Grandma's twilight.

[S_Sanyal]

Actually my grandmother's elder sister (she's 83) and very beautiful. This is a candid.



Nikon D90 with 18-200mmVRII lense and CPL filter
EXIF: Exposure 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 80 mm
ISO Speed 100

Can you tell me if the lighting, composition and mood created through the picture flatter this very expressive and beautiful woman's profile? Is the skin tone working as per lighting? This wasn't actually shot at dusk, but well, I gave myself some storyteller's license with the title

Also, manually focussed, with reasonably shallow DoF, I chose to keep the right side of her face (in frame) focussed rather than the more lit left side. How does that work here?

Any other feedback regarding this portrait is very welcome, as are edits and modifications.

Thanks in advance.

[Photologyst]

I think it’s a wonderful portrait. Good composition.

Are the skin tones correct, that warm?

You could try converting to sepia or B & W and see how that feels.

You have disabled downloading or I would try my hand at it.

[S_Sanyal]

Thanks photologyst, for your inputs. I have enabled downloading on the photo for the time being, so you are welcome to have a go! I also took your idea and updated the flickr one w a monochrome version. Somehow seems to work better...

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by S_Sanyal

Thanks photologyst, for your inputs. I have enabled downloading on the photo for the time being, so you are welcome to have a go! I also took your idea and updated the flickr one w a monochrome version. Somehow seems to work better...

Can you put the color photo back so that I can work with that, please?

[Eileen D]

Beautiful woman, beautiful photo. I can only see the black and white version but it's very effective. I love the way the light comes across her face, highlighting her eyes and her serene expression. I also appreciate that you didn't soften the wrinkles, as some do with photos of older people. I find them beautiful! Great job!

[S_Sanyal]

Thanks EileenD. She is beautiful and I felt the wrinkles add to her character, age and give the sense of wisdom et. Basically they were integral to her "portrait".

@Photologyst: Done the needful. Enjoy working on it

[Photologyst]

So, here are my versions of the portrait for your consideration, Saptarshi.








I cropped a bit, adjusted the original color photo in LR and Photoshop. Ultimately, brightness down, contrast up to add drama for the sepia and the drama-color photos.

[S_Sanyal]

Wow! Great work you really are a photologyst!

My vote's on the 2nd option (sepia), while the third is also very good and has a different feel, but somehow the sepia and the high contrast together converge to make one singular point about the person, IMO

Thanks so much..

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by S_Sanyal

Wow! Great work you really are a photologyst!

My vote's on the 2nd option (sepia), while the third is also very good and has a different feel, but somehow the sepia and the high contrast together converge to make one singular point about the person, IMO

Thanks so much..

Thanks very much.

So glad that you like them. I am particularly fond of sepia, instead of high contrast B & W.

Try them yourself. Surely they will be better if you process the RAW.

[S_Sanyal]

Will do. sire/ma'am?