Next Up . . .

[Kimberly Dow]

I agree with Mike - I would keep trying and not paint either of these. Lucky you, having all these models!

[Patricia Joyce]

So this explains why so many of your beauties are leaning against a tree! Your explanation was very good and I see exactly what you mean by looking at the arm. I am REALLY slow when it comes to understanding photography. And I even took classes. I was the silly student who kept pulling black photo paper out of those bins of mysterious fluids. The most expensive class I ever took and it did nothing to improve my abilities to photograph subjects! You cannot know how thrilled I was when I bought a digital camera

Back to the drawing board...

Kim, I could hire out my nieces and nephews and my sisters might relinquish a few to you REAL cheap!!!

[Mike McCarty]

I am REALLY slow when it comes to understanding photography.

I think it is useful to separate the subject of photography from that of creating a well lit scene. After all, if you were to paint from life you would be faced with the same circumstances of needing to light your subject. The only difference is that after you have created your set up you photograph instead of paint.

Photography is really pretty simple, creating scenes suitable for painting is where the real magic lies.

I wish more time were spent on the subject of design and composition, the lighting being a part of design.