Comments on: What the Mona Lisa Can Teach You About Taking Great Portraits

By: Peter Bayliss LRPS

Peter Bayliss LRPS — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:21:51 +0000

Sorry i only glanced down the replys, but as far as i saw, not one has remarked on what made this painting great ! Its the eyes !
Even when many years ago at school when Art was a subject i did up to `O` level, the eyes where regarded as one of the most noticed item in any picture . Science taught that the first thing you look for in any picture was the eyes.
In this great painting its the eyes that first speak to you, with it`s mystery ! And that is why it has `spoken` to us all over the years for it is done in such a clever way, for it creates a mystery, it calls a question, the eyes are making a message that only the viewer understands or is made to wonder.
Painter or Photographer, eyes are the answer to any good portrait.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:40:22 +0000

I love the Mona Lisa in so many way! while other people might think that its just another Profile Picture I believe that we can see the difference from how people dressed in the Renaissance to now and BTW, I think that the Mona Lisa is pretty in her own way. Also, great article.

By: Anwar

Anwar — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 02:39:36 +0000

@Ramesh….I suggest mystical spiritual literature as the only sort of reading to further understand the Mona Lisa painting. The painting goes beyond technique and ability and into the realm of the sort of spiritual glimpses we all experience from time to time.

By: Ramesh Perla

Ramesh Perla — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:04:09 +0000

Honestly, I always wondered what is so special about Mona Lisa and its importance in the field of visual arts. You broke down the elements of interest very nicely and thanks for that. I know am keen on learning more about the picture than before and probably would read a book or two as the time permits.

Any recommended books you may know?

By: jordan

jordan — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 03:17:42 +0000

the mona lisa shows me that you WILL NOT get it right all the time (there is five paintings under the flnal painting)

By: christian louboutin bianca 140 flannel pumps gray

christian louboutin bianca 140 flannel pumps gray — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:54:36 +0000

Thanks for your posting on this web site. From my experience, there are occassions when softening upward a photograph may possibly provide the wedding photographer with a chunk of an imaginative flare. Many times however, the soft cloud isn’t precisely what you had in mind and can sometimes spoil a normally good picture, especially if you consider enlarging it.

By: cindersfella

cindersfella — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 05:28:32 +0000

I think that the real issue with any portrait is that you think about the image and the way you want to portray the image and remember that roman wasn’t built in on day so you should develop your techniques and try different things. and take lots of photos, that way you will develop your own style and artistic flair. and may be present an image that will be just as famous as the “MONA LISA”

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:17:55 +0000

Looking at the full frame face of the Mona Lisa above, it seems to me her left eye is looking directly at you, but the right eye is very slightly off, not enough for a squint, but still not looking straight at you. Maybe this is part of her allure? It may be , of course, that it is me that is not seeing straight!

By: Kasimiro Tuteta

Kasimiro Tuteta — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:36:15 +0000

She looks so relaxed because Leo gave her a good fuck just a few minutes before painting. So Take Home Lessons for Today, and always screw your model before taking pictures. Good luck and enjoy!!!

By: Dee

Dee — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:38:20 +0000

First of all.. what an interesting article. Mona Lisa is def a mystery to us and its good at how we photographers can learn to take better portraiture from looking at painting. Whatever Mona Lisa is, he or She.. Im sure Leonardo Da vinci has a reason why he painted this. Thanks for the tips DPS! Keep it up.