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Question: Does this photo look classic enough!?
Okay so for this project I am doing I have to make a fairly modern picture of myself look classical or artsy!. Since I'm not at all artsy I tried to make it classical but I don't think it's there yet!. Any suggestions!? I don't have photoshop - I use Google Picasa and picnik!.com
I do plan to buy Photoshop when I have money but in the mean time any suggestions for this photo!?:

http://s294!.photobucket!.com/albums/mm100!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
It's too yellow!.!.!.I will edit in the details of a great site hwere you can make pics look really old!.!.!.hang on!. http://labs!.wanokoto!.jp/olds it is in either japanese or english!.!.!.just click thr english button at the top right!.!.so easy!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I took Graphic Design for 2 and a half years!.
I'd like to say first of all that it is a good picture, however, it could be better!.
You could use the rule of thirds, Imagine a Tic-Tac-Toe board on the picture!. You dont want the focal point to be in the center square, but mainly at the points where the lines intersect one another!.
Don't look into the camera lens but rather up and to the right or left!. Deep concentrated look is more classical than a "I will stare you down" look!. Perhaps pout a bit like some models of the 20's did!.
Picasa has that Film grain texture, use that and possibly a black and white filter rather the sepia!. Sepia is more like an old western sort of thing!.

Hope it helps, and I'm sorry if it comes across as!.!.!.critical!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The color is rather bad!. You need to either go straight sepia tone or do some more editing!. Use photofiltere which is a free editing download and play with the photo more!. There is nothing that says "classic" to me!. Sorry!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

that picture down right creepyWww@QuestionHome@Com

Sepia self-portrait!.

Looks pretty usual, and modern to me!.

Try adding some film grain, and change it to black and white!. Those should be artsy options in your Editor!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

if you want to put a classic look to that pretty girl, do some retro makeup
and a retro expression (study portraits of the 30s, 40s and 50s!. my grandmother had a portrait of herself, it was sepia with age and she had pretty heavy makeup and very accented lipstick (probably very red) and she wasn't smiling so much as she had that "sassy" expression so popular with women of that era!. then do the sepia and grain effect on the final product!. but it has to start out in the shoot!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's sepia-toned (though a bit on the yellow side) which is a step in the right direction towards being adventurous!. But you can do a lot more in picnik!. Just try out all the effects and save lots of versions, especially the ones which give you strong contrasts!. Try a black and white version as well!. The more you experiment, the more comfortable you'll be with the different possibilities!. About 20 versions will put you into a whole new dimension of confidence!. Don't worry about each one being perfect, just get in there and have at it; that's what digital photoediting is all about!.

The photo you've chosen to work on is a good one because it's not too complicated and has clearly defined areas of contrast!.

ps thanks daisyhill, that's a really handy site!Www@QuestionHome@Com

The sepia tone is maybe a little too yellowed!. Play around with your options!. Have you thought about using props!? Give a thoughtful smile!. You have very pretty eyes so try to speak through those!. Try to use the portrait to reflect yourself as you wish to be seen!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I agree it's not there yet but of course it's hard to say why not!. I checked Getty images to see if there were any photos which are artsy - I've included some links!. I guess you will have to study these and any others you can find to get more of an idea of why they seem classy/arsty!.

Do you have to use this particular picture!? If not I'd say get a shot that encompasses some of the elements that make old photos classical or artsy - more shadows, contrast, a particular sort of pose/look

Good luckWww@QuestionHome@Com