Zoe

[John Reidy]

Janet and Linda, thank you. I believe you're right, Janet, Zoe will grow to cherise it. Her mom and dad do already.

Most interesting comment, Linda, about the aquarium effect. You're right, too. I wasn't going for that effect and am now wondering what the source might be for that effect.

My first thought is my choice of keeping most of her in shadow and not bringing the shadows up so light that her skin and dress are more intense but instead are more subdued.

I tried to keep her dress in the light areas be the base highlight and to let all of the other values be based from there. I then tried to keep her arm (on our left) and her hair very hot since it is in direct sun. The flowers directly behind her are in shade and in our upper right background I greyed and softened that to keep it very much in the background.

Consequently it might appear that my effort to create a shadowed atmoshphere could be heavy handed and tipping it to the point of aquatic.

But, if you don't mind, Linda, I'll focus for now on your comment "I like it".

Thank you.