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Portraits and Self-Portraits

Portrait and Self-Portraits Preview

1. Shoot Candidly

Sometimes posed shots can look somewhat…. posed. Some people don’t look good in a posed environment and so switching to a candid type approach can work.

Photograph your subject at work, with family or doing something that they love. This will put them more at ease and you can end up getting some special shots with them reacting naturally to the situation that they are in. You might even want to grab a longer zoom lens to take you out of their immediate zone and get really paparazzi with them.

2. Hold your camera at 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 in 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.

3. The Casual Portrait

Wherever you are with your camera, always be on the lookout for those moments when a person's character shines though. If you have a formal portrait session with someone, make some frames of him while he straightens his tie or while she brushes her hair before the formal sitting. Walk back to the car with her and shoot her on the street. If you are on a spring picnic with the family, look for that moment of bliss when your wife leans back, sated, to enjoy the caress of the warm sun. If you're on the street, look for the impatient expression on a pedestrian's face as he waits for the light to change. Always be on the lookout for the telling moment. Every person has a story, and every picture should tell part of that story.

Environmental Portraits:

I like how this man's environment is depicted. I picked this photo because it stands out from all the other photographs.

I like this photo because this fisher looks content with his surroundings. The water in the background looks beautiful.

Self-Portraits:

I like this photo because it's not as intense and form as most other self-portraits I saw.  I chose it because it's funny and stands out from the others.

I like this photo because it's from an interesting perspective, I assume he's standing below a mirror. I chose it because I like the style of this photograph.

Casual Portraits:

I like this portrait because it's really well positioned. I chose it because the man looks formal yet full of emotion.

                                       

I like this portrait because the woman looks genuinely happy, and I also chose it because it portrays a good use of aperture.

For my portrait assignment, I plan to shoot my friend Lilly in a semi-urban setting, like an outdoor shopping mall or something of that sort. I plan to shoot during the sunset in order to achieve a nice warm lighting, and maybe shoot under a street lamp or something. I like my photos being a little dark so I won't set the shutter speed that low. And for my self-portrait, I plan to shoot in my backyard against the wall of my house in the afternoon.

Magazine Tips

1. It should be emotionally irresistible
2. It should arouse the viewer's curiosity.
3. It should be intellectually stimulating.
4. It should be efficient, fast, and easy to scan.
5. It should be worth the investment of money and time.

American Soldier

A: The most powerful image from the article is the one depicting Fisher laying in bed, talking on the phone and holding his handgun. It shows how accustomed he's become to military lifestyle.
B: The images work together to tell a story by portraying the transition of Ian's physical appearance, his attitude, and his perseverance.
C: The captions enhance the photographs by giving the viewer a back-story as to what's happening in the photo.
D: Ian Fisher graduated high school and immediately decided to enlist in the military, he felt the need to support his country and its people. Fisher was reluctant at first, constantly wondering about life back home but, over time, grew stronger and stronger. He powered through months and months of strenuous training, testing both his mind and his body. Once his training was complete, Ian served in Afghanistan for an entire year before returning home and marrying his girlfriend.
E: The verbs are usually written in Third Person POV.
F:
1. The captions average 2-3 sentences.
2. The first sentence describes what's happening in the photo.
3. The second sentence provides a little background information.
4. The third sentence usually provides more background info on top of what's already given.
5. Yes, some captions include a quote.
6. Yes, there are a few that have four sentences.
G: It's possible to tell an entire story with just photos and captions because photos contain lots of emotion, and the viewer picks up on those emotions.
H. Although photos are powerful, they omit a lot of information, which is why people write stories instead of just taking pictures.