One of my first portraits from a while back

[Nickyj]

This was one of my first portraits taken when I first started to enjoy photography and its still my favourite for many different reasons, it was taken before I had mastered my DSLR ( I probably still am), I don't mind comments either


Untitled by Nichola Jane, on Flickr

 

[DrGed]

I really like low key shots...including this one. For me, they always seem to bring out an extra dimension to the subject that you don't get any other way.

 

[SarahLee]

Hi Nicky,

Mono really suits this one, and I do like the contrasty shadows. Far more interesting than straight, flat lighting.
I also find the way that he's staring off to the side intriguing - I really want to know what he's looking at. I'm not a huge fan of cheesy stare straight down the lens poses, so this appeals to me.

The one thing that's sitting a bit awkwardly with me though is the crop. I feel like I want it to be either wider to include his elbows and all of his head or a bit tighter at the bottom so that it looks like more of a deliberate choice to crop those bits off. At the moment it's kind of sat in the middle between the two, if you know what I mean.

I'd be really interested to know why it's your favourite shot.

 

[Nickyj]

Thank you Ged, Sarah I get everything you are saying I wish I could turn back time and add in what he was leaning on - also there is a little bit at the top of his head that I can see now its been pointed out to me, I love the way his eyes shifted and I too do not like full eyes on the camera very posed shots I love portraits that do not look like they are just posing and a little more natural - I hope I have improved on my crops and also framing since then. I had this one framed for his parents and its my favourite because he is a special little boy who lost his Daddy not long after this - so it reminds me of how baby and innocent he was, also now he is a gangly 8 year old who won't stay still long enough for me to capture him again