Just a grab shot really he was sat next to an open patio door in the lounge no flash or reflectors just as shot.
Comments critiques welcome.
Wonderful grab shot, great timing, overall beautiful color, and his expression is priceless.
I like it a lot because of his inquisitive look, although (and here comes the cheap critique) there are a few points that could be better if the opportunity would present itself again (which would unlikely offer the same 'look').
Things that could be improved (if it were a professional portrait, which it isn't, it's a great grab shot) are:
- skin color of the neck/collar-bone area looks too 'pale'/desaturated.
- it's generally a bad idea to have the main light on the cheek facing the camera, it can look like the subject has the mumps.
- A pitty that only one ear is visible with a shot that's almost 'en face'. It draws too much attention on the visible ear, also because of the light.
There are some things you could try, like a bit of selective/gradual darkening (starting from the cheek) of the ear and background, and perhaps slightly desaturating that area, and maybe adding a bit of blur. I didn't try it myself, but that's what I would try to see if it helps to de-emphasize the shortcomings. I might even try and add a hint of the other ear (mirrored, darker, and blurred), just a rim.
Just think of these comments as something my old teachers would have told me in portrait training class, suggestions to get better when you
do have time and control. It's still a very intriguing shot.
Bart
