A photo with mixed judgement which was not publishe, similar to an older result for the same topic when reaching final stage of decision. Given the mixed opinion reached, I would like to have some insight from Senior Critics on how I can do better. Thanks in advance

Hello, Fabrizio

Welcome to our forum. Thank you for uploading your image to help us bring it into attention during a second curation. Personally I think that the composition is quite fine. The light and shadow amount also strenghtens its good aspects. Yet as this image failed being published I have an advice for you to try. Why not send it in B&W. This way all the strong aspects will be revealed. Here is my try on converting it to B&W. I also cropped it a bit. Remeber that most strong images use B&W to stress the prior photographic aspects that count: One is to draw the eyes to the subject and the second is a composition with good light. Light is best presented through having good shadows in B&W. I wish you good light. Cicek...

Thank you very much Cicek for your help and nice suggestions.  Very much appreciated

best

Fabrizio

Hello Fabrizio

Thank you for sharing your sunny winter day portrait with us. It's not at all my genre, but you have already had an excellent suggestion from Cicek. I like the model's expression and the play of light and shadow, but I feel there are too many distractions, such as the plant, in the lower frame so I am posting a square crop where I also made the colours a little more mellow. I was also going to post a black-and-white version, but since Cicek has already done so there is no need for me to repeat the idea.

Good light, Elizabeth

Thank you very much Elizabeth for your version and suggestions. Much appreciated.

Best

Fabrizio