Portraits - soft vs sharp

[Ginger Pixie]

Two very different portraits, I just wondered which I should enter for the Assignment, so would appreciate your thoughts on which works better, the soft or the sharp?

Thanks

Sharp

Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: On, Fired

Soft

Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/16.0
Focal Length: 180 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[Wooglah]

I would say the first one.

[Ginger Pixie]

Cheers. So, that's 1-0

[Sime]

First one...

Hand leads me to his face, nice and sharp, enjoying the space. The second one is a little too soft for my liking, though I see where you were going.

so, that's 2-0

[Ginger Pixie]

Originally Posted by Sime™

First one...

Hand leads me to his face, nice and sharp, enjoying the space. The second one is a little too soft for my liking, though I see where you were going.

so, that's 2-0

Thanks Sime, appreciating you taking the time to comment.

2-0...

[Ginger Pixie]

No, I appreciate your thoughts, and see what you mean.

Thank you.

3-0

[bobby62914]

4-0. Both photos do what you want them to. The first one feels more professional, to me anyway...

[WooD]

Make that 5-0

I like the first one best too.

[Ginger Pixie]

Originally Posted by bobby62914

4-0. Both photos do what you want them to. The first one feels more professional, to me anyway...

Originally Posted by WooD

Make that 5-0

I like the first one best too.

5-0. I guess that decides that then!

Cheers

[B..]

First one.

The second one is also soft around the eyes. If the second was telling a story that needed such softness, that could work, except I don't see any such story with the second one. When I see soft portraits that I like, generally the eyes are still in sharp focus.