Kathy painting

A second response to the challenge to 'people doing what they do'.
See: https://365project.org/discuss/themes-competitions/47826/52-week-challenge,-week-16-people-doing-what-they-do

My first picture of Kathy tried to include the picture she was painting but I didn't like the background. See:
https://365project.org/helenhall/365/2023-04-20


I then went on to try to take an image from the front. Because of the way Kathy wears her glasses when she paints, again I found it impossible to catch a view of her in which we could see her eyes. Next problem, her hand with the brush was rarely in view.

In the end, I combined two images to get this one. I can't say I am any happier with it than the other. The tones seem wrong - or it looks rather flat or something.

Can you see where the join is? I was so absorbed in making the blend work in one place that I seem to have left a glaring error in another.

It is good to have plenty of room for improvement, yes?

[Kathy A]

This is really good, I like it

[summerfield]

i don't see the join so i would say it's perfect! aces!

[Mary Siegle]

I can’t see a join. Well done!

[Phil Howcroft]

I think this has more authenticity and more storytelling than your first one Helen , maybe it's the viewpoint , maybe the mono . I do think this works better

[Phil Howcroft]

...actually having studied the phot and re-read your narrative , Kathy's painting hand id=s more in focus than the rest of the image , implying your focus was on the hand rather than face or you put the hand in as part of your blend / edit