This is a candid photo. The minute I saw her, I thought she looked like a woman from the 1940's. I love her style. I hope I was able to process it in a way that enhanced that "other era" look.
I converted it to Black and White, then I ran a draganizer action over it, and of course sharpened it to bring out the texture in her face.
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Wow! THANK YOU GUYS!! I am blown away by the response to my "1940's" lady. I was disappointed in the low placing too, but when people whose talent and work I look up to so much like it -- it really reeeeeally makes up for it.
THANK YOU!!!!!!
Statistics
Place: 76 out of 501 Avg (all users): 6.2323 Avg (commenters): 8.2105 Avg (participants): 6.2376 Avg (non-participants): 6.2222 Views since voting: 5693 Views during voting: 302 Votes: 155 Comments: 78 Favorites: 71 (view)
Great capture. This woman is strong and bold but you feel a sense of sadness from her. Love how she is not the typical beauty yet she is beautiful. Just love it.
I had stopped by your profile just to see who you were having "met" you in the 30 Day Where-you-Live thing. The thumbnail of this just grabbed me and looking at the full image......well, it's just spectacular. This is one of the finest portraits I have ever seen for it's tangible humanity. Very superb shot. At this point, I'm thinking the score is merely an indication of how many people lost out on a timeless, classic, incredible portrait and that is in no way a reflection on you, your skill, or the quality of this excellent portrait.
I think this is one of the most underrated photos on this site. I want to look again and again at her face. The strong features make this so interesting, and an unbelievable composition for a candid. Congrats on this outstanding photo!
Really works for me. Been by this photo several times and I wonder why it should be so striking, maybe it is more than just the essence of the 40's, or maybe the essence of the 40's was significant, the generation of woman who took on tough war time jobs and responsibilities, for whom there was no looking back... Maybe she should replace FDR on the American dime (whose profile was modeled by a female sculptor), and FDR replaced the Statue of Liberty, all a grand tradition. (That's my ten cents).
This is such a striking photo. I've read through the comments and have to agree that it was severely underrated. It has so much character and ambiance. WOW... Definitely one of the best I've seen on the site. Beautiful capture, editing, and presentation.
This should have done better... I guess it lack something for the voters... but IMO it is top 10 of this challenge... Free study challenges are very hard... this shot would have ribboned in any number of weekly challenges...
You did really well with this Sandy...quite underrated though. I saw an old lady with a thousand wrinkles on her face and a cigerette dangling our of her mouth at LA's Farmer's Market and I wanted to pay her for an image, but chickened out. She had bad make up and lots of character. Anyhow, great job here...
Sandy, WOW! I just got back from a trip - haven't been able to keep up with DPC much lately. I'm soooo glad I got to see this one of yours! It's really, really a crisp, beautiful, wonderful portrait. It's fun to see you go for a slightly different (harder, in some ways) look, too. Wonderful job!! Added to my favorites, of course :-)
Sandy, Sandy, Sandy!! This is just incredible! Such a classic in every sense. I hear smokey room slow sinatra songs when i look at this! (but i also saw this on the front page) Just wonderful, congratulations on an outstanding capture!!
Sandy, you showed me this photo and I was amazed. I think the only thing that held you back here was that it was in a challenge with so many entries that people just ran through them hitting 5...5...5...5 all along the way.
In a B&W study or even a portrait study, this would have ranked much higher. It is a fine shot that deserves to be brought to light elsewhere, in a place that it gets the recognition that it deserves. You can seriously use this for image #1 of that submission we were going to do this year - for the submissions next year. If this is the 1st one they see then there is no way they wouldn't look through the rest.
Sandy this deserved higher,But IMO your photography surpassed the voters, and they were left in the unknown realm of do I or don't I, for the challenge this is a strong finish.
As you know, this sort of portraiture really appeals to me. I just got done reading the thread about this photo in the forums, and I have to say that some people do not find any thing stirring about moody photography, which is probably why I have so much trouble finding work that pays. This portrait will not appeal to many types of people because it comes off as 'just a woman with a big nose'. To those sensitive to good portraiture, you see much more than that. To find a woman like this on the street or in a restaurant and capture her with this much character is nothing short of brilliant in my opinion. The fact that she is living with this nose, without having had it surgically altered by her age is a testimony to self acceptance, and she doesn't appear ashamed of it either. I think she is beautiful and I too, think it deserved a much higher score. Way to go Sandy.
This is an awesome capture Sandy. The feeling of this candid is amazing, and I am with everyone else, this should have scored much higher then it did...
Perfect capture of the model. As you say, she fits to the tee. The cloth pattern, cigarette, and general demeanor. Not often one gets to work with such overt character - like a time warp. The human form can be strangely expressive, sometimes.
An amazing image here, that will live on forever and ever, as time goes on.....
You should be so proud, not only of this image, but also for all the wonderful comments that you have received.
36 comments up to this point, and this will continue to grow continually, for that I am sure.
Yes, as someone said, something like Mervyn Peake would draw. It definitely has that old time - the 40s - feel to it, and perhaps that is what brought it down: old-fashionedness. Of course, the ring is very modern...
Sandy this stopped me dead. I can't remember the last time I was so jarred by a portrait. This truly is amongst the best ON SITE and one I would expect to see grace a very prominent page in any high end hardcover celebrating the best of the best. To finish anywhere but the top 10 for this challenge is confusing at best. Regardless... an amazing addition to your portfolio and one I'm sure will be recognized for what it is soon enough. WELL DONE!
A masterpiece that I could see on the cover of Life Magazine.
A truly exceptional photograph and a timeless classic.
I am very disappointed in this finishing so low, but hold your head high on this one Sandy - it's perfection.
This is a portrait that any of the greats...the notable oft admired portrait photographers of our day or any other day...would be supremely happy to show in their portfolios.
Nice shot, not sure exactly what draws me to this picture. I like the look in the eyes & the strength in the face & the fact that she's smoking a cigarette throws another little punch in there. Nice shot
This is one of the best portraits I have seen for a long time (and not only within the context of this site). The choices made here are as strong and profoundly artistic as the resulting image.
I also appreciate this entry for the unique aesthetics of the model and the way in which this image appears to be ordered and governed by reason and the senses, not only hers but also the photographer's (yes, despite the cigarette and, ironically in a small part, because of it).
The intelligence, spirit and presence created here are, however, somewhat diminished by a title which, IMO, cannot do justice.
(This is the only 10 I've given an image for at least a year or two).
Perfect title for a perfect picture! I just love the attitude of this lady. Her nose, expression, and cigarett, all add to that 40's feel. You are true master of protraits! This is very well done!!
I love this. Wouldn't have the same impact if she were looking at the camera. The shape of her face goes perfectly with her backswept hair. The tones are excellent. Great work! 9
I quite honestly cannot begin to express how much I LOVE! this shot.
It's just so brilliant. There's so much here to absorb. Her nose! My God, what a nose, lol. And that hair...it's deliciously old-fashioned. The structure of her face...I can't believe how flat her mouth and chin is, and the the rise in her nose, and the slop of her forehead. It's a face specifically designed for profil viewing. There's little details throughout her skin, but I particularly like the lines and textures in her neck.
Throw in the cigarette, and the retro feel of her blouse...I swear you shot this in 1947, or earlier. I may just have to request a validation, because I don't believe this woman actually exists :)
This is definately very dramatic portrait and so true to life type shot.
I can see this women, sitting in a quiet bar somewhere, or in her smoko/tea break at work.
It is a very powerful, emotive image, and one we should all respect, what not to do, if we can help it.
I congratulate you, and well done, on a great, dramatic, emotive portrait.....
She has the most noble profile. She seems like a strong confident woman. I feel as if she might be Russian or Easatern European. This evokes an era of days gone by. I really like that she's not just "a pretty face." Bravo.
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