Raphaella - please comment

[Paul Jones]

I've just been reworking some images from my last shoot with Raphaella.
What do you think? Do these work for you? Do you like them, or not like them?
Feel free to make ANY comments you like - good or bad.
They were shot at ADAPS against the red paper roll. Two lights on Raph, one on the background.
Thanks

[Theo Dibbits]

Paul

I'll have go
First the negatives.
1) The colours in the web browser look washed out. When I pull the image up in photoshop it looks much more vibrant so I am using those for my comments.
I am not sure if the fact that the image is in Prophoto RGB has anything to do with it

2) I do not think you have done either image any favours by putting them side by side. When I split them and put them on a black background they really come alive.

Of the 2 I like the one on the right best (purely personal preference) and the only thing I would change is darken down the background under her arm at the right. It pulls the eye. The eyes are wonderful and should be the focal point. The colours all complement each other very, very nicely.

The pose of the one on the left feels a little awkward to me and I am not sure if the bit below the elbow or the bra is adding anything. The light on her ribcage, once noticed, starts to interfere. Maybe a square crop?

Finally, I wish I had taken either of them as they are excellent.

Theo

[Paul Jones]

1) The colours in the web browser look washed out. When I pull the image up in photoshop it looks much more vibrant so I am using those for my comments.
I am not sure if the fact that the image is in Prophoto RGB has anything to do with it

Thanks for your comments, Theo.
I'm a bit puzzled though as I've not done anything different to what I normally do. I shoot in sRGB, edit in sRGB and upload in sRGB.
In Internet Explorer and Google Chrome the colours look fine to me.
I'm at a loss ....

Of the 2 I like the one on the right best (purely personal preference) and the only thing I would change is darken down the background under her arm at the right. It pulls the eye. The eyes are wonderful and should be the focal point. The colours all complement each other very, very nicely.

Good point, noted.

Finally, I wish I had taken either of them as they are excellent.

You're too kind...
Thanks.

[John]

The colours look fine in my browser as well.

I think both facial poses are excellent and I would crop both images as bare-shoulders shots as I think the pink top does very little for the image. Black would be less intrusive if we must have a top. In the left image the top also forms a band that splits the images into two - the lower half having quite an obvious highlight on the skin that does distract my eye.

So in summary as bare-shoulder head and shoulder shots I would really think these are superb pictures. The variation in background tone is also a very good decision that helps focus on the model.

[Paul Jones]

The colours look fine in my browser as well.

Thanks John.
I've also checked in Firefox and the photos look OK to me.
(Theo - what browser are you using?)

I think both facial poses are excellent and I would crop both images as bare-shoulders shots as I think the pink top does very little for the image. Black would be less intrusive if we must have a top. In the left image the top also forms a band that splits the images into two - the lower half having quite an obvious highlight on the skin that does distract my eye.

Thanks John. Valid comments as always.
You've made me wonder now... I was thinking that the pink of her top, her pink lipstick, pink eyeshadow and the red background were all co-ordinating together.

So in summary as bare-shoulder head and shoulder shots I would really think these are superb pictures. The variation in background tone is also a very good decision that helps focus on the model.

Thanks!

[-KT]

I think she would have looked better naked =P

On a serious note, I think they are fab, I kinda love the arkwardness of the left one, nice to see pretty querky.

[Paul Jones]

I think she would have looked better naked =P

There are some nudes of her on my website.

On a serious note, I think they are fab, I kinda love the arkwardness of the left one, nice to see pretty querky.

Thanks!

[PhilipHowe]

Paul,

I like them both.

Left: I like the fact that you can just see a slither of her underwear, I think it would look more awkward if it was trying to impy she wasn't wearing any. I'm not took keen on the white flash on her left shoulder, although it may look false if it was removed.

Right: Lovely pose, tells you everything you need to know. I like here eyes to the right as they fit in with the makeup.

Overall, lovely model, love the colours, the makeup and lighting are just right for me. Like the spotlight behind her, I think something would be lost with a completely plain background. Maybe would have liked her head tilted up just ever so slightly.

[Paul Jones]

Thanks for your comments, Philip!