Portrait of a Prayer (New to photography and 1st portrait picture)

[edwinwidjaja007]

Hi All, I am new to photography and I this will be my first attempt at taking portraits. Please do provide me with constructive criticism regarding composition and lighting. Thank You.

The following are the details :
NIKON D40
F stop : 5
Shutter speed : 1/4 sec
ISO : 200
F length : 26 mm

[nvickers]

like the comp, would have used faster shutter, but nice image!

[LeeR]

This image has a great deal going for it; the composition is strong, contrast is even stronger and the pose is easily recognizable. But what this image lacks is subtlety. Its a bit too earnest; a bit over the top. My mother used to be fond of quoting Shakespeare, "Methinks she doth protest too much" meaning that sometimes in trying our best to be earnest we go too far and end up saying the opposite of what we intended. You are close to a really good image, just back off a couple of notches.