The following is a direct copy and has been Pasted in for future reference from the People & Place coursework PDF Doc. (pasted in Maroon)
4 photographs
Begin with a tight framing on the face in which at least part of the outline of the head is cropped by the frame. Take a number of pictures and then pull back for the second framing. This should include head and shoulders in view. ‘Pulling back’ can be either by physically moving the camera if you are using one fixed lens; by shortening the focal length if you are using a zoom; or a combination of the two. Be aware that shooting very close with a wide-angle or even standard lens can exaggerate the perspective on prominent parts of the face, with less than flattering results; we will examine this in more detail later.
Pull back again for a third framing that includes the torso. You will have to decide whether to crop above or below the waistline, and also what to do with the subject’s hands. Notice how these tend to catch the eye in certain positions, and so alter the way in which a viewer’s attention will be affected. Don’t forget the background. Does it play a part in your composition?
Finally, pull right back for a full-length portrait. The framing will mainly depend on whether you have decided to have your subject sitting or standing.
You should complete four scales of portrait in this one session:-
- Face, cropped in close
- Head and shoulders
- Torso, taking into account arms and hands
- Full figure
When you have processed the images, and selected those you consider the most successful from each of the four subject areas, review the images and consider how a viewer will react to each portrait in terms of the weight of attention to different elements. The face will, in at least the first three, be the main attractant, and within the face the eyes.
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Equipment
Camera – Nikon D4
Lenses – 24/70 – f2.8 lens
Method & Approach
Please see pictures and captions below.
Note – all pictures have been compressed hence there might be a quality reduction when enlarging.
Picture 1 – Face, cropped in close
Camera Details
Camera Nikon D4 (handheld)
Speed 1/90th sec
Aperture f5.6
ISO 800
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 70mm
Comments – With this particular shot I didn’t want to distort the subjects nose or eyes and in doing so I decided not to shoot below a focal distance of 70mm. This meant positioning myself either closer or farther away from the subject in order to obtain my choice of focal distance. My points of focus were the subjects eyes, to obtain a less formal and more relaxed characteristic to the picture I asked the model to tilt her head very slightly to one side and keep her mouth slightly open with a hint of a smile to keep the mood friendly. I also positioned my subject with natural light behind me to capture a nice amount of catchment in her eyes as at this distance her eyes are very much a dominating part of the picture.
Picture 2 – Head and shoulders
Camera Details
Camera Nikon D4 (handheld)
Speed 1/125th sec
Aperture f4.0
ISO 800
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 70mm
Comments – Again in this picture I wanted an informal look with a happy but natural characteristic, to make this picture somewhat different to the above I asked my subject to maintain the same look but this time look ahead rather than at me. In doing so her hair now partially covered her face and created a less attractive and heavier balance to the picture. Moving her hair to one side opened up the picture and has allowed the light to give more definition to her cheekbone and neck. Again my focus was based on the subjects eyes.
Picture 3 – Torso, taking into account arms and hands
Camera Details
Camera Nikon D4 (handheld)
Speed 1/180th sec
Aperture f2.8
ISO 800
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 70mm
Comments – Again maintaining the same picture characteristics but this time capturing the subjects upper torso, arms and hands was more challenging. I tried this shoot with the subject both standing and sitting but introducing a visual emphasis on her arm and hand positions worked out better with her sitting, she was more relaxed in this position which always makes a better picture. My focus in the picture was on the subjects eyes and using a very narrow depth of field has allowed me to blur the background and visually promote more interest in the subject.
Picture 4 – Full figure
Camera Details
Camera Nikon D4 (handheld)
Speed 1/180th sec
Aperture f2.8
ISO 100
White Balance Setting Daylight (5500°K)
Lens 24/70mm
Focal Length 70mm
Comments – As in pictures two and three, picture four is very much a continuation of a theme. Again I tried my subject standing for this particular picture but her body language just wasn’t as good standing, whilst standing her arms and hands did not look comfortable in the pictures. Again my camera focus was on the subjects eyes but looking at these pictures I feel that I would like to take them again with a rear speedlight hidden behind the subjects body to really separate the subject from the background, this is especially so around the head and hair line.
What have I learnt from this exercise
I have enjoyed this short exercise and my wife is always up for having pictures taken, she is fantastically photogenic (unlike me) and she is most of the time naturally happy in front of the camera which I believe shows in this series. I have also learnt that, to get the best out of you subject in a chosen surrounding with varying conditions (outside) look the area over first and if need be make sure you have a speedlight and stand with you … it might not be to brighten the subjects face but to separate the subject from a darker background.
Thoughts and Reflection
I often photograph my wife but if we are going to do something more worthy of cause I set up my backdrops and mains lighting equipment. Upon reflection of this exercise I am going to try shooting outside of the house (and my comfort zone) with more lighting kit in the bag.
I am happy with my picture results but as a self critique (and probably my worst) I am always aware that the results could have been that little bit better if I had packed this or that, so there is no excuse next time.
Summary
In the future I must not be afraid of taking more capable off camera lighting equipment with me (within reason) and with this … be more experimental!
stingray493 