I like the image, and I really don't mind some 'unrealness' about it. But the fabric touching the ground might need some extra work: it looks a bit like it is hovering above the grass. A touch of darkenig would help.

Like the way you composed the image! There is a good lead - in and I like the way the coins are placed.
What needs a bit of more work is the colour of the table/underground/base. Was it really this kind of grey? Personally I would like to see a colour here that is fresher and brighter (yeah, I like white.... )
Any chance of editing in PS to get that colour better?
Try using Levels or curves but beware that you do not blow out the coin in the middle that catches the light.

Keep up the good work!
Jacqueline

I like it because you were able to give the castle the 'mood' of the old building with the HDR and dodging (and withouth going B&W or monotone). Never managed that myself .
The composition is not working so well though IMHO. Too bad that you could not get the lefthand side of the building in the frame. But I guess that it was filled with visitors?
But the treatment you have used here gives the right mood and atmosphere - great results of an image taken during the day!

Jacqueline

The pose is intense and beautiful, I also like the way the light falls. Think though that the light on the lady is a bit too much. Would prefer some softer light on her.
Sorry - my French is horrible....

Jacqueline

The lighting seems a bit too much - highlights are blown out on the right hand side of the face.
I also did a course on portrait photography and 'learned' that all I had to do to change this is to put the lights further away from the model....(and I was thinking that a lot of technical stuff was involved to get the lighting right: it al comes to just moving these lights!)

One teacher set up a mannequin bust (from a shop window) and let us take pictures while he moved the lights around. Back home I could compare the shots and see how much changes while only the lights were moved closer, away and the angle changed.

And start shooting in RAW! That will give you more room to play with the exposures after the model left.
Getting the skintone right is an art on its own, I guess. So that means going back to the trial and error method .

In your image, placing the butterfly a bit higher will solve the problem with the eyes. Move the lights a bit away to solve the blown out skin (check the Levels histogram after the first shots).

I think the eyes of the model are very well captured, with just enough light, very beautiful.

Hope this helps a bit...
Jacqueline

Like the effect! Would be tempted though to crop a bit from the top, since the picture is all about the man and the reflection in that great rectangle of light.


Jacqueline

Well, these vases certainly ask for some playing time with flash and composition.
In this comp I think I would like to see (even a tiny) border round the image. How do you feel about that?

Jacqueline

Hmmmm, pink.... And the other of Rannoch Moor pink as wel....
Are you finding the feminine side of yourself, Goggz?

Think there could be a problem just with processing the RAW files. In Capture One (I use the LE version), you can add magnenta or lessen it with a slider which is found in the White Balance tab. Maybe it is a setting like this which is turned on?

The pic is pretty light on my monitor here - yeah, I am exploring my 'darker' side... A tiny bit darker and the pink will be just a part of the overall image and add a sense of mystery.

Jacqueline

Beautiful, bright big blue eyes....

You also might want to try out several other gradients which might fit the colour of her cardigan as well!

Jacqueline