Happy portraits

Brrr! I get the shivers looking at this photo but also a feeling of utter delight. The man's expression - indeed his whole body - is tranquil and peaceful. He looks happy! And his friend in the back (not exactly dressed for the occasion either) looks on approvingly.

I love the warm tones of this photo and his face is perfectly exposed. The selective focus works perfectly to concentrate our attention on the man in the foreground but also to show us his total surroundings, including the vacation shacks in the back.

A visual and sensual delight!

So many happy portraits don't invite examination. We see a smiling person and that's all we need to know. With this image there are questions to ask. Is this a happy portrait? Their face is obscured by You really have to look close to see that the subject is indeed smiling. That's one of the things I like - and the smile is enigmatic.. Is it a smile of relief?

And where are we? A tennis court? There is definitely a feeling of conflict overcome.

I love the use of negative space and the bold colors.. The image is nicely sharp where it needs to be, it's very inviting to look at.

There is so much in this portrait - I feel the personality radiating off of these two girls (and their soccer ball), and of course the relationship between them is equally vivid.

Black and white was absolutely necessary! I think the exposure is good overall, though I would like her skin on the far left just a tad less bright, it is drawing my eye away from what's important.

A classic pose, but I keep coming back to it. I like photos that make me feel something physically and this one definitely does!

It's a good picture, but also a true portrait in that I feel like I know something about this guy. His expression and the calmness of his pose are all speaking to me, as are his clothes (is that a Shark's logo on his shirt?). A delightful take on the classic splashed-by-waves portrait.

This feels like a formal portrait session that has gone off the rails. I love that these two have shown up for their portrait in the tee shirts that they are wearing, and the man's expression is remarkable: happy and impish and concerned all at once. And of course she is experiencing a primal laugh. What was the joke, I wonder? I bet he knows some excellent jokes, and he knows just how to get her laughing.

Black and white is PERFECT for this photograph, it really helps us focus our attention on the subjects and their experience. The exposure looks perfect, with all plenty of detail in his shirt. I like the lighting from the side - not quite Rembrandt lighting, but it has a very nice natural feel. It's fine that she is a little blurry, it adds to the sense of motion and hilarity.

Are y'all going out for a beer after the shoot? Can I come along?

Not only is the cute-o-meter bending around the pin with this shot, there are many other wonderful things going on . The shallow depth of focus is REALLY adding to the effectiveness, especially with the foreground out of focus. The color palate is so pleasing, with the blanket harmonizing with the grass as well as baby and bunny.

And that blissful, buddha-like smile? Oh that we might all in that way some day smile, and be smiled upon.

This image is a delight in so many ways. I feel it's more than a captured moment, it is a true portrait of the young woman. Her smile is so revealing and personal, and of course we really get a feel for the bar where she works.

The visuals are really working, from the shiny glasses that frame the top of the image, to the quiet shadows of the bar on the lower right. We can see the writing and bottles in the background, but not with so much detail as to be distracting.