Hi Chris, I did not mean to indicate it was awful, However, I always try (not always successfully) to render a face in as positive a manner as possible. That is one reason I thought that Achal made and submitted a far superior image this week than last. I actually carry a diffuser panel everywhere I go just to shoot people. They work great and drastically reduce the specular highlights we talked about before. There are several brands that make a popup type that takes very little space to carry. It is a matter of personal opinion, but to me portrait takes some planning, even informal ones. Some like the realism of the "moment" and others plan the .00000999 of each image. To me using a small reflector or diffuser can take an basic snapshot and elevate it to a more pleasing image for both the photographer and the subject. Again this is not meant as a slam, but just how I would approach the image. Take care, Les Baldwin
