Portrait in Portland Rose Garden

[Nieton21]

This is a shot that I took yesterday in the Portland Rose Garden. I have never been there and was amazed at how awesome a place it was. I don't really do a lot of portrait shots and was hoping on feedback about both the position of the subject and the scene. I did a some post production work in Photoshop, adding more blur to the upper section and also cloning out a sign at the top.

Settings:
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 43 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS2 Macintosh
Copyright: Nicholas Nieto
Exposure Program: Aperture priority

[xxpinballxx]

I understand the want to be farther away to include the pretty setting but I feel it takes away from the phot of the woman. Its almost as if ther eare two subjects one the background which is easier to see then the real subject the woman. Have you tried cropping and zooming in closer the have her be more of the focus? I gave it a shot but still not getting the effect I was talking about.
Its a nice photo but I think its a bit too far away and confusing maybe? Did you take multiple shots there of her?

[clockdoc]

Hi,
Your model appears to be a bit tense and a little to centrally positioned. The abundance of roses compete for attention as well. Perhaps a closer pose with her at the railing (bring her hands into the photo) with some out-of-focus roses in the background would work better. Looks like a great setting for some environmental portraiture. Thanks for sharing your work with us.

[Nieton21]

I made almost the same crop after reading your post but I didn't see the pic you did. I tried to get in a bit closer on her, I also slightly added a bit more blur in the top, also added a vignette and desaturated the green a little in attempt to draw the eye closer to the subject. Is this better. By the way I don't really have any other shots from this because my girlfriend was getting cold and really didn't want to stop for me to take the picture, thats why she seems a bit tense. I want to go back on a nicer day and try to get some more shots of this place.

[mdwsta4]

i like the 2nd edit by neiton 'best'. the first edit was horribly saturated. the original is way too centered. at minimum, the original should have a portion of the top and bottom cropped (up to the start of the stairs on the bottom, and just under that box/light on the top) which will also bring the subject closer to the viewer.
i agree the pose just doesn't look comfortable/natural. the angle of the subject's face also isn't very flattering. i would have suggested her leaning on the railing or maybe sitting on the stairs near the railing looking straight at the camera.
not sure how the finished product would look, but another idea would be to convert the picture to black and white, but leave the color of the roses.

i used to live out in portland and am pretty sure i knew where that was taken. i miss it out there; so scenic.

[Nieton21]

I liked your idea about making the flowers colored and everything else b/w what do you guys think of this?

[xxpinballxx]

I like that .....sometimes you get that Fake look like you put the flowers in afterwards bu it looks nice. Is it me or does her face look a bit rose colored too?