Geoff, sorry to disappoint, but I'll take the compliment being confused with King. Thank you. This image is of Tracy Martin, better known here as mtmartini. Thanks again.

So this is what you do while I am stuck at O'Hare on the way to see you, pay-back sucks my friend. ;-)))

Payback? You mean for posting a shot of you that is both attractive and reveals a bit about you? Women! Who can figure them out! ;-)

Just wonderful!!!!

Admiration on the photographers part,
seems to come through here Mark.
Absolutely beautiful and gentle.

Thank Carl. We were at San Gregorio Beach just south of Half Moon Bay. She was sitting enjoying the ocean and my hand was on her head trying to keep the hair off her face. Of course my camera was in the other... :-)

Mark was it night time or did you work that black in?

No it was not night. The shot was very close, so my clothing kept the area around her face very dark, as she was leaning up against me.

The more I see it the more I enjoy it. Beautiful shot, really beautiful.

This is quite elegant and soft in tone and emotion. This photograph illustrates the true artistic uniqueness of photography: catching the critical moment. This expression, the hair, the eyes, the smile can never be duplicated. Lovely.

eggplant - one of the reasons I enjoyed WS was for comments, those that are backed up by thought. I enjoy equally those that throw a stick in my spokes and in this case, ones that articulate your positive feeling about the image. We all learn with feedback and as we all know, once we come across someone who is able to tell us 'why' they do or don't like elements and the overall feel of an image, those folks are more valuable than a new lens. So as you can tell, I certainly appreciate your feedback, as it is very specific about the image. My personal feeling is that 'true' emotion cannot be staged or captured other than when it is occurring in the most sincere way. So I am very happy that you and others have noticed that her expression and the moment is genuine.

photografica - Thanks to you as well. I too find that some images get 'better' to my eye the more I look upon them. They are rare for me, so I am very appreciative that this shot is one where you feel more engaged as you look upon it.

Obviously I am completely biased here, as Tracy is someone so very close to my heart. So any objective view of my images of her are impossible.

beautiful

Mike, thank you. Beauty comes from within.

That's a nice photo of a nice face. I'm not crazy with the emerging quality of roughness where the hair covers the chin, and there is a strange area of harsh texture between the left cheek and the nose that I suppose has to do with the point of focus, which appears to be down around her lips.

Just nitpicking. First impression is very good.