Tag Archives: Portraiture

Five Types of Photography Niche: Which is Right for You?

Enjoy your photography niche – never work another day…

Getting into photography is one of the most fulfilling steps you can take in life. If you love capturing and immortalizing candid moments, becoming a professional photographer may be a dream come true. You know what they say: If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. Nothing is truer than that.

Five types of photography niche

However, with so many different types of photography, how can you ever choose only one? The key lies in what inspires you most, making you feel alive every time you’re behind the camera.

Here are some of the most exciting types of photography you can try when picking your favorite niche.

Portrait Photography

Also known as portraiture, portrait photography is quite self-explanatory, just like any other photography niche. So, what makes it stand out?

When taking portrait photos, you need to tell the story of your subjects. What is it that makes them unique? What are their most notable personality traits?

You need to highlight their best features and perfectly capture that personality. Interesting poses play a big part here, so do the eyes. The most critical factors for high-quality portrait photography include good lighting, proper focal length, and a clean background. You can also use a shallow depth of field to put your subjects in full focus.

The background can also include objects that give more context. For instance, you can add a guitar, a basketball hoop, an easel, or anything else relevant to the story.

Portrait photography has many sub-types so that you can delve deeper into the genre. There are family portraits, couple portraits, fashion photography, glamour photography, surreal portraits, and more niche sectors for you to try.

Portraiture - Image showing a group portrait (5 types of photography niche)

The Event Photography Genre

This photography niche can be unbelievably fun. You can shoot at a wealth of events, including concerts, birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries, corporate events, and so much more.

The interest is there to work at a range of events. However, you can specialise if you want. Just choose to work only one type of event, such as weddings, for instance.

The point is, events all have two things in common – they are fast-paced and include an array of subjects. They can even be a bit challenging. Apart from taking portraits and group shots, you may need to snap photos of food, the venue, and much more. Your other niche photographic interests can easily be included.

What it all comes down to is capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments. These are the special moments that the attendees will cherish forever. Your photos will enable them to relive the events and remember how fun everything was.

No pressure, right? The truth is that only your first gig will be a bit stressful until you get the hang of it. You’ll forget all about the stress halfway through the event. And, soon enough, it will become second nature to you. The really exciting thing is that in this type of niche photography you work with people who really want you to take their photo. That is great fun and rewarding.

The Stock Photography Niche

Using stock photos is very popular. So, you can quickly sell stock photos and earn a regular income.

This photography niche is ideal if you enjoy a wide range of interests. You can shoot whatever interests you. Stock pictures can be of food, nature, street photography, people, buildings, landmarks, offices, still life – you name it. Then, post the photos on stock photography websites.

Photographers sell stock photos under license. This allows your pictures to be used by multiple purchasers, increasing your income per picture.

‘Royalty Free’ (RF) licenses

These licenses grant non-exclusive, multiple, unlimited use of an image. There are few restrictions. The client pays a one-time fee to have perpetual use of the image in the permitted ways. However, in practice RF licenses tend allow a wide range of use. That means you may not always be happy with the type of use. So, be careful.

‘Rights-managed’ (RM) images

The ‘RM’ license require a one-time fee for limited usage. However, you can buy additional licenses that allow more uses. There may be other limitations on use too. For instance, the purchased RM license may have certain geographical restrictions or time limits. Alternatively, it may specify the type of media in which the image can be used (print, book, website etc.). Rights managed is the more traditional type of image license and is far more restrictive than royalty free.

Other ‘stock models’

License types are varied in this niche. So, you need to think about how you want to sell your images. ‘Microstock’ describes the low cost end of the stock photography business. Images usually sell under a ‘Royalty free’ license. The photographer is paid a small amount (a micro payment). Microstock libraries carry images from both pro and amateur photographers. The return you get per image may be tiny. However, it may be a good way to get started.

Once you become practiced in the stock photography business you might pick and choose. Certain images you make can be sold under RM license, others as different license types. As you get experienced you can learn which are the best sites for you to sell your images of different types.

Wildlife Photography

The wildlife photography niche covers many types of wild and natural shots. It is, without a doubt, one of the most challenging types of photography. It is also one of the most thrilling niches, as it can result in genuinely breathtaking photographs.

Why is it difficult? Because you can’t exactly instruct an animal to pose for a photo. You need to wait for a perfect moment to capture it and tell its story. This can mean sitting in one spot for hours on end – or much longer!

There will be times when you quickly get an opportunity for some magical shots. An animal might pass by and stop long enough for you to create a remarkable photo. But, you have to be ready for those blink-and-miss-it moments too.

“Patience is a virtue” gets a whole new meaning in wildlife photography. If you love animals and have a world of patience, this photography genre might be ideal for you. You can also get to see some wonderful parts of the world.

Image of a travel photographer

The Travel photography Niche

Undoubtedly, travel photography is one of the most popular types of photography. Just do a quick search on Instagram, and you’ll find an abundance of profiles with awesome travel photos.

Capture uniqueness

The goal of travel photography is to capture different landscapes, landmarks, cultures, peoples, history – everything that makes a place unique. When you travel to a location, you need to find what distinguishes it from everywhere else. Then focus on those shots that give the viewer something new to appreciate. Make them want to go there and your travel photography has succeeded.

As a travel photographer, you can mix various photography genres. You can snap portraits, food, landscapes, wildlife, streets, architecture and anything else. Look for things that tells a unique story about the places you visit.

Showcase special places

You have complete license to show off our lovely planet. Consequently, you can help people feel more connected to it. You can also help them choose their next vacation destinations. You might even help many of them find a place for their dream home.

What makes the travel photography niche especially exciting is that you get to travel the world. How else are you going to take photos of faraway places?
Traveling the world and shooting photos? Who would not want to live like that? It’s one of the most adventurous careers ever.

Inspired yet?

Each photography niche offers you something to think about and learn about. If you have a hard time making up your mind where to focus, those that include a range of types can be ideal. Again, it’s all about what inspires you, but be sure to give all these genres a try. That’s the only way to see if they match your interests and skills.

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Post contributed by :: Isabella Foreman

Isabella Foreman ImageIsabella Foreman has been an avid blogger for 5 years, with particular interests in Photography – lifestyle activities like Travel, Weddings, etc. Today she is an expert on the subject and over the years she has consistently contributed articles to top photography and lifestyle publications. Presently, she is associated with Smart Photo Editors – a photo editing service company.
Website: Smart Photo Editors Smart Photo Editors | External link - opens new tab/page

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Directing and Posing: Do you know the relationship?

Directing and posing seem to be two opposite ends of the photographic spectrum. Yet, they share a very close relationship. Successful images usually break the barriers because of both directing and posing. At least, more so than the rest of the day-to-day fluff that floats on the photographic wind.

In successful images directing and posing must share an intimate relationship.

In successful images directing and posing must share an intimate relationship.
Image taken from the video below.

Directing and posing – the meanings

It is interesting that the meaning of posing rests more on misrepresentation than action. Here is what I mean…

Posing; posed; verb – to pose…

  1. To assume a particular attitude or stance, especially with the hope of impressing others: “He likes to pose as an authority on literature”.
  2. Presenting oneself insincerely: He seems to be posing in all his behavior.
  3. To assume or hold a physical attitude, as for an artistic purpose: to pose for a painter.

Dictionary.com :: Seen: 03/10/2018

These definitions of posing are mostly about how the subject represents themselves.

On the other hand, directing is more about the power behind the action…

Directing; verb – To direct.

  1. To manage or guide by advice, helpful information, instruction, etc.: He directed the company through a difficult time.
  2. Regulating the course of; control: History is directed by a small number of great men and women.
  3. To administer; manage; supervise: She directs the affairs of the estate.

https://www.dictionary.com/ :: Seen: 03/10/2018

In this definition we are in no doubt where the driving force comes from.

So, is the rift between these terms a real one for a photographer? Yes! And, the division often separates the successful photographer from the rest.

A common mistake…

When I teach portraiture classes, the most obvious gap in knowledge is not about the photography. It is about the connection between the people involved. Amateur photographers, and some professionals, rely on the subject to come up with the posing strategy. They take the passive and weak attitude that the posing person knows how to present themselves for the photo the photographer has in mind. This approach leaves the directing in the hands of the subject of the portrait. Worse, the subject is posing to meet your goals, but they probably don’t know what they are! Regardless, the subject is probably the least qualified person to steer the outcome of the photograph. So, do not let your subject misrepresent your vision of the image.

Have a goal before you start

It pays to have at least an idea of what you want to photograph. Too many photogs put themselves in front of a subject (person or object) and hope that they have the right photographic technique to capture it. Success relies mostly on luck with this approach.

On the other hand, the stronger approach is with the photographer that has a concept to depict. They research it and set it up. Success becomes a matter of visualisation and fulfillment. There are two steps there that the passive photog misses. First, they don’t do any visualisation and research before starting. Secondly, they just react to the scene, not direct it or manage it to ensure photographic success.

why do photographers often fail to direct?

In short, I think there are several reasons…
• Practice: The successful photographer has had enough practice to know that the passive point-and-shoot method is too haphazard and error-prone. The passive photog does not drive for a result.
• Fright: Most self-taught and developing photographers have not learned to direct and, so, do not recognise its value. They are frightened to “take control” of someone else (the subject). Directing requires them to drive for the result and be the instigator of the outcome. This is an extrovert approach. However, it is a big step to take for the unpracticed – or at least they think so. Actually, it is the path to success.
• Lack of knowledge: The reluctant, passive photog is an example of a great educational irony. They think they should not do it because they don’t know how to go about it. However, they won’t even begin to know about it unless they experience it. In fact, the way to get past the problem is to simply push past it – have a go! Just do it! You will learn by your mistakes and feedback.

Directing and posing have a dynamic connection

To step outside of the meanings quoted above, we should be more bullish, more participatory, more inclusive, more descriptive. Directing drives the subject and the poses. However, it is only through co-operation and joint understanding can the posing be effective. Success depends on you, the photographer, breaching the divide between the traditional meanings of directing and posing.

Directing is an extrovert activity. That does not necessarily mean that its for bullies. Instead, to succeed, we need to grasp the bull by the horns. To direct is to articulate an outcome. Make it clear that the poses you work with are the ones that fit the goal you are trying to achieve. Work with the sitter to jointly get the posing outcome that will make the best shot.

Directing and posing flows from participation and inclusion

Be more participatory. As photographers we need to interact with our subject – not just react to them. Talk to them, know them, live a part of their lives for a few minutes. Listen to them, but know what you want to achieve. Then work with your subject bringing out the advantages they have just told you about. The best poses are those that show the character of the person. They have the character, you do the interpretation through your direction. Directing and posing come together through the cooperation and participation of both photographer and subject.

Be more inclusive. Once we are involved and communicating with our sitter or subject we can cooperate with them to achieve our goal. That is the previsualised goal we set ourselves before the shoot. Often what we want out of the shoot is a reflection of what your subject wants too. Include them in your vision. They will understand and perform the pose better if they are included in the discussion leading to it.

You will not succeed in a shoot where you alienate, annoy, ignore or destroy your subject. Generally, your shoot stands a greater chance of success when you view the whole process as one of teamwork between the photographer and the person you are framing.

Directing and posing – the moral of the story

Be the driving force. See the goals, articulate your vision. Always bring your subject along with you. The dynamic connection between you will enable you to bring out the character of your sitter, open up the subject and pick the best approach possible.

From feedback, I have found that learning to engage through directing and posing gives students a big boost in their development. If my students come away from a portraiture session thinking, “I must try directing, I must try directing!”, then I know they will be on the way to making great images. Remember, not all your shots will be a success. Nevertheless, you stand more of a chance of some good hits if you push for what you want to achieve but also involve your subject.

A quick video

Directing and posing often does need a degree of knowledge and understanding or practice and experience on the part of the director. In this video short, you can see some of the issues that the photographer has considered prior to the shoot. The lines and captions show the previsualisation in the shot. The photog works with the subject to produce an outcome that is both unique and empathizes with the character of the subject. It is a quick video, but worth thinking about on several levels. While watching, think of the directing aspect, the posing aspect and the actual poses that are being struck.

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Damon Guy - Netkonnexion

Damon Guy (Netkonnexion)

Damon is a writer-photog and editor of this site. He has run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photographers.
See also: Editors ‘Bio’.
See also: Profile on Google+.

Exposure changes the mood of your image

Exposure changes can affect many aspects of an image.

Exposure changes can affect many aspects of an image. Colour, mood, visual impact, contrast and others. The second image below show the differences.
Image better seen large. Click image to view large.

There is no such thing as a perfect exposure

The main goal of starter photographers is to control the exposure. The Exposure Triangle, or other models of balancing light, lead learners to pursue ‘perfection’. Once they grasp the concept of balancing ISO, Aperture and Shutter speed, the needle in the camera viewfinder is their guide.

In manual mode, that central needle is important. It shows that the three elements are balanced. The unwary learner is soon overwhelmed by that needle. They have learned how to keep it central. Now they are going to keep it there despite everything. They have learned that, if the exposure changes, the needle drifts off the middle position. When that happens it is no longer “perfect”.

That mid-position needle is useful. However, it is not ‘perfection’. It is just a guide. Modern camera manufacturers have made things easy for the camera user. The technology, sensors and controls on a modern camera mislead the unwary into a false position. Complex technology and controls give the user confidence that the camera must be right. They assume the central needle creates the perfect capture. That is simply not true.

The balance of light controls the quality of outcome you want. Your final image is created by that quality of light. The creative photographer uses exposure changes to to conjure up the result they want. A good photographer commands the camera to create the picture. The camera does not create the perfect exposure for the user. The user makes exposure changes to create the desired image. Deliberate under or overexposure is an important part of creating your image.

Exposure changes allow you to command the camera

In the image below we see (almost) the same picture as above…

A different quality of exposure changes the whole experience of the picture.

This second image shows same scene as above. But the different quality of exposure changes the experience of the picture. This outcome is no more correct than the top picture. However, when it was taken this one was 1 and 1/3 stops underexposed on the camera viewfinder scale. It was taken within seven seconds of the first image.
Image better seen large. Click image to view large.

Exposure changes allow the user to create the mood of the shot. This is clearly shown by the deeper contrasts, more saturated blues in the sky and reds in the Autumnal leaves. The low sunlight brings out the shadows and colours more. It all adds up. Together they create a very different view of this fountain scene. A twilight feel perhaps.

I was trying to create an Autumn evening view and the deliberate underexposure gave me the key. Yes, I deliberately underexposed to create the effect. I was commanding the camera to create my “perfect” scene for what I wanted.

Experienced photogs make exposure changes regularly

For me, the darker version was right for the reasons I needed that photograph. The control of the intensity of shadows, colours, contrasts, and so on, can be done many ways.

For example, High key shots often use exposure changes. They are created by deliberate overexposure. That brings out the intense whites in a high key image.

Many portraits are lit very brightly to the eye, but a very small aperture or fast shutter speed limits the light entering the camera. This will create an underexposure bringing out the facial features. This gives shadows a depth, without harshness, as can be seen in the next image. This use of exposure changes is a great mood enhancer.

Portrait shot in bright light but underexposed in-camera.

Portrait underexposed in-camera creates a tonally controlled result.

Create the exposure changes you want

How do you create this effect of under or overexposure? Simple. There is a control that can do it in auto or semi-auto modes. While in an auto-mode use the “exposure compensation” dial. You can add or subtract one or two stops of light. You can find out how to use the dial in your manual.

For the learner going fully manual it is even easier. That central needle position is your guide to what the camera calculates as an optimum light level for the shot. To create a manual over or underexposure simply dial the exposure-meter back or forward. Move the needle away from the central position. Shocking I know. You actually create exposure changes by deviating from the central needle position.

Exposure changes of one stop halves or doubles the light entering the camera. So be careful. Take several test shots. Dial one third of a stop or more at a time. Look at the result and check if you have created the right effect.

Create your image in mind – then make exposure changes to suit

The way you want your image is a creative decision. The camera should not be allowed to dictate the outcome.

You have two choices. If you go with the settings the camera gives you, the result is an optimum of the balance of the settings. If you can foresee what you want to achieve, then create your own result. In this case, make the balance of settings so the exposure changes to your choice. Your choice will be different to the result the camera would give you. But with care and practice it will be what you intend for your shot. You have taken control.

So next time you are taking a photo consider this. If you think your picture would be more effective as a darker or lighter representation, then make the exposure changes you need. Do it – create. Really make your images – don’t just capture what is there.

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Damon Guy - Netkonnexion

Damon Guy (Netkonnexion)

Damon is a writer-photographer and editor of this site. He has run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photogs.
See also: Editors ‘Bio’.
By Damon Guy see his profile on Google+.

Headshot poses – make your portrait right

Headshot poses :: Keep it simple.

• Headshot poses •
Keep the shots simple and try to reduce any distracting elements in the shot.
(Image from the video)

Your portraits need to be suitable for your subject…

When you want to do a portrait your subject will often not know what to do. Headshot poses are usually pretty simple. But the subject will look to you for direction. You will need to help them pick the right pose.

What inexperienced photogs forget is that male and female poses are different. So they tell their subject to pose how they do when feeling good. That may not be right for someone of the opposite sex to you.

Think about the gender of the subject in headshot poses

If you are a female, think carefully about your headshot poses for a male. Maleness tends to be angular, more aggressive in stance. Males are often better seen head on where their size seems a little more imposing. A hard, upright position indicates maleness. So does harder shadow lines on the face and angular light direction.

If you are a male photographer, you may think in male terms. Female headshot poses are better as more rounded poses than male shots. Inclined heads and slightly turned bodies are best – not looking directly at the camera. Find ways to pose your women subjects in a smaller more understated pose. Remember, shadows on a female face are more flattering when they are soft and give a more rounded appearance.

Circumstances may effect the headshot poses too

There are a lot of different reasons to take a headshot portrait. They may have particular poses attached to those circumstances. For example business poses still have a masculine and feminine aspect. However, they would tend to be more understated than a free posing session. The same might be said of guests at a wedding – and so on. So you need to consider why the headshot poses are being taken.

Clothing is important too. Headshot poses tend to include only the upper body. So if the clothing is distracting it can draw the eye away from your subjects face. Don’t try to get your subject to do a heavy make-up or high-quality hair do if you are trying for a natural shot. Let the inner person come out. Headshot poses are best done in as simple way as possible. There is going to be a high proportion of face in the shot. Overdoing other things will detract from that.

Setting the mood for your headshot poses

Here are a few extras for you…

  • Relax. Sometimes you can get very uptight when shooting portraits. This will get your subject uptight too. So before you start shooting, take a deep breath, breath out slowly. Then spend a few moments talking to your subject to put them at ease.
  • Jokes help to relax an uptight subject. If you tell a light-weight joke it will help set a light mood.
  • Subjects often have a very uptight face to start with. Sometimes all the expression goes of their face. It is fun and will lighten things up if you tell them to pull a few faces – do it with them. That will help get a few giggles and they will have more expression after doing it.
  • When doing the poses make sure you complement your subject. Headshot poses are best done with natural facial expressions. Reward those with a complement. “Lovely smile”, “Nice eyes”, “love that expression”, and so on. This builds a rapport with your subject. It helps them feel comfortable as they pose too.
How to Pose someone for Headshots

In this five minute “headshot poses” tutorial you are lead through a range of things to consider…
Tony Northrup

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Damon Guy - Netkonnexion

Damon Guy (Netkonnexion)

Damon is a writer-photographer and editor of this site. He has run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photogs.
See also: Editors ‘Bio’.
By Damon Guy see his profile on Google+.

What you can learn from candid photography

Groom • Candid photography :: getting the shot is a pressure.

• Groom •
Candid photography – getting the shot is a pressure. Weddings are times when you need to work particularly fast and accurately. •

Responding is a skill.

When starting on the path to disciplined photography we’re told to slow down. Take careful, measured and pre-visualised shots. We are told to stop trying to frantically pepper the scene with shots. Take time. Take stock. Think everything through. The aim is to get the shot under control.

A good photographer often needs to respond rapidly. The careful, measured approach still applies. They still have to get the picture. However, the pace of a situation demands swift shots. The practised photog can respond with speed and accuracy. Practice at candid photography is a great way to realise those skills for yourself.

Candid photography and practice

The aim is to make a clean, sharp, well composed image. The nature of a candid shot makes that difficult. While trying to make a success of your candid photography some conditions may apply. Some of those may contradict each other…

  • The subject may not know you are going to take a picture.
  • The subject could know you are going to take a picture.
  • The subject may be unpredictable.
  • You will need to be very quick.
  • You will need to be able to get a sharp image despite speedy working.
  • You may have to take several shots (eg. not dozens).
  • Your subject should be in an interesting position.
  • The subject needs to to be in an interesting context in the scene.
  • You should anticipate the shot (rather than getting lucky).
  • You will have your camera ready and settings correct for the shot.
  • You will have only a microsecond to compose the shot.

You just do not know what you are going to encounter until you have to deal with it.

Dealing with all that may seem a tall order. Especially if you are told not to machine-gun the scene with shots. Haste and frantic bursts rarely lead to good luck. Actually, it is not about doing all that at super speed. Like everything you do in photography, candid photography requires preparation, practice and control.

Equipment – knowing what you can do

NO! Do not go out and buy yourself a micro-weight, super-camera. Up-to-date bells and whistles are not the point. Instead, look for simplicity. Sometimes the best camera is an old and familiar one. What we want for this exercise is knowledge.

The best possible way to get fast with a camera is to know what it can do. The lens too. If you are familiar and well versed in using your equipment you will automatically respond to the scene. Here is an example.

In candid photography control of depth of field is essential

• Impish grin •
Keep the subject in focus but the background is frosted out.
In candid photography control of depth of field is essential
(Click to view large)

This shot was captured as this lovely man turned from a conversation. He was talking to someone on his right. I was ready for his turn toward me. His impish grin as he saw me really made the shot.

I wanted a depth of field that had his head and face sharp. I also wanted the background indistinct. Notice the sharpness is lost just on the far shoulder. My lens was set up to have a depth of field of about 400mm (about 15in to 16in). But there was no measurement involved. This was an estimate. It involved knowing the depth of field at my distance from the man, and using the right aperture. This capture is the result of knowing the lens and camera combo really well. It was a practised shot using very familiar equipment. The successful candid photography came out of the practice and familiarity.

Equally, it is easy to get the shot wrong. Depth of field, especially at close range, is fickle. It is easy to get the tip of the nose out of focus, the eyes and face in focus, and the hair out of focus. It is important to look at the variables involved. The aperture size and distance-from-subject control the depth of field. So, try the exercise below using manual settings.

Take a bright coloured builders tape measure. Place a small object beside a mid-point on the measure. Take a photo of the object down the measures’ length. Use a wide aperture. Check out the depth of field by looking at the measurements that are sharp. Now by varying your distance from the object see how much you change the depth of field. Do this for a wide range of apertures. With experience you will get a feel for controlling the depth of field. With twenty or thirty variations you should get a feel for the depth of field.

Settings

Aperture is one setting. ISO and shutter speed are important too. Getting a feel for your equipment means getting familiar with how these settings work.

Candid photography often involves working in darker lighting. Parties and indoor sessions, weddings in churches and in evening light all require wide apertures. You might use flash. But in a lot of situations that may not be practical or desirable. So using a high ISO setting (more sensitive sensor) will allow you to work effectively in lower light. So, lower the light where you are working with the tape measure. Raise the ISO and repeat the exercises. Get a feel for how you can vary the exposure by changing the ISO.

Needless to say you can vary the shutter speed in similar ways. Try the exercise again. This time keep the aperture and ISO fixed and change the shutter speed up and down through a range of shots. [More on varying shutter speed].

Learning to use your settings manually takes more than one session. That is important. You can gain a lot by training yourself to be sensitive to the settings. Working toward good quality candid photography can really help you gain that sensitivity. Poor photographs of faces and people are immediately obvious! You get great feedback from the experience of poor shots.

Composition – seizing the moment

Candid photography is about seizing the moment. You need to use good settings. You also need some understanding of composition. This means working to get your subject in the right environment. They will have an appropriate pose and possibly the right context or behaviour too. Without all these coming together the moment is lost. Setting it all up takes some thought.

Normally people do candid photography with some idea of what they want to achieve. Random wanderings are normally unproductive. Luck follows more often from preparation and forethought than stumbling upon a notable event.

So, have a good think about your scene composition….

  • Set yourself up in a viable position ahead of the shot.
  • Think about how the light is placed in the scene overall.
  • Place yourself for the right background on the far side of the shot.
  • Fix the camera settings for the composition ahead of the shot.

In other words be prepared. Then, when the right moment comes along, you will have the minimum to do. A little composition, framing the shot, is essential. A tweak of the focus possibly… But essentially – you should be ready.

Now you stand the best possible chance of getting the shot.

Candid photography is successful when it all comes together

All this preparation and practice is about getting you to the moment when you take the shot. Making a success of your candid photography is about three things…

  • Knowing your settings.
  • Practice with and knowing your equipment.
  • Forethought about the scene.

Having everything ready is the key. Then when all the elements of the scene come together all you do is frame it and capture. If you succeed in that, you will also make a swift shot. Because, in fact, you have little to do. Speed and accuracy is about being ready with everything and having the minimum to do when the right events pull the shot together.

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Damon Guy - Netkonnexion

Damon Guy (Netkonnexion)

Damon is a writer-photographer and editor of this site. He has run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photogs.
See also: Editors ‘Bio’.
By Damon Guy see his profile on Google+.

Portrait context is about the artist as well as the subject

Portrait context is important in photography

• Portrait context is important in photography •
[Image taken from the video].

Art in a portrait…

…includes much more than meets the eye. Photographers taking their first steps with portraits often see only the person in front of them. But the portrait context also includes the scene, the artist and their culture.

Portrait context – a historical boundary

Portrait art historically reflected the fashions and ideas of the time. For example early civilisations tended to depict people in profile. These flat two dimensional portraits were a mark of early Egyptian art. Much later, in the 14th century, the Renaissance masters did portraits as a three dimensional rendering on the canvas. They used artistic tools the Egyptians did not have.

Today the portrait context is still related to the knowledge and experience of the artist. And, they are partly bound by the conventions of their time, culture and so on. You can never fully be divorced from your context. But, we are free to take a wider, more context-free view of portraits. Artists and photographers are trained to take a broad, imaginative outlook. Art and photography schools give the imaginative freedom of students a wide scope. Breaking the bounds of traditional portraiture is a part of that freedom.

Breaking the bounds of portrait context takes careful thought

Portraiture starters often only see their subject through “everyday” eyes. Most of us are not trained in the ways of imaginative scene setting. So we tend to take portraits that represent our every day view of people. There is nothing wrong with that. Family, friends and others make a fun photograph. The images can be pleasing and satisfying.

Great portraiture goes deeper than that day-to-day view. To push the boundaries of your portraits, think in a different way. The portrait photog should consider their own vision and experience. They also need to think of the environment, cultural context, story and location of the shot. The photographer should understand who they are as well as knowing something of the portrait subject.

Of course knowing these things does not produce a great image. What makes a great portrait is pre-vision. It is how you bring out something in the subject, the scene or the portrait context that is remarkable. This takes a unique perspective.

The art of portrait photography

A strong portrait steps out of the everyday view. In the video we get the perspective of a number of portrait photogs. Each has looked into the portrait context in which they are working. With forethought and insight they have constructed artful portraits. They have also made driven and powerful images of their subjects. Each has a clear understanding of the portrait context. Each has a clear view of what they want to say.

The lesson is, look for a point to make. Understand both what you are working with and what you are working to express.
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Damon Guy - Netkonnexion

Damon Guy (Netkonnexion)

Damon is a writer-photographer and editor of this site. He has also run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photogs.
See also: Editors ‘Bio’.
By Damon Guy see his profile on Google+.

Perfect pictures, perfect lies

Thoughts of the past • Perfect pictures, perfect lies

• Thoughts of the past •
Beauty shines through in a persons character.

The inner person…

A portrait should capture something special about the person. That special thing comes out in many ways. A different way in everyone. It’s always there. You cannot edit it in. But you can sure edit it out. Perfect lies are created when your edits make a deception of the original picture.

Perfect pictures

I love working with older people. Their characters are full and their faces tell you a lot about that inner person. Through their face they shine out as people who have experience and depth. That complements the story they tell you in words. At a recent shoot I was lucky enough to meet a large number of veterans.

We talked and I made photos of them. It was a lunch held in their honour. Many of them talked about what they did in the war. There was pride in the service they did. They talked less about what happened to them. I sensed a deep sense of melancholy in some of the words I heard. It was clear that these people remembered much more than they told.

Beautiful people are much more than just lovely faces. In our modern culture we shy away from imperfection. Every magazine shouts about the perfect in something. Faces, homes, products and many more things show some aspect of the perfect. Other media are the same.

In the faces of these veterans I saw perfection of a different kind. A completeness that comes with age. It is not the wrinkles or the blemishes. Those are surface things. It is about the roundness of experience, the depth of feeling and an acceptance of the world.

The images I made of these lovely people will not be found in magazines. They were not perfect pictures. These beautiful people showed the many imperfections we all know come with age. The point is, to me, that makes them all the more beautiful and interesting.

Perfect lies

The modern media that sell perfection create a world of perfect lies. The beauty in a person is swapped out for the false beauty made in Photo editor applications. My gentle adventure at the veterans lunch is the opposite of the smooth perfection found in the media today.

I have nothing against skilled editing. Photography today demands precise editing. Perhaps to a greater degree than in the past. To develop a photograph always involved a certain amount of editing. Today, photo editors give us much more editing power than the people using chemical films had. It is this power that allows the creation of perfect lies.

It is a shame that the power of photo editors has taken the art to beyond the true story of the photograph. I use edits in my photography. It is an important way to bring out the best in an image in post processing. However, I draw the line at creating a fiction. For me everyone has a beauty that can be shown in some way or another. You don’t need to create a fiction to bring that out. Perfect lies are told by the creation of a deceptive fiction by editing.

In the video below we can see this fiction emerging with every stroke of the brush. I question the validity of such work. It is not photography. It raises questions about how the media manipulate our view of women in particular. And other aspects of our everyday lives are affected too.

I know there are arguments for and against extreme edits. In some cases they create art. But the perfect lies are there when there is deliberate deception. Once a picture tells a story to deceive with intent, actual damage can be done. Modern media would have young people believe that gaunt is good. So many women hate their own bodies because they do not fit the size zero myth. Those same women have beauty of their own. They have had it all along. It is just taken away from them. It is flushed away by unreasonable expectations and the perfect lies of modern photo editing. That is a very sad thing.

How perfect lies are created

In the video below is an extreme make-over sequence. While it shows great skill, it tells a story that is a clear deception. It is important not blame people for this work. There is no conspiracy. This work is a cultural mindset. It is one we need to be aware of in our own photography. For me it is one I would like us to leave behind.

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If you are interested in some other extreme makeover videos there are plenty. YouTube has pages of them. Here is a sample of perfect lies in the making… PhotoShop extreme makeover videos.