For your picture I would advice to drop the tail, improve the contrast a bit and make the shadow drop below instead of around the head.
Also, you should make a funny face! :)
@Anonymous Coward: Shock horror, we can’t have people thinking that :P
“If not, what needs to change?”
More cowbell.
Face to the left side. Most of the time the text of your blog will be on the left so that is where yo should be facing to.
Cut at chin line, not at neck line – it looks more funny that way and you can fit more face into less space.
If you want the ponytail in shot – wrap it around your face more so that looks more like a scarf.
And gimp in some warmer color. I would suggest taking the photo outside on a bright, but overcast day so that there are no shadows on you face at all.
Drop the pony tail.
IMHO, lose hair give a better picture of you.
(your livejournal picture is really nice (btw, congrats to whoever tooki it!) But I don’t think planet gnome is ready for it yet :) )
FWIW, I’ve mailed this image to jdub on at least two occasions for use on Planet GNOME without reply, but I understand that’s more or less expected.
Hey Thomas! I’m not an artist, but I think you can add more color to it.
Something as GIMP->Colors->Curves.
You look a bit… purple. Try this?
Put on some glasses. That would improve it a lot.
But I don’t wear glasses!
I can not see your nose piercing!
Smile! :)
Haircut?
There are some tips&tricks on this page: http://live.gnome.org/HackergotchiGuidelines
For your picture I would advice to drop the tail, improve the contrast a bit and make the shadow drop below instead of around the head.
Also, you should make a funny face! :)
Hackergotchis I enjoy:
http://planet.gnome.org/heads/lucasr.png
http://planet.gnome.org/heads/jono.png
http://planet.gnome.org/heads/j5.png
http://planet.gnome.org/heads/cwiiis.png
Crop out the pony tail. Makes you look female.
@Anonymous Coward: Shock horror, we can’t have people thinking that :P
“If not, what needs to change?”
More cowbell.
Face to the left side. Most of the time the text of your blog will be on the left so that is where yo should be facing to.
Cut at chin line, not at neck line – it looks more funny that way and you can fit more face into less space.
If you want the ponytail in shot – wrap it around your face more so that looks more like a scarf.
And gimp in some warmer color. I would suggest taking the photo outside on a bright, but overcast day so that there are no shadows on you face at all.
Drop the pony tail.
IMHO, lose hair give a better picture of you.
(your livejournal picture is really nice (btw, congrats to whoever tooki it!) But I don’t think planet gnome is ready for it yet :) )
FWIW, I’ve mailed this image to jdub on at least two occasions for use on Planet GNOME without reply, but I understand that’s more or less expected.
– Chris
* not enough contrast
* neck is showing
* blurry