Submitter's name:	Barry Bean
Title:	Natalie
Gear used:	Silver OM-4Ti + 100/2.8
Diaphragm:	f4 or 5.6
Shutter speed:	Not recorded, but somewhere around 1/250 or 1/500
Film used:	Tri-X
Technical information:	Developed in undiluted D-76,negative scanned on a Microtek 35t. Natural lighting.
Subject information:	Despite shooting sports and news, I've never really done any serious portrait work. I've tended to shoot people who were unaware of me, or at least weren't posed, unless it was a "look at me and smile" snapshot. So this project gave me incentive to think about the process. Fortunately, one of my wife's students (the lovely and talented Natalie) was kind enough to spend an hour and a half wandering around the farm with us and doing her best to look into the gusting winds with her eyes open. What a trooper! The project piqued my interest, and the negs made clear what worked (and what didn't), so we're already making plans to work with Natalie on a more ambitious project. A couple of alternate takes: 2, 3, 4, 5.
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Comment left by: Skip Williams (skipwilliams@pobox.com)

I like this shot. The under-the-tree lighting is nice, but I'd like to see her looking at the camera. I also like number 5. It's a much more avant-garde type of photo. The only complaint about the photo above. The grain. Was that intentioned? If not, you might want to consider using a 100-speed B&W next time. It'll give a lot smoother tonality to skin. Alternatively, you could do some blur work on the face in Photoshop to smooth out the grain.

Comment left by: Jodi Jakeway (jjakeway@iserv.net)

Love white shirt b&w photos! Very nicely done !

Comment left by: Bob Whitmire (rlw@moosemeadow.com)

Love the grain, and Natalie's expression. Don't like the sawed-off limb pointing at her right eye. My favorite, however, is Take 3. That one's a real winner, even if her eyes are closed!

Comment left by: Barry H (bhinderks@sprint.ca)

Think you made the best possible choice with this shot. The others are nice - this is great!

Comment left by: C.H.Ling (chling@glink.net.hk)

Great capture! especially the expression of her eyes. I have different thought from Skip, sometimes it can be nice when the subject is not looking at you. It looks a little bit cool and a bit "far" away from you but it let the viewer have more "room" to think about the photo or think about what the subject is thinking. But I agree with Skip, it looks a bit grainly for girl portraits.

Comment left by: Dave Bulger (david_bulger@austintx.net)

I like this shot. Composition, exposure, tonality all work to make an excellent "capture" of the subject. The cut-off tree limb, while a bit aggressive, works with the out of focus branches in the upper right to bring the viewer's eye to directly to the subject. I also agree that this was the best of the 5 shots. Great work - thanks!

Comment left by: Olaf Greve (no e-mail specified)

Another one I had not yet commented on, and again it's a very good and professional picture. My comments are largely the same as for entry nr. 10 (the girl with the rose): in this picture, covering up the tree on the left also yields an entirely different (working equally well) picture. I'm not certain which of the two works better, the tree looks slightly distracting, but covering it up yields a more conventional picture... Anyway: I too think this is the best of the bunch; great choice and a great shot!

Comment left by: John Pendley (jpendley@mail.tds.net)

I love B&W photography. Number 4 captures her vitality, number 5 just *may* be my favorite--a very arresting and evocative composition, but this one captures her pensive mood and her true lovliness, despite the limb! I agree with your choice because of her face in this image, but if I had the good fortune to take these pictures, no. 5 would have given me a tough choice. (A philosophical sidebar: B&W is, by its nature, an abstraction from reality; thus, the expression in your chosen photo and the composition of no. 5 are both wonderful.)

Comment left by: John A. Lind (jlind@netusa1.net)

The thumbnail caught my attention with this one. Excellently diffused lighting from a very good angle. Introspective and very natural looking. Looked at the other four and like this one best as a more formal portrait . . . the others work very well as candid portraits. She seems naturally photogenic. Wondering if this was later during the shoot. Most of the best portraitists devote time with each subject to get to know them and so everone will relax with the shoot. That's when some of the best and most natural looking shots can occur. Must have been fun doing these.

Comment left by: Chris Barker (imagopus@threeshoes.co.uk)

Nice lighting and a decent pose. The subject is ideal for portrait practice I should say... may I borrow her as I need some practice?

Comment left by: David Irisarri (div2000@terra.es)

Lovely portrait!!! many elements that give this picture a deep message. Her distant look makes this photo a superb snap, the wind moving her hair gives freedom, her high white collar gives style and something raw; nothing is prepared. Of course, beautiful girl and the best for me are her lips. ;-) Zuiko 100/2,8 Sharpness is good but content is everything.

Comment left by: Hans van Veluwen (hcvanveluwen@chello.nl)

Too much grain for a girl portrait? Did you ever see one of those Hamilton shots? You're lucky if you can find the girl _in between_ the grain! ;) This entry is my favourite. A slight improvement in the composition might be IMHO if the girl were more to the right, leaving more room between her and the tree. I truly like the way she's _not_ looking into the camera; makes you wonder where's (whom's?) she's looking too.

Comment left by: Barry Bean (bbbean@beancotton.com)

Thank you all for your comments and criticisms. This sort of feedback is one of the best tools available for learning and improving, and I appreciate your input.

Comment left by: Charles Sdunek (csdunek@ismi.net)

I love the slight graininess in this image, along with the tones. It is a photograph that I find myself returning to again and again to try to decide what it is that draws me. Very nice work. I dont particularily like the tree limb, but then again, if it were not there, something would definately be missing from the photo.

Comment left by: Kay (Campbell)Brandenburg (bburg@arkansas.net)

You're pictures are great! I saw the picture you had in the Missourian News...I use to go to school in Clarkton. I think you were in my 6th grade class. I think the teachers name was Mr. Renshaw (don't know if spelling is right) Enjoyed your pics...you have talent!!

Comment left by: Allan Wafkowski (allan@sohogurus.net)

This is an excellent portrait in conception and execution. I am also very fond of alternative #5.

Comment left by: John Duggan (john.duggan1@btinternet.com)

Love this shot! Out of focus background works well. Not so sure about the 2 small twigs on left or cut branch at eye level. Lovely smile, good detail in shirt.

Comment left by: Sameer Sultan (ssultan@yorku.ca)

Very nicely done! I really like how natural she looks..and the way you've drawn attention to her eyes...

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