Tag Archives: People

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.
PBSoffbook  External link - opens new tab/page

Comments, additions, amendments or ideas on this article? Contact Us
or why not leave a comment at the bottom of the page…

Like this article? Don’t miss the next — sign up for tips by email.

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+.

Forty six quick street photography tips

street photography tips: Worry · Street photography can be anything you want it to be - just do it!

· Worry ·
Street photography can be anything you want it to be – just do it!

Click image to view large.
• Worry • By Netkonnexion on Flickr External link - opens new tab/page
Street photography tips to get you out there…

The best street photography requires rapid thinking.

Here are some really quick street photography tips to make sure that you do better photography on the street. They are aimed at getting out there and doing it. They are all about different situations and ways to approach them. Here are our 46 top street photography tips…

Forty six quick street photography tips
  1. Get out there, you can’t take street shots indoors!
  2. A big camera is daunting for people on the street.
  3. Always shoot in RAW – street shots need proper processing.
  4. Respect the people you shoot, then they will respect you.
  5. Polish your lenses – street dirt ruins shots.
  6. Get in close to the action – you will get better expressions.
  7. The simplest little actions make a great story.
  8. Remember reflections – windows, puddles, glasses, mirrors.
  9. If you feel uncomfortable – get out of there.
  10. Open up a wide aperture, some street shots work with lots of bokeh.
  11. Find ways to isolate the action – less distraction focuses the viewers eye.
  12. You are not a spy. Be there, in the scene. Don’t try to hide.
  13. Go light with your camera equipment.
  14. Set yourself up to take fast pictures.
  15. Try three different positions, stay a while in each.
  16. Beware of traffic headlights, winkers etc, they can overpower a shot.
  17. Use a non-photography bag to draw less attention to yourself.
  18. Be observant, be fast to react. Still you’ll miss more than you shoot.
  19. Working with a friend is good fun and gives you confidence.
  20. Do not use flash when doing street photography.
  21. Talk to people – shoot them posed, also catch them unaware.
  22. The best street shots have a strong story.
  23. Big cities have great street scenes, but so does the local main street.
  24. Brightly coloured cameras and equipment attract undue attention.
  25. Make people laugh and your street will come alive.
  26. You get some great street shots in the rain.
  27. Shoot people not things – there is more interest in humans!
  28. Bump up the ISO to get the right light sensitivity.
  29. Try shots from down low, the perspective works well against buildings.
  30. F11, pure heaven!

More street photography tips after this…

 

Quick street photography tips continued…

  1. Photograph both men and women.
  2. Try some shots in a tourist attraction – people relax there.
  3. Candid captures are way better than posed pictures.
  4. Sometimes shoot the whole person. Sometimes just the face.
  5. Feet can be interesting. Try the different approach.
  6. Think before you shoot – every shot should have a message to offer.
  7. What are people carrying? Get the feeling of the place.
  8. Keep away from anyone or any place you consider ‘worrying’.
  9. Look for tonal, colour, and shape contrasts.
  10. Capture relationships – they make great stories.
  11. Try wide angle shots, capture a wider perspective – the whole scene counts.
  12. Prime lenses help you get into the scene – 50mm is great.
  13. Look for sadness, look for happiness – shoot for emotions.
  14. Digital noise from high ISO is preferable to hand movement blur.
  15. Shoot in colour. Be prepared to go to black and white in processing.
  16. Be confident – it won’t work for you if you don’t work a scene.

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+.

Some Quick Portrait Tips

It goes without saying that every photographer has to do portraits at some time. I remember that I took some great portraits back in the day… or did I? Well, I laugh at myself now because when I look back at my early portraits I made all the classic mistakes! I cut off bits, I got the lighting wrong, I fluffed the focus. Well I guess we all did those things at least once.

In this video are some very quick tips to improve your portraits. I expect that you have got past the mistakes I made above! So these quick points are nice easy ways to move forward with your portrait shots without too much effort. Small changes make for big improvements in the shots. So have a look at this…

Can you write? Of course you can!
Write for Photokonnexion...

We would love to have your articles or tips posted on our site.
Find out more…
Write for Photokonnexion.