Thanks for all the ideas and spirited discussion, I now feel I have a better grasp of what is available.

I think I want quality over speed, but then again every lens I have bought seems to produce good quality at A3 print size, I'm not a pixel peeper.

I think I understand this LBA thing now, as I now want 2 lenses the sigma 30/1.4 for when it's really dark, and something wider when I want a smaller model in the frame oh dear, decisions decisions!!!

Thanks for the ideas, anyone used the sigma 20/1.8 and 24/1.8 as my style is changing so that my models are getting smaller in the frame!!

Its a big '0' birthday for me in around 6 weeks time, so I may be getting a new lens as a present.

I do quite a few shoots with models in available light where its pretty dark - 1/50s at f2.8 1600 iso is pretty normal for me.

Now the lens I use 80% of the time is a Tamron 17-50mm/2.8, but I was thinking of getting a prime so that I can take pictures when it gets even darker

I already have a 50mm/1.4 which I bought before the prices zoomed up around 18 months ago, so I'm looking for something wider than the 50, and around f1.4 if possible. I don't buy many lenses so don't know whats available.

Any suggestions welcome.

I would have to agree with Benjamin, I virtually have my Tamron 17-50mm glued to my K-7, for indoors and location shoots.

It's just so flexible, and you are just the right distance from the model, close enough to communicate, but not that close you are producing distortions or invading the models space.

one and three for me.
Great location and composition though.

Thanks all.

Would love to convert to mono but its a colour competition

I have warped her left shoulder to make it the same shape as her right - only just started using this tool its great!! And dodged/burned to make them similar.

Will have a good look at the eyes tonight, and maybe measure them with the ruler and warp one of them!!!

Thanks for your comments Richard.

I try not to play to the judges likes/dislikes as it can easily backfire, and I prefer to produce images for me rather than the judge. Very often judges will pick something atypical for them - ie a landscape worker will pick a wildlife image.

I have to enter 3 images for the competition, and I have the other 2 sorted, so I was looking for a portrait as the 3rd - I always struggle with the 3rd one

The idea was to produce a high-key image, so I want everything to be a similar tone, except for the eyes and lips, and then there is the pattern of the pearls.
I did have the hands in but there are more pearls there, as well as the chain/clasp, and its all a bit too messy, hence the crop.

I do appreciate the comments, as it allows me to check my thinking, and adjust as necessary. I have just warped her left hand shoulder to make it the same shape as her right hand one in response to an earlier comment.

Nice concept.

I can see more of the hand on the right than the one on the left, and there is more light on that hand, which unbalances it slightly IMHO, it could be toned down though.

There is also a distracting highlight above the little finger on the hand on the left, again this is easily removed.

Thanks both.

I didn't want it to be exactly symmetrical, and I hate 'glamour' lighting without any shadows whatsoever.

I think I will even up the shadows on the shoulders.

It is quite desaturated already but I could do it more, but it a colour print competition, otherwise I had thought of doing it in mono.

Wasn't sure whether to darken the edges slightly to hold the image in?

Thanks John.

Catchlights can be fixed.

Lighting was from a single light, in the model's rather small lounge with the walls acting as reflectors - it was making the best from an abandoned location shoot!!

I can remove the shadow from her right cheek, and lighten her left cheek, do you think that would improve things?