought instead of constantly having to tell them where everything should be. Well done.

Thanks all for taking the time to engage the picture and me,

Monty