It's been a month since anyone posted in here! Well . . . Critique this . . .

Ok, here is my critique:

First of all, I really like this image, and I bet the bride does too.  Her expression and pose are really fantastic.  I am glad you shared how you did it, I am always interested in how people do bridal portraits on the wedding day.

My nitpicks are mainly with editing.  I love Kubota, but sometimes his actions are a little heavy handed.  I think the Angel Glow is what is causing the issue, her dress and bouquet are blown past seeing the pretty details.  I might lighten up on that, even just in those areas.  I am only familiar with "Lord of the Rings 3" so I am not sure what exactly is different about the everyday version, but good job erasing back the parts that should be sharp, they don't look oversharp either.

In this situation I think the lighting on her left side (right side of the frame) is Gorgeous!!!  I think this should have been the main.  I might have blocked the light on the brighter side (her right, our left).  It's a bit too much I think.  If you had blocked that with the black side of the reflector but still picked up the light and bounced it like it is on her left it would have been perfect.  However, that would have required another set of hands and something to block the light, which I don't know if that was available.

Overall it's really lovely and elegant.  Good job.

Edited to add:  Mmm, looking at it again I think her eyes have been slightly over whitened - could be from the actions, but I might bring them back a touch.

Mike,

Thanks for the comments about Cindy.  She has actually been a part of the inspiration for some of the newer work that I am doing. 

I used to be pretty tame with with my post processing.  I was always trying to reproduce the same work that I had done on film.  I always liked those who took a harder edge.  I have loved Cindy's work since I first saw it and the super saturation that Rob Watcher has shown for years always made me say, "I wish I had the b@lls to do my work like that!"  But, I didn't start doing it to my own photographs until recently.  One of the reasons to post this stuff here is to take it over the line and come back.  This is the only way to tell where the line really is.

Thanks . . . Where is everybody else!

Ed

I'm not sure why she has her torso turned straight on toward the camera but it makes her look wide, and it appears she hunched her shoulders up (or she lifts weights) as her shoulders look huge.

I would crop out the arms and fingers at the bottom.  Love the expression and the lighting!!! 

Benji