Formal Portraits:
-time and effort is evident in final product
-prepare in advance
-background on a wall, 10-20 feet of clear space in front of the background
-stool 4-6 feet in front of the background for subject
-light 45 degrees to the right of subject
-adjust angle and position of the reflector for best effect
-camera directly in front of subject
Camera Settings:
-good that background may be out of focus
-f-stops keeps subjects in focus and keeps emphasis where it belongs
Indoor Lighting:
-45 degree angle on one side or the other of your subject
-use a reflector until light is just right
Outdoor Lighting:
-direct sunlight is not best, too harsh and subject awkward
-open shade is good
-cloudy days are great for photography
Candid Protraits:
-capture a person going about everyday life and activites (sports, watching TV, talking with friends, etc.)
-natural shots are more effective than posed
-surroundings are important in candids
-take more pictures when trying to capture a good candid shot than normal posed pictures
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Journal Notes 108-113
Working with People
-a portrait is a collaborative project between the subject and the photographer
-make sure your subject feels at ease and at home
Camera Formats
-you want a balance between having enough detail and being able to respond quickly to your subject
-35mm cameras are best for candid and environmental portraits
-portraits location and subject's belongings can say a lot about him or her
Film Speed
Slow Films (50 to 100 ISO)
-finer grain catures more detail and creates smoother loocking images, which makes them good for formal portraits
-slow films usually mean slower shutter speed
Fast Films (400 to 3200 ISO)
-more sensitve to light, better for candid and environmental protraits
-doesnt capture fine details as well
Black and White or Color?
-black and white can focus the viewers attention on the subject
-most people prefer color
-colors set mood or tone
Lenses For Portraits
-24mm=worst, too close to subject, not flattering whatsoever
-50mm= little less distortion than the 24mm, still not flattering
-100mm= most flattering, near normal perspective, no distortion
Camera Accessories
-tripod=three-legged metal stand on which you can mount your camera
-tripods steady the camera, and help sharpen your shots and concentrate on the best positioning
-cable release=flexible wire, one end of which attaches to the camera's shutter release, lets you change shutter without actually touching the camera
-reflector=anything that will reflect light
Formal Portrait
-simpliest, and only emphasizes the subject and nothing else
-neutral backgrounds
Julia Margaret Cameron
-England, 1815-1879
-started taking pictures at age 48
-got camera as gift from eldest daughter and she soon became obcessed with photography
-self taught and most pictures were dreamlike, romantic paintings of the artists of her time
-today her photos live on, inspiring and influencing well known photographers such as, Alfred Stieglitz and Cindy Sherman
-a portrait is a collaborative project between the subject and the photographer
-make sure your subject feels at ease and at home
Camera Formats
-you want a balance between having enough detail and being able to respond quickly to your subject
-35mm cameras are best for candid and environmental portraits
-portraits location and subject's belongings can say a lot about him or her
Film Speed
Slow Films (50 to 100 ISO)
-finer grain catures more detail and creates smoother loocking images, which makes them good for formal portraits
-slow films usually mean slower shutter speed
Fast Films (400 to 3200 ISO)
-more sensitve to light, better for candid and environmental protraits
-doesnt capture fine details as well
Black and White or Color?
-black and white can focus the viewers attention on the subject
-most people prefer color
-colors set mood or tone
Lenses For Portraits
-24mm=worst, too close to subject, not flattering whatsoever
-50mm= little less distortion than the 24mm, still not flattering
-100mm= most flattering, near normal perspective, no distortion
Camera Accessories
-tripod=three-legged metal stand on which you can mount your camera
-tripods steady the camera, and help sharpen your shots and concentrate on the best positioning
-cable release=flexible wire, one end of which attaches to the camera's shutter release, lets you change shutter without actually touching the camera
-reflector=anything that will reflect light
Formal Portrait
-simpliest, and only emphasizes the subject and nothing else
-neutral backgrounds
Julia Margaret Cameron
-England, 1815-1879
-started taking pictures at age 48
-got camera as gift from eldest daughter and she soon became obcessed with photography
-self taught and most pictures were dreamlike, romantic paintings of the artists of her time
-today her photos live on, inspiring and influencing well known photographers such as, Alfred Stieglitz and Cindy Sherman
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Journal Notes: Portraits (103-107)
Portraits:
-people are the most popular subject for photography
-we record the milestones and events of our lives, i.e. birthdays and holidays, to tell the story of our lives
-portraits=demonstrate the similarities and differences between the subject and the viewer, we can see ourselves in the face of another person
-formal portraits=emphasize only the person who is the subject of the photo.
-candid's= capture a persons going about normal day to day activities
-environmental=place the person in a setting that says something about him or her
-self-portraits=feature you
Early Portrait Photography:
-photography replaced painting as the primary medium of portraits
-nearly everyone could afford one
-Gaspard-Felix Tournachon(1820-1910), was the first great portrait photographer, starting in France in 1853
-Tournachon used "Nadar", with soft lighting and plain, dark backgrounds to reveal his subjects personality
-August Sander (Germany, 1876-1964) created some of the first environmental photos
-showed subjects lives and work
-created a photo documentary on the lives of German people from all walks of life
Creating Portrait Photos:
-value is important (range of dark and light)
-keep in mind location of light
-subtle changes in value can provide a sense of depth in an image
-values can also bring emotional content to a shot, bright scenes convery happiness, while dark convey sad, or depressing
-balance and rule of thirds are also important techniques
Shape and Form:
-when a line meets itself, a shape is created
-in any composition our eyes are drawn to shapes and our minds quickly try to make sense of them
-by presenting your subject as the dominant shape, you can emphasize him or her, creating an imediate sense of importance for the subject
-with groups of people try triangles, feels balances and solid
-people are the most popular subject for photography
-we record the milestones and events of our lives, i.e. birthdays and holidays, to tell the story of our lives
-portraits=demonstrate the similarities and differences between the subject and the viewer, we can see ourselves in the face of another person
-formal portraits=emphasize only the person who is the subject of the photo.
-candid's= capture a persons going about normal day to day activities
-environmental=place the person in a setting that says something about him or her
-self-portraits=feature you
Early Portrait Photography:
-photography replaced painting as the primary medium of portraits
-nearly everyone could afford one
-Gaspard-Felix Tournachon(1820-1910), was the first great portrait photographer, starting in France in 1853
-Tournachon used "Nadar", with soft lighting and plain, dark backgrounds to reveal his subjects personality
-August Sander (Germany, 1876-1964) created some of the first environmental photos
-showed subjects lives and work
-created a photo documentary on the lives of German people from all walks of life
Creating Portrait Photos:
-value is important (range of dark and light)
-keep in mind location of light
-subtle changes in value can provide a sense of depth in an image
-values can also bring emotional content to a shot, bright scenes convery happiness, while dark convey sad, or depressing
-balance and rule of thirds are also important techniques
Shape and Form:
-when a line meets itself, a shape is created
-in any composition our eyes are drawn to shapes and our minds quickly try to make sense of them
-by presenting your subject as the dominant shape, you can emphasize him or her, creating an imediate sense of importance for the subject
-with groups of people try triangles, feels balances and solid
Monday, October 4, 2010
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