As young as they get

Mark Ledingham

About a week ago, I got to take several portrait shots of one of the local ladies who has been doing a lot of voluntary work for the elderly. She's a pleasure to talk to and as young as they get - at 90 years young!

Wil Davis

1: She's not looking at the camera (bummer, looks more like a candid than a portrait!)

2: Shame that she's looking out of the frame

3: Shame also that it was shot landscape rather than portrait,

4: …and by the way, what's the out-of-focus flower-thingy??? Why is it in the picture?

5: …ditto the teacup

…apart from that, it's just about perfect (love the crisp focus of the knitted jersey!!!)

Great exposure also!

Thanks for sharing!

- Wil

Qarik

Wil Davis wrote:

1: She's not looking at the camera (bummer, looks more like a candid than a portrait!)

2: Shame that she's looking out of the frame

3: Shame also that it was shot landscape rather than portrait,

4: …and by the way, what's the out-of-focus flower-thingy??? Why is it in the picture?

5: …ditto the teacup

…apart from that, it's just about perfect (love the crisp focus of the knitted jersey!!!)

Great exposure also!

Thanks for sharing!

- Wil

I don't mind landscape, not looking at the camera and out of frame or the teacup! nice shot!

anonymouscuban

Qarik wrote:

I don't mind landscape, not looking at the camera and out of frame or the teacup! nice shot!

Ditto. I like the shot as is and none of this issues pointed out by Wil bother me. Actually, I find that I rarely agree with Wil's critiques but that is off topic.

justME

I love the composition, tones, and flattering light in your image.
I hope when I'm 90 someone like you shoots me and makes me look half as good!

AmyMathews

justME wrote:

I love the composition, tones, and flattering light in your image.
I hope when I'm 90 someone like you shoots me and makes me look half as good!

I agree! I think if you took out the flower and the tea cup, it would be incredibly boring. As it is, it creates interest and a story. I can imagine her sitting in a little cafe, drinking her tea, pondering the things of the past.

adbsgicom

I really like the lighting, but the flower seems too bright relative to the rest of the image.
Regarding the looking out of the frame, I don't see it as a plus here. If she were looking out and away from something, but this composition isn't doing for me. I realize that puts me in the minority opinion, so take it for what it's worth.

Mark Ledingham

Thank you everyone for all the great input. I didn't really expect so many differing views on this shot, but it's good to see that not all of you look at it in the same way! This probably should really be regarded as a candid rather than a portrait because it wasn't any formal setting - as a studio shot might have been. In fact, I was shooting with the camera as my colleague was interviewing her in a nursing home. This is also why you see the coffee cup and the flowers which were on the table in front of her (nothing posed or planned). I probably should have moved them - or included more of the table to add some depth to the image. Well, well... nobody does everything right!

And thank you, justME.

adbsgicom

I popped over to your site. You seem to get a lot right.... very nice images.