[kadajawi]

@micromacro: On my monitor... er, TV, she looks a bit like a zombie in your version.


@Jonathan: I think it's an improvement, though not quite there yet. There is something just a bit off with that photo, and I can't figure out what.

[micromacro]

@micromacro: On my monitor... er, TV, she looks a bit like a zombie in your version.

Now it seems warmer.

[LensBeginner]

Now it seems warmer.

I'd respectfully suggest you buy a calibrator!

@OP I believe your crop nails it.
I also liked the first version, but I'd second the opinions of those who were saying that the subject was a little too centered.

[Canis]

I like your original. I think the skin tones and expression appear natural. The wall as a background is probably not optimal but only for the color. B&W might look nice, but you would lose the unique eye color. I am not a pro, but I think this shot is very good and I would be pleased with it.

So I would like to know what do you think of the photo and what could have been done better. Thank you

Less brick and more girlfriend. The brick in the foreground heavily distracts with its texture and color and consequently, its visual weight. Make It about her.

[LensBeginner]

Less brick and more girlfriend. The brick in the foreground heavily distracts with its texture and color and consequently, its visual weight. Make It about her.

...and less color, less WB issues!
Nice crop & conversion!

...and less color, less WB issues!

It goes a bit farther than that. Our eyes go to lightest portion of an image. The luminance value of yellow is close to white, so the brick takes our attention from the young lady. It's why warm colors appear to come forward and cool colors recede.

B&W does simplify and abstract the composition but it also allows a reduction of the yellow brick luminance or lightness via yellow filter, reducing its visual competition with the portrait. Here's an explanation Color Luminance: perceived brightness, luminance and contrast

[fuent104]

I would have asked if she could part her hair in the other direction, so it would not cast a shadow on her eye.

nice work, for sure!

[LensBeginner]

It goes a bit farther than that. Our eyes go to lightest portion of an image. The luminance value of yellow is close to white, so the brick takes our attention from the young lady. It's why warm colors appear to come forward and cool colors recede.

B&W does simplify and abstract the composition but it also allows a reduction of the yellow brick luminance or lightness via yellow filter, reducing its visual competition with the portrait. Here's an explanation Color Luminance: perceived brightness, luminance and contrast

I do like to have some amount of control in my B/W conversions, but I normally use the HSL panel instead of colored filters (even though you obviously used a digital filter, not a physical one)... tried them once or twice... didn't get hooked.

I do like to have some amount of control in my B/W conversions, but I normally use the HSL panel instead of colored filters (even though you obviously used a digital filter, not a physical one)... tried them once or twice... didn't get hooked.

HSL would be the way to go if I didn't use Nik Silver efex for B&W conversions.

[LensBeginner]

HSL would be the way to go if I didn't use Nik Silver efex for B&W conversions.

That's another (nice) way to do things... and another creative picture of a musician!

[Na Horuk]

Great portrait! Nice in-focus sharpness and OoF blur, pretty girl, interesting expression! I find the second version slightly better than the first. And I don't mind if the WB is a little warm/pink, as this is a portrait. Portraits are supposed to be warm, nobody wants to look at a blue (freezing!) or green (sick!) person. In this case, the colours emphasize her youth, so its not over the top. On another model, it might be too much, but I think it works fairly well in this case