Reply #1 - November 14, 2008, 12:08:13 AM
Well, I don't shoot "normal" portraits much either. So I am not sure how much help I will be, but I'll give you my opinion because it's all I have
Her expression is fantastic. It appears to be great timing because she isn't laughing in an unflattering way, nor is her smile fading. It's caught right at that beautiful moment in between.
However, I think your position is a tad too high, I think cropping a smidge off the top actually would help the composition, making her fill more of the frame and making there be less space which will minimize the too high angle, even though it's a minor thing to fix it will help.
I don't understand why her arms are positioned the way they are, giving her a hunched over appearance (accentuated by the high angle). Although, given that her expression was so great perhaps it was better to shoot right at that moment rather than to refine each thing. However, if it was fixable I would have fixed it.
Lighting - I don't really want to touch it because honestly it's not my favorite but I can't figure out why it looks the way it does. I wish it was softer. Also, what is your ISO? There is no exif data. There appears to be some noise/grain either from high ISO or from an underexposed image being lightened. I can't tell and I know it's a small image so I could be mistaken.
Anyway, there is my novel-length opinion. Take it for what it's worth from a non-portraitist.
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