hello, this is selfportrait created in nature, it was not selected and interested why and what should I improve on the photo... I know that I am not very good looking person :D but I need to know how can I improve my selfportrait photography. It was eddited by vsco app. Thank you for response. 

Hello Jozefina

Welcome to 1x and to the forum, and thank you for sharing your self-portrait with us. First of all I want to say that I admire the originality and your creativity, but I don't know if your photo could be published as a portrait on the site. I think it might have more of a chance in the abstract category. I like the way the slender leaves seem to be reaching out to the bright strands of your hair, making a connection, and the shape of your mouth also has a similarity with the shape of the leaves. Your out-of-focus eye is beautiful, but I think you cropped your eyelashes too closely. I guess the majority of photographers here like to present portraits of women with perfectly smooth skin, but personally I enjoy seeing some texture that gives a real feel. The red at the base of your nose, however, is a little distracting. I wondered if a black-and-white conversion might enhance your portrait a little and also give it more of an abstract feel, so I am posting a monochrome version below just for you to consider. You are always free to accept or reject any suggestions we make, of course.

Good light, Elizabeth

Thank you I like it :) I want to ask if is possible to resubmit my photo to the abstract category because on portrait it was not successful.

My pleasure, Jozefina. I'm glad you like it. It is possible to resubmit and change the category, but you might like to wait to see if other Senior Critics have suggestions for you.

Elizabeth

Jozefína, 

I like the photo for it's originality.  It's not a conventional portrait or self-portrait, but it has a mood, and a story.  I immediately thought "You can't see me!"   It seems like the subject is hiding, looking out from behind the leaves to see if they've been discovered.  Like a child playing hide and seek, perhaps hoping to be found - because it's all a game.  With that theme in mind, I think it's a delightful photograph.  Thank you for sharing it with us. 

As for its success on 1X, I think it's a long shot.  Perhaps it's just too different.  I'd encourage you, though, to keep making images you like, that you think are meaningful and worthwhile.  Don't be concerned too much about how their percentage scores here. 

All just my opinion, of course.

I took a screen capture and did a couple of things - softened the red area that Elizabeth pointed out, and sharpened the green leaf a little.  As for category, I'm not sure 'Abstract' is best, but it may be too unusual for 'Portrait'.  There used to be a 'Conceptual' category, but it was removed in the big change to the site a couple of years ago. 

. . .  Steven, senior critic

Dear Jozefina,

Please don't consider this a serious advice. I recently visited a photo exhibition where the artist only photographed himself, for about 50 years now. He works alone, he works on film only, no editing involved ever. It was jawdropping simply, I was fascinated by almost every shot he presented. It's about unusual perspectives, shapes, the unification of body and nature ( a bit more than yours, haha ). Maybe it inspires you to go a bit further regarding the concept of works, that's the serious note of my reply. He wasn't a pretty person at all, so it rarely focussed on his face or expression. If you get the chance, visit his exhibition...

Here he is, Arno Rafael Minkinnen:

https://www.arnorafaelminkkinen.com/

Best regards,

Mike

Hello,

Welcome to our forum. You asked us about ways to improve your self portrait that was rejected during curation. This is something that happens to all of us. A self prtrait can be challenging. As it is not easy to get the focus accurately on the eye or eyes. Here you seem to have that problem. Your eye is not in focus. That might be the major problem. You should use a tripod  when taking self portraits. Then I advise you to use a doll or something els to focus the camera in manuel focus before you pose as the model. I took your image to Photoshop, and used some presets to improve it. Are used enhance eyes and gritty portrait presets. The eye looks aharper now. In addition to this, I advise sude to work on composition. Composition is also very important in portrait photography as well as in other genres of photography. And let's not forget that, you should have a story in mind. What do you want your viewers to see in this image? What is your message? This should be clear. One of the best ways of improving ourselves in photography is to shoot as much as we can and to analyze as many photos as you can. I wish you good light… Cicek Kiral SC.

Thank you :)