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LauraCallsen β Lips closed in silence
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Published: 2012-11-05 14:39:05 +0000 UTC; Views: 3941; Favourites: 294; Downloads: 107
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words just don't come outRelated content
Comments: 33
I have always been a great believer in a portraits ability to work as well if not more successfully when the general rule of showing eyes and ensuring they are in focus is more or less thrown out the window. We rely so often on judging the emotion in someone's eyes that when we are forced to find those feelings through more subtle means it makes the whole thing significantly more poignant. This is where this photo succeeds so thoroughly, creating a piece full of feeling and meaning with the delicate balance of a hand and the minute positional changes lips make when feeling one way or another.
I think there will always be myriad ways to interpret the emotions in a shot like this, we all after all show emotions in different ways and unless the look is one of pantomime cliche the predictions will always be somewhat subjective. For me here I see restraint barely made, frustration in the solid poise of the lips and in the the loose curl of the hand a balance between saying more and staying silent, unsure of the best course of action. I guess what really matters though is that such a depth of emotion can be garnered and in making that connection with the viewer the shot once again succeeds admirably.
Such images do however need some detail to allow the eye to roam, again eyes are such a natural focal point that without them the eye needs something else to head towards. With just enough focus on the freckles this photo gains that and at the same time keeps your vision at the facial features where the story is being told.
Technically the shot is strong but offers my only areas for tweaks I think. The composition is fairly traditional, certainly nothing wronged such but I think it would benefit from a slightly bolder crop, letter boxing it slightly into a 16:9 type ratio. The vignette also leaves a slightly distracting darkness to the top right corner. The balance in the mono conversion is great though, not too contrasty and so holding onto a nice retro feel.
These are minor notes though on a thoroughly wonderful photograph, capturing a great amount of emotion in a subtle and moving way.
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Thank you very much for your critique. I apreciate it so much, that you took your time on this. You did a great job on this critique, I think it's very fair and constructive. Thanks a lot
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*itΒ kidnaps me
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what a beautiful image, everything about is just wonderful
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this photo is beautiful, there is so much emotion and i love the shallow depth of field!
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I love it, Well done.
Featured in my journal [link]
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I featured your beautiful picture in my latest journal entry, please feel free to check it out! [link]
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It's a very delicate and feminine potrait. I love it ! Bravo !
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Gorgeous! I love the mood. and I love that you chose to make it black and white.
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I really like it! so soft and i love the lighting and her gesture
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aww thank you so much
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I'm glad you like it 
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Hi, I have a question. Can I paint this photo? I really like it and I want to pain it digitally (I just get tablet and I want to try myself)
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Of course you can
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Yay! thank you so much
Of course! I will send you a message with link to it when it will be finished
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The closest to a critique I can give is just to say that I think you look better than the other models you often present here, you are so beautiful Laura!
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I think it's just easier for me to capture the emotions I want, when I take self-portraits. I don't have to explain what I want, which emotion I want to be revealed. And most models don't want dark pictures like this, but for now, that's what I want to do and what I need to do for myself
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the soft focus combined with the diffuse, shallow depth of field is amazing and it reminds me of the glamor and intrigue of hollywood cinema from the 40s - like those great love stories filled with passion and longing that were so delicately presented. this has the same candor in depicting the class, charm and elegance of women that those movies had. this is definitely an image of substance that stays with the viewer long after seeing it.
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japp das hat was
sowas wΓΌrde ich gerne mal mit rΓΆntgenfilm machen und dann mit schΓΆn viel kratzer das es superalt aussieht
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das hΓΆrt sich toll an 
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werf mal nen blick in meine galler , die letzten beiden fodos
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