PHOTO FINISH - PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY ACTIVITY

Reference:  Click View Photo Finish Portraiture Episode 1

○  WHAT     10 Tips I learned from the program -list what you learned

○  SO WHAT     Why this important and how it links to my photography

○  NOW WHAT     How will this improve my photography skills and how I will use it in my Portrait photographs

 

 

1.  Creative compositions

 

Having creating compositions in photography is important as it makes photographs more intriguing to viewers and adds distinctiveness and uniqueness to your folio, so that you stand out more as a photographer.

Don't be lazy with your compositions. Zoom in instead to fill the frame for a more inspired photo composition. Positioning your subject to one side of the frame, with 'space to look into', is a great technique to master, as is experimenting with wide apertures to capture a very shallow depth of field.

 

Being creative with my compositions will improve my photography skills because it will lead me into trying a variety of new/different techniques and also add uniqueness and diversity to my folio. In my Portrait photographs, I will use a variety of different camera shots and angles such as close-ups and low angles to enhance the creativity of my photographs.

 

2. Posing for portraits

 

How the subject stands, poses and looks is extremely important and will have a dramatic effect in my photographs. A slight change in facial expressions - such as whether they smile or not - can radically change the entire feeling of the photograph. When shooting capture a range of expressions so you can pick which you prefer when editing them back home on the computer. Also set up portrait shots where your subject looks off-camera, up or down, or to one side. Play around and see what works.

 

Directing my subject to pose and make expressions for the portraits will improve my photography skills as this emphasises the ‘mood’ of my photographs. I will use this tip in my Portrait photographs by telling my model different poses to do such as leaning against a tree, or even holding their hair back, and to use a variety of facial expressions, such as serious/dramatic faces or cheerful/laughing faces.

 

3. Aperture adjustment

 

Correctly adjusting the aperture in portrait photography is exceedingly important so that the subject isn't ‘lost’ in the image.

When shooting portraits, it's best to set a wide aperture (around f/2.8-f/5.6) to capture a shallow depth of field, so the background behind your subject is nicely blurred, making them stand out better.

Shoot in Aperture Priority mode to control the depth of field; in this mode, the DSLR will helpfully set the shutter speed for a correct exposure.

 

This tip will improve my photography skills as it teaches me to play around with and try new setting adjustments on my camera, and thus makes the subject stand out more and enable me to have more control of the depth of field in my photographs. In my Portrait photographs, I will use this tip by adjusting the aperture to suit the shot and make my model stand out more intensely.

 

4.  Get Closer

 

The most common mistake made by photographers is that they are not physically close enough to their subjects. In
cases, this means that the centre of interest—the subject—is just a speck, too small to have any impact. Even when it is big enough to be decipherable, it usually carries little meaning. Don't be shy. If you approach people in the right way, they'll usually be happy to have their picture made. It's up to you to break the ice and get them to cooperate. Joke around with them. Tell them why you want to make the picture. Practice with people you know so that you are comfortable; people can sense when you aren't.

 

This will improve my photography skills because getting closer to my subject will create a more intense impact in my photographs and also enlightens my skills on getting to know the model and getting them to warm up to the camera.  I will use this tip in my portrait photographs by not being shy and make my subject feel good about themselves, so that I can get up close and really capture their beauty.

 

5. Anticipating Behavior

 

An important element in people photography is knowing your subjects well enough to be able to anticipate what they are going to do. It's the only way you are going to be able to get pictures of it. If you wait until you see it, it's too late. The key is to watch people carefully. Always have your camera ready. If you're going to be shooting in one situation, set the aperture and shutter speed in advance so you don't have to fiddle with them while you're shooting. Watch people through the viewfinder. If you're paying attention, you'll sense what's about to happen.

 

This will improve my photography skills because it will increase my awareness of the subject so I can anticipate what they are going to do next. I will use this tip in my portrait photographs by having my aperture and shutter speed already set and ready so that I can snap away at the right moment without fiddling. I will also pay full attention to my model to ensure that I can sense the next moment.

 

6. Be Aware of the Lighting and Environment

 

Being well aware of the lighting and environment in the shooting location is extremely important as depending on the lighting and environment you may need to make changes to do with equipment or even use natural lighting and surroundings to your advantage.

Once shoot day comes, make sure you have a solid plan, for both the portrait setting and any setup needed for the camera and lighting. If shooting in an interior or studio setting, use with existing options for backgrounds and lighting within the space. Consider if it's possible to shoot a natural-light portrait or will it be needed to plan for artificial lighting. Are there clean walls or a simple drapery that can used for a backdrop, or will you be doing an environmental portrait within the space?

If shooting outside using natural light, consider the time of day and the direction of the sun in relation to how and where you want to pose your subject. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times for a natural-light portrait, yet avoid shooting at midday, when sunlight and shadows are harshest. Overcast weather can also provide a good opportunity for a portrait with softer shadows and lighting that remains consistent over a longer period of time.

 

This tip will improve my Portrait Photography Skills as being aware of the lighting and environment and using these elements will enhance my photographs significantly. In my shoot I will most likely be shooting in the environment in natural lighting, so  

I will make sure the subject is facing the sun, or at an oblique angle with the face lit to define features, while minimizing unappealing shadows. When composing the portrait, I will look beyond the subject and check my composition for issues such as a distracting background.

 

7.  It’s all about the Eyes

 

The eyes have been called the “windows to the soul.” When photographing people, place the emphasis on their eyes. This is especially important as you could have the perfect composition and exposure, but if the eyes aren’t sharp, the entire image suffers.

Use Flexible Spot AF points to place the focusing point right on the subject’s eye, that way, it's always tacked sharp no matter how shallow your depth of field.

 

This tip will enhance my Portrait Photography Skills because a portrait with the eyes in focus will have more impact, will be more appealing, and the eyes will help draw the viewer into the image. In my photo shoot, I will ensure the eyes are in focus, by configuring it to use only one focus point, and compose the shot with this focal point on the eyes, half-press the shutter button to focus, and then recompose and take the photo. This is particularly important if shooting with a large aperture, when the depth-of-focus is small. I will also make sure that the iris (coloured section around the pupil) of the eyes is visible, and no white above or below the iris.

 

8. Raw File Format

 

While shooting raw brings with it the challenge of a larger file size and the added complexity of converting files in post, it is especially beneficial when bringing the file to life as a finished portrait.

Raw files are often described as being the same as a photographic negative; after downloading from the camera, adjustments can be made to elements such as contrast, colour, tonality, and more, without compromise to the original file. With the JPEG format, on the other hand, the original file is compressed, which results in a loss of valuable image data. For many types of use, posting to social media for example, this is not an issue and, in fact, the smaller file size offers a huge advantage. But each time you take that original JPEG and resize or otherwise change it, you are effectively losing data.

 

This tip will improve my photography skills because editing your photos is just as important as taking them and will highly enhance my skills with camera files/settings and editing. If I start working with raw files I will be working from the best available image capture, which will be preserved intact in the storage device of my choosing. I will use this tip in my portrait photography by changing my camera file setting from JPEG to Raw and then will be able to edit my photos with more variety and get different results than I would with a JPEG image.

 

9. Frame your subject

 

Framing is a clever and highly powerful technique where by you draw attention to one element of an image by framing it with another element of the image. Framing gives an image depth and draws the eye to a point of interest in the image.

For example, you could do this by placing your subject in a window or doorway, have them look through a small gap or even use their hands around their face.

 

This tip will improve my photography skills by intensifying my photos and drawing the viewer's eye to certain elements/subjects. I will use this in my Portrait photographs by referring to the Rule of Thirds and using vectors in the image (eg arms, wall, tree, lamp post etc) to frame my subject and create a more structured image.

 

10. Hold your camera on an angle

 

Horizontal and Vertical framings are not the only options when it comes to shooting portraits. While getting your images straight can be important when shooting in these formats holding your camera on a more diagonal angle can also inject a little fun into your images.

This type of framing can add a sense of fun and energy into your shots. Just don’t ‘slightly’ do it or you’ll have people asking themselves if you might have mistakenly held your camera crooked.

 

This tip will improve my photography skills because it will add more fun, expression, and playfulness in my photographs. I will use this tip in my portrait photography by experimenting with different rotations, tilts, and angles so that my images look more energetic and stand out compared to horizontal and vertical photographs.