Formal Portrait

[Nancy Bell]

Once I was done with this it reminded me of someone sitting for a formal portrait ! 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.

[Dennis Bishop]

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.

[Cheryl Slechta]

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.

[Hazel Grant]

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

[Nancy Bell]

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

[Diane Miller]

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.

[Dennis Bishop]

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

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.

[Anita Bower]

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

[Jackie Schuknecht]

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.

[Judy Howle]

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

[Nancy Bell]

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