nice portrait, and I love the effect of the shooting through a stained glass, but one thing that throws me off is the lighting: maybe it's a mirror. please elaborate. Thanks nice

VZ: maybe it's a mirror, Ade. A mirror of the past I'd love to enter once again
Or maybe it's a window, Ade. A window I would love to open wide and to inhale the air of days gone by one time again.

What a wonderful image. It helps that she is very beautiful, but I'm guessing that this is a modern-day image given some ageing treatment to make it seem like it was taken in a Victorian studio by a man with his head under a black cloth. The lighting breaks all the rules of convention but it works, adding an aura of mystery.

VZ: Yep, Ian. A man had his head under a black cloth for too damn long. He kept breaking the rules of convention until the cloth got torn apart. He's a free man now along with his model

Provocative.

VZ: in which way, Nig?
I'll tell her that, next time I travel back in time.

This is exactly as Ian has said...the look of something modern put through the aging post-processing. But I wonder if perhaps it really IS a thing "from a Well of Past" and happens to be a scan from a print of days gone by?? It reminds me of my grandma, without the exquisitely made-up eyes.

VZ: You're a wise woman, Ginnie, for not ruling out any possible options.

It was the only picture of her he had, taken during those stolen hours in Vienna in 1942. It was just before they both fled. He to the west, she to the east. He was never to see her again or learn of her fate.

VZ: Until, some thirty years later... He was a keynote speaker at the conference in Moscow. A young translator was assigned to him to help with his broken Russian. Her face was so painfully familiar. He spent a sleepless night at the hotel thinking about it, but his tired mind came up with nothing. And only back home, flipping though the old photographs, it struck him that it was her. "Amazing", mumbled he, "She hasn't changed a bit. Oh... she's her daughter!". First thing next day he wrote a letter to the organizer of the conference.

A beautiful metaphor "well of Past", an interesting composition (I agree with Ian's and Ginnie's comments), a seriously looking beautiful face, with a touch of melancholy which remindes me of a Tschéchov- figure, perhaps is her name Mascha or ...? But Tschéchovs melancholy is smiling!

VZ: A treasured well of past it is, Philine. I drink from it on rare occasions, one scoop at a time.
If we are to draw a literary parallel, the melancholic mood here is more of Ivan Turgenev, than Anton Chekhov.

There is always that feeling of loss when an image looks stolen from the past. I'd say this is from some past- and I'd go as far as to say that this person is 'stuck' in that past.

VZ: "stolen from the past" I like that, Jamoula, though for me it's more like borrowed than stolen, as I have to put it back to the shelf of my memory.

Reminds me of a eastern european movie.
Very nice.

VZ: And the movie it was, Nadine. From today, it all looks like a film noir, of which I'm a big fan. You should know by now that there is no film noir without a femme fatale.

wonderful photograph...my question to you my dear man is...have you notified your willing subject that she has now been cached on computer hard drives around the world? Just a thought you never know who may send her the link hahahahaha!

VZ: Those are empty worries, my friend. All the legal issues were resolved in timely and respectful manner. Thanks for your concerns about my well being.

wow, what a throwback!

VZ: I know. One got to be careful, when one travels in time so far back.

It is a great portrait! Intriguing and very strong. As much as I am curious and would like to know whether it is from the past or not, it does not matter or effect the authenticity in it being a great photograph and that you and all of us the viewers recognize how piercing it is! However, if you do decide to share and answer the question "Is it really old?" I would benefit expanding my exploratory horizon in knowing that it is possible to achieve such a strong effect in accelerated time and possibly have the opportunity to play and try it in the future with something really different. Thanks V for posting it--I've greatly enjoyed it!

VZ: "...I am curious and would like to know whether it is from the past or not..."
The title says it all, dear, this is a vision from the past. Even though this is authentic, you can achieve the same effect in post-processing using PS filters and special PS add-ons.

You should/have to continue the story whose plot Bill and you have outlined- it could be an interesting and moving novel with -I fear- a tragic-sad- end of tears! The restrained-seductive expression of 'Maschenka's (my most beloved female Russian name) face may point to that. :'(

VZ: The best movies/ novels are often the ones with an open end, Philine, the ones that let people's imagination to roam free.

I know nothing of the images history Z but I see an enigmatic and timeless photograph. Beautiful, beautiful image. mal

VZ: Even though I know the image history, it's still as enigmatic and mysterious to me as at the time I took it, Mal.

This picture is a mystery, as often good subjects are. I can't even work out how old this is (contemporary/20 years ago?)

As to her mood - no idea!

VZ: As to her mood, Chris, I have no idea either. You know women, their mood changes by the minute.

Full of mystery, those eyes have a story to tell. What can it be?. My thoughts were instantly taken to some sort of spy story from inner Europe and a soviet feel to it. The mirror lit up by the overhead wall light and the air vent above has something hidden in it. Espionage or some secret information is the goal. Those eyes, What is the story? they hold the key.
Very well presented image has the mind racing. Would make a great frontcover for the book.

VZ: I bet those eyes have a lot of stories to tell, scotia. I just doubt that they ever will.
Maybe this will be a front cover of a book. One day.

This photo is a classic. Wow!

VZ: My pleasure, nana.

Black widow meets Lolita...in VZ's shoebox, or in his mind's shoebox.

It certainly looks Flashcard-noir, VZ, and is a beautiful catalyst for nostalgic flights of fancy.

VZ: A flashcard-noir... You better obtain a patent for this terminology, Ray. I think you struck a gold mine here.

i like this even down to it's olden vintage feel

if this is a new pic and you achieved this effect totally in post, i have to doff my hat to you sir!

VZ: Whichever way I obtained it, doc, if I touched your heart and struck an emotion out of you, my mission is accomplished.

oh my.....I love this! awesome potrait. You need to school me on this one.

VZ: I'm looking at your self-portrait, you posted on July 17, and I see you need no schooling, dear. Definitely not from me.

intriguing. there's a mirror feeling to it. and very non-digital.

VZ: A long standing human love affair with reflection, Nauras.