Thank you for such kind words, Fred:)
We had a very productive session with this model, I come back to it from time to time, and this image is one of my personal favorites.
She was just getting dressed and was about to leave, but I asked her to pause it for a minute:)
That magic moment. Hold it just like that and look at the camera.
Processing it in what looks like the most natural of ways is really where the magic is.
It's about the photo veritas effect. While there is a lot of work with what is called working a file deep
that looks great it is most of the time a step away from photography and much of the time very artificial.
I think that beauty in it's simplest form is harder to do well and when it is achieved it is breath taking.
That does not mean that there is not extensive post work, it is just masterfully kept under control.
It is very easy with today's software tools to create high contrast over sharpened retouched skin
or desaturated alabaster skin.
I think the same can be said for models poses and attitude. A quite and serene look or a delicate smile
is harder to pull off than fashion attitudes.
It's like the magic of a Vemeer compared to an air brushed glamour illustration.