Formal Portrait

Once I was done with this it reminded me of someone sitting for a formal portrait :S3:! Maybe she is the queen of the Bonnet Macaques! Got to love the "bonnet" hair-do!

Photographed in southern India last year. Used Topaz Impressions, oil glaze Blake Rudis and Simplify buz sim toned, and various PS adjustments.

I really like the combination of the blues and earthy tones, and those eyes are just amazing -- wonderful catch lights. You're right, she certainly looks regal. Nice job in taking the photo to soften the background. It complements the subject very well.

Hi, Nancy, what a lovely portrait. I can see a regal bearing about her and the image captures it completely. She seems very contemplative and very sure of herself.:S3:

Like the techniques you used to create a "painted" look. Glad you kept the clarity of the eyes.

Thanks all! Her eyes are the most important feature. Makes one think about how she looks at her world.

Wonderful!! The processing is perfect for the capture! Only nit is that once my eye found the dark rectangle in the LL edge I couldn't ignore it.

I wonder about darkening the belly -- the brightness there, and its lack of detail, compete with the face, which is so awesome.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Diane Miller

. . . I wonder about darkening the belly -- the brightness there, and its lack of detail, compete with the face, which is so awesome.

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I can see your point, Diane, but I think -- in this case, at least -- there's an advantage in having those two areas that draw the eye. Keeping the eye moving within the image is probably a good thing regardless of the content. In this case, it results in the eye taking in all of the body, and it's really all so good I feel it's beneficial.

That was my initial reaction, anyway. To test it out, I darkened the belly just to the point that it didn't draw my eye, and I didn't like it as well that way.

Outstanding work. Great eyes. Wonderful pose. Beautiful processing work.

I like the soft fur and BG contrasted with the sharp details in the face. Love the catchlights and the soft muted colours. I see Diane's point, but it is a minor fix if it bothers you. Lovely work.

A fabulous portrait Nancy! The eyes really make it, and the processing works nicely with more detail around the head.

Thank you everyone! I will experiment with her white belly.