Steve McCurry is my all time favourite photographer and this is my version of one of his portraits. Of course it looks nothing like his stuff, I could never dream to be as good as he is!
I took this photo with Pia, the same girl I used for the "Dreams and Nightmares" challenge. She has the most amazing eyes I have ever seen, and the main visual point in portrait photography is always the eyes.
I have to thank Anastasia again for the lighting set up, she really has lighting down to a "Tee" now, without her I would never have gotten the effect I wanted. I did a lot of work in Photoshop on this photo, but I made no selections, everything I did was to the whole image completely, except for some dodging and burning.
What else? I used a Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens @ f/5.6. The smaller aperture was because anything larger kind of left one of the eyes a little unsharp for some reason.
Oh, the title is Turkish for "portrait". I couldn't think of a better title :)
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 135 Avg (all users): 8.0134 Avg (commenters): 8.8209 Avg (participants): 7.6634 Avg (non-participants): 8.3008 Views since voting: 37277 Votes: 224 Comments: 152 Favorites: 141 (view)
Looking at this again after one and a half years, I now find that I don't like this as much as I did when I submitted it. For one thing the light is too flat and the crop could also have been a lot better. I much prefer this version
The one you submitted is better. Just look at the eyes. The ayes have it. Everyone in agreement say aye. Also the submitted pic has less visible facial blemishes on the left side (her right).
I love this image, as she almost look so real......
I am adding this to my favorites. Yes, I also love the other similar image as well, but this one stays in my mind more.....
"WOW" just look how many "10's" you received.....
Looking at this again after one and a half years, I now find that I don't like this as much as I did when I submitted it. For one thing the light is too flat and the crop could also have been a lot better. I much prefer this version
wow, those eyes! The lighting is excellent, hher skin tone compliments her headscarf, and the rich colours are vivid. I think the eyes top of this picture. They animate the ir around them and seem to make hehr headscarf seem alive in colour. Beautiful!!
hi,I've just seen this beautiful photo..(the title means 'portrait artist' or 'portrait painter' in turkish actually )the image, however, speaks for itself. It is absolutely stunning, very powerful.if you ever put this on print on this site or elsewhere I would be interested in having it.
This shot is amazing! I was and still in shock that it was such a great shot and if I was on this sight when you were in that perticular challenge I would have voted it a 10 as did 54 other people. Congradulations on winning the blue ribbon!
HEY WAÝT A MÝNUTE.. TÝTLE'S NAME ÝS TURKÝSH... WHO TOOK THAT PHOTOGRAPH? UM TURKSÝH GUY AND Ý WANT TO LEARN ÝS KÝWÝNNES ÝS TURKÝSH?? AND ÝTS A GREAT SHOT.. Ý SHOULD SAY THAT..
HEY WAÝT A MÝNUTE.. TÝTLE'S NAME ÝS TURKÝSH... WHO TOOK THAT PHOTOGRAPH? UM TURKSÝH GUY AND Ý WANT TO LEARN ÝS KÝWÝNNES ÝS TURKÝSH?? AND ÝTS A GREAT SHOT.. Ý SHOULD SAY THAT..
You know the more I see this picture, the more it grows on me. I liked it well enough to begin with but there's a real calming atmosphere to it that just gets to me.
Wow Gary. I don't think I have ever seen so many comments or such a high score!! I checked out the portrait images and that one definitley sticks out!!. Well done, and well deserved.
Can you give some more information on the lighting used and setup?
Excellent shot Kiwi, and a very well deserved win indeed! You have the most beautiful models, always professionally posed (I assume a combination of them and you pair) and yes, Nasti really has lighting down to an art!
Bravo Gary!
Another great picture... It´s fantastic that you came back, but since you´re here again, people know that one ribbon is for you... Now, it´s more difficult get a ribbon... Congrats for your work! You´re my idol!!!!!!!! No doubt, you´re the best!
Congratulations kiwi, a highly impressive and technically perfect portrait! Wow, a score above 8 - you are going to wake up my ambition :-).
Apart from her eyes, did you use any kind of make-up here? Her skin looks so clear and perfect...
Woohoooo! My highest score eva, kewl..... Thanx for all your comments and votes. I am very happy about this photo, it is one of my best photos so far and it turned out exactly the way I wanted it. One thing I learnt in this challenge was how subjective portrait photography can be. So many contradicting comments this time, wow! I tried so much on this photo, different crops etc, but this is the way I liked it best of all. The catch lights in her eyes are that big on purpose, exactly how I wanted it. I used a larger soft box to give the impression that it is a reflection of a window, and to lose the feeling of this being a studio shot. Thanx again, it's good to be back :)
This is extreme... reminiscent of the national geographic portrait but in a studio environment. Great color and composition... the catch light in the eyes is perfect. Kudos on a great shot.. = 10
Gorgeous portrait and a melancholical subject (or moment).
The tight crop emphasises the eyes, which is, IMO, not a bad choice considering the tender age of the model. The exposure, minimally bright on the face, is apparently trained on the scarf, which invites a considerable aesthetic element into the picture, which makes for a truly satisfying, albeit dominantly visual experience. The fixation and mystery of the eyes are thus given an aptly rich and intricate setting.
I only see two very slight flaws in this excellent portrait. First is the second catchlight in your subject's right eye and second is that the tip of her nose is slightly out of focus. Her eyes are captivating; you've done a marvelous job of lighting. 10.
Fabulous. Looks like natural sunlight too (windows reflected in her eyes). :)
Since this was a n open challenge I might have used Photoshop to soften those reflections, but that's just me. beautiful photo. Nice rich colours and natural skin tones. The crop shows just enough material to balance her face. Very well done.
Pedro
I have an oriental feeling looking at the photo, just like an English girl who lives in India, or something like this. I like the little bit scared-surprised expression on her face a much, her eyes are beautiful sharp and and talking. I also like the vivid colours and texture of the scarf(?) against the greyish background and the crop is excellent for these expression. (10)
Only small improvement I can think of is taking the scarf a bit higher above the left eye so it does not cast a shadow there. A great, colorful, up close and personal portrait.
Her look could pierce through steel. This reminds me of the world known photo on the cover of National Geographic of the Afghan woman. Your photo is so very beautiful. IMHO the best shot of this challenge! The head cloth ads a good touch the the whole photo. Her eyes are truly captivating. My only suggestion would be to improve her skin tone through colour balancing, her cheeks look a bit yellowish. But photo worth looking at for sure.
Absolutely fantastic. The lighting is superb, the crop outstanding, and the subject herself is beautiful. The draping of the fabric is just the icing on this very rich cake. Absolutely outstanding.
My second favorite. The fabric color and eyes are very striking. The only thing I can suggest is a slightly more diffuse light more to the side (the right side of the face is a little hot), and focus looks a bit soft on the fabric above her eyes. Still, this is definitely ribbon-worthy. 9
This is good all around, depth, expression, exposure fall off could be be just ever so much deeper and I mean very slightly. Good color and texutre, DOF is spot on. its at the top of my voting...
Beautiful brown eyes. Love the use of the head scarf to highlite her face. My only comment is I wish the scarf was lifted just alittle higher above the brows. . . especially on the right. But then again, maybe these are traditionally worn this way and I way off! BOL
Beautiful model and very captivating image she has lovely eyes and I love the colours as I looked through all the thumbnails this image stood out the best I think this could be a winner Great detail and focus and nice lighting.
My favorite of the challenge Good luck
This is my favorite shot of the challenge. Absolutely beautiful, love the lighting, expression, everything. Her eyes are amazing. Great work. Just for fun I tried applying a touch of soft focus (3.px gaussian blur faded to 33% with the eyes & lips masked to remain sharp) and I really liked the result...
Good luck!
Great capture. One of the best from the challenge. I like the composition and see very little technically that I would consider doing anything to change but the subject's left cheek (photo right) is slightly overexposed; not blown out. It might be worth it to select the area from under the eye across to the nose, down to the top of the lip and back up at a diagonal towards the outside edge of the eye and then apply a slightly darkening curve adjustment layer just to try and even out the skin tone. I don't like the crop with so much cloth at the top as the cloth almost becomes a competitor with the subject's face and eyes for being the more prominent in the photo. Having said that, I like the shot and score it well above average. Good job just as it is.
A striking protrait with vivid colours and beautifully framed. Hits all the right buttons - the attention is drawn with no doubt at all to the person who appears to live in the photo. Well done. 10
This is very striking and reminds me of the kind of image I'd expect to see on a magazine cover. I'd like to crop even tighter at the right (to lose all that background on that side) and a touch more on top. I think it creates a stronger composition. This is just beautiful. If the light were a touch softer on her face I think it would be perfect.
WOW. The colors are so vibrant, and her eye are so powerful. This is truly phenomenial!!! Incredible. You will win a ribbon for this, hands down. Congrats! 10
Stunning! The colour of the headdress compliments the skin tones, the lighting is just right and the neutral background is perfect. The focus on the eyes is very compelling. This is a superb portrait.
portre ressami
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