My first few portaits

[SolBadGuy]

I agree with YQT.

Kel1ng, firstly, let me say that I am a noob at portraits. I haven't shot a serious portrait in over 20 years, give or take, but I just started dabbling again. Perhaps one day I will have enough courage to post up a few photos.

Your courage to post up, and to learn is admirable, and I also feel that the kind folks who have supported and contributed to that process are to be applauded for their openess and willingness to share.

Petertherock actually has, in my opinion, a very healthy attitude and approach to the whole 'business' of portrait photography.

To me, it's about capturing the essence of the subject, or to portray them in a manner that suits a vision (more about this later), or portray them in a manner that lifts them up from the everyday - regardless of the fact that they may not suit a majority popularly perceived and projected mould of what is considered beautiful, alluring, sexy or desirable.

Also, you'll find that in Asia, or some parts, definitions may be a little different from that of our western counterparts where 'portrait', 'glamour', 'people' and 'fashion' photography is concerned. Don't let that stop you from exploring whatever gnere of photography involving humans you want to.

Forget the labels.

Trash the limits.

And for awhile, don't care what the world thinks, save for your chosen mentor.

Don't look, but start to SEE what you want to create, or capture even before you take your camera out of the cabinet. Creating and capturing are two very different things altogether, just as looking and seeing are entirely different.

Then go out and shoot, shoot, shoot ... and along the way, with a lot of hard work and discipline, you will improve technically, and with that technical ability, you will realise that you have more freedom - to explore possibilities, cross boundaries, and start to create.

That's probably when you will also realise that there's something called a 'vision'. Or put simply, the way a particular photographer sees the world, and his or her subjects, and how that affects his or her works.

When you can start to develop your own vision, and transpose that into tangible works, is when you really start to learn how to fly.

Where craftsmanship in art is concerned, it's always been all about that elusive thing called freedom.

Not sure if this makes any sense, but I guess I could have put it better. I'm tired right now.

CHEERS!

excellent advice! :thumbsup: this is indeed a motivating piece of advice that influences a noob portrait photographer like me as well! thanks!

 

[petetherock]

I am glad there are like minded friends, and here is another different view.
If you are really starting out, avoid merely gravitating towards portraits only, try everything, eg I find my best works are in other areas, see my travel photos, I like them for the memories they bring.

Main thing is, enjoy yourself and let your model have fun too!

The challenge is making a simple average man or woman look wonderful and come back for more

 

[petetherock]

BTW I added a different kind of 'portrait' in my thread, experiment!

 

[petetherock]

Also this adjacent thread shows how to have fun with a 'theme' and practise techniques in lighting, mood and capturing expressions.

No SYT hired for this shoot:

http://clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=316579

 

[kel1ng]

I agree with YQT.

Kel1ng, firstly, let me say that I am a noob at portraits. I haven't shot a serious portrait in over 20 years, give or take, but I just started dabbling again. Perhaps one day I will have enough courage to post up a few photos.

Your courage to post up, and to learn is admirable, and I also feel that the kind folks who have supported and contributed to that process are to be applauded for their openess and willingness to share.

Petertherock actually has, in my opinion, a very healthy attitude and approach to the whole 'business' of portrait photography.

To me, it's about capturing the essence of the subject, or to portray them in a manner that suits a vision (more about this later), or portray them in a manner that lifts them up from the everyday - regardless of the fact that they may not suit a majority popularly perceived and projected mould of what is considered beautiful, alluring, sexy or desirable.

Also, you'll find that in Asia, or some parts, definitions may be a little different from that of our western counterparts where 'portrait', 'glamour', 'people' and 'fashion' photography is concerned. Don't let that stop you from exploring whatever gnere of photography involving humans you want to.

Forget the labels.

Trash the limits.

And for awhile, don't care what the world thinks, save for your chosen mentor.

Don't look, but start to SEE what you want to create, or capture even before you take your camera out of the cabinet. Creating and capturing are two very different things altogether, just as looking and seeing are entirely different.

Then go out and shoot, shoot, shoot ... and along the way, with a lot of hard work and discipline, you will improve technically, and with that technical ability, you will realise that you have more freedom - to explore possibilities, cross boundaries, and start to create.

That's probably when you will also realise that there's something called a 'vision'. Or put simply, the way a particular photographer sees the world, and his or her subjects, and how that affects his or her works.

When you can start to develop your own vision, and transpose that into tangible works, is when you really start to learn how to fly.

Where craftsmanship in art is concerned, it's always been all about that elusive thing called freedom.

Not sure if this makes any sense, but I guess I could have put it better. I'm tired right now.

CHEERS!

Bro very well said, very encouraging n motivating really appreciate ur time for viewing n comments. Thanks

 

[kel1ng]

I am glad there are like minded friends, and here is another different view.
If you are really starting out, avoid merely gravitating towards portraits only, try everything, eg I find my best works are in other areas, see my travel photos, I like them for the memories they bring.

Main thing is, enjoy yourself and let your model have fun too!

The challenge is making a simple average man or woman look wonderful and come back for more

Hi Pete i took up photography actually more for my orchids than for portaiture...... was thinking of capturing my orchid's bloom for future references .......but along the way i got to noe CS....n it's many threads with many beautiful pics had influenced me to try on other fields.....actually my first few post r mainly on flowers in the Macros and closed up galleries.......

 

[kel1ng]

Also this adjacent thread shows how to have fun with a 'theme' and practise techniques in lighting, mood and capturing expressions.

No SYT hired for this shoot:

http://clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=316579

Capturing the model's mood and emotions at the right timing is not really easy.........that is one field in photography that i really like to improve upon......... But i've got a strange feeling that maybe this kind of skill is more of a in-born kind of thing rather than something which u can learn.

 

[Dream Merchant]

Your welcome.

I wasn't sure if what I shared would be of any help, but I figured that since other very established photographers were already giving technical advise, I 'd offer a few thoughts of my own.

Kel, you'll find that once you get technically proficient, capturing expressions is the easierpart of the equation. It's getting the subject to feel comfortable enough to make a great shot, or to project a certain mood - that's the most difficult part.

There are lots of tips and techniques, and it all starts with good communication skills, and knowing exactly what you want the subject to do, or not do.

As you start to shoot more, you'll find that a lot of subjects will look desperately to you, the photograper for posing ideas and directions. If you're not sure, it will show immediately. If you're shakey and not confident, you will loose the subject's trust. If you're technically deficient, or do not have a very clear idea of what you're doing even before the shoot, you'll spend more time struggling with equipment and settings and going "err...ahhh...i think...err...you can try err...that pose lah....like the one in that magazine ah...move your arm a bit. Where? Err...just down a bit...er, NO! Not liddat. Like the err..." than on the shoot itself.

I'm not necessarily referring to stiff, posed shots, but even dynamic shoots that involve a lot of movement. Unless you're doing a fairly serene, static mood/pose/shot, if you look at any of the utube videos of model shoots, you'll find that a lot of movement is involved as this allows the subject more room to project a particular expression, and to explore body movements, which in turn leads to more options when it comes to projecting a whole range of expressions - and a lot of these girls (guys tend to be a bit more type-casted and have less room to explore) can give you the required 8 -12 expressions in under 3 minutes. Take the cue from professional overseas models, and observe very carefully what they do the minute the photographer starts a particular set.

Sad to say, most of the models I've seen are very lacking in this area, and that's a serious impediment to the way a photographer works, or what he or she can create. They are not aware of their bodies, and movement, posture, positioning and how that would make or break a shot. Being pretty (subjective) and having a great bod (again, subjective) and a willingness to bare flesh or dance around at a shoot does not a great subject make. The best subjects I've worked with for structured shoots were from the UK and the US, and non-classical dancers tend to be great subjects to work with specifically because of their general zest for life, but more so because they are very aware of, and feel comfortable with their bodies, timing, movement, and to a large extent, projection.

For the more serene, static shoots, good, light-hearted conversation and clear directions are always an asset apart from a clear idea of a few different sets, and settings, and what sort of light/location/setting/props, if any, are required.

For the foundational work, visit your public library and look for books on portrait photography and specifically, how to poses. Yes, that book is available - I've seen it before.

You may not want to follow everything written, or even disagree, but the writings will give you a basic, but much needed understanding to posing options, how different body/body parts positioning will look in a photograph, and overall, how to use the sum of all parts to help you create a certain look. On a sidenote, having all that information will also help you guide a subject especially when the subject is new, and nervous, into easy, flowing poses. I find it a lot easier to just show the subject instead of trying to describe it all. But you cant guide or show anything if you're not in posession of that knowledge in the first place. So, again, before you take your camera out of the cabinet, go, do research, read a lot and learn as much as you can.

Hope this helps.

 

[kel1ng]

Your welcome.

I wasn't sure if what I shared would be of any help, but I figured that since other very established photographers were already giving technical advise, I 'd offer a few thoughts of my own.

Kel, you'll find that once you get technically proficient, capturing expressions is the easierpart of the equation. It's getting the subject to feel comfortable enough to make a great shot, or to project a certain mood - that's the most difficult part.

There are lots of tips and techniques, and it all starts with good communication skills, and knowing exactly what you want the subject to do, or not do.

As you start to shoot more, you'll find that a lot of subjects will look desperately to you, the photograper for posing ideas and directions. If you're not sure, it will show immediately. If you're shakey and not confident, you will loose the subject's trust. If you're technically deficient, or do not have a very clear idea of what you're doing even before the shoot, you'll spend more time struggling with equipment and settings and going "err...ahhh...i think...err...you can try err...that pose lah....like the one in that magazine ah...move your arm a bit. Where? Err...just down a bit...er, NO! Not liddat. Like the err..." than on the shoot itself.

I'm not necessarily referring to stiff, posed shots, but even dynamic shoots that involve a lot of movement. Unless you're doing a fairly serene, static mood/pose/shot, if you look at any of the utube videos of model shoots, you'll find that a lot of movement is involved as this allows the subject more room to project a particular expression, and to explore body movements, which in turn leads to more options when it comes to projecting a whole range of expressions - and a lot of these girls (guys tend to be a bit more type-casted and have less room to explore) can give you the required 8 -12 expressions in under 3 minutes. Take the cue from professional overseas models, and observe very carefully what they do the minute the photographer starts a particular set.

Sad to say, most of the models I've seen are very lacking in this area, and that's a serious impediment to the way a photographer works, or what he or she can create. They are not aware of their bodies, and movement, posture, positioning and how that would make or break a shot. Being pretty (subjective) and having a great bod (again, subjective) and a willingness to bare flesh or dance around at a shoot does not a great subject make. The best subjects I've worked with for structured shoots were from the UK and the US, and non-classical dancers tend to be great subjects to work with specifically because of their general zest for life, but more so because they are very aware of, and feel comfortable with their bodies, timing, movement, and to a large extent, projection.

For the more serene, static shoots, good, light-hearted conversation and clear directions are always an asset apart from a clear idea of a few different sets, and settings, and what sort of light/location/setting/props, if any, are required.

For the foundational work, visit your public library and look for books on portrait photography and specifically, how to poses. Yes, that book is available - I've seen it before.

You may not want to follow everything written, or even disagree, but the writings will give you a basic, but much needed understanding to posing options, how different body/body parts positioning will look in a photograph, and overall, how to use the sum of all parts to help you create a certain look. On a sidenote, having all that information will also help you guide a subject especially when the subject is new, and nervous, into easy, flowing poses. I find it a lot easier to just show the subject instead of trying to describe it all. But you cant guide or show anything if you're not in posession of that knowledge in the first place. So, again, before you take your camera out of the cabinet, go, do research, read a lot and learn as much as you can.

Hope this helps.

Thanks bro........will jus do that.......more research.......more hard work........ and for wat i personally think, more observation in other people's shots (both good and bad)........

 

[Dream Merchant]

A bit of shamless advertising, but these should be fun:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Yg-5U-YQj0c

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lW8TnZpaugY&mode=related&search=

Some really stunning environmental portraits with real people: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0BTDjkn5Wrg&mode=related&search=

A very captivating portfolio. A bit edgy, in a very nice way! http://youtube.com/watch?v=YXki44rQFLo

Reference list but these are more for fashion and glamour: http://youtube.com/results?search=related&search_query=model shoot modeling&v=vS-KHj9Rcl4

There are tons more out there. Don't get lost in it all and zoom in on the ones that offer tangible and helpful insights, and the more interesting portfolios.

CHEERS!

 

[kel1ng]

A bit of shamless advertising, but these should be fun:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Yg-5U-YQj0c

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lW8TnZpaugY&mode=related&search=

Some really stunning environmental portraits with real people: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0BTDjkn5Wrg&mode=related&search=

A very captivating portfolio. A bit edgy, in a very nice way! http://youtube.com/watch?v=YXki44rQFLo

Reference list but these are more for fashion and glamour: http://youtube.com/results?search=related&search_query=model shoot modeling&v=vS-KHj9Rcl4

There are tons more out there. Don't get lost in it all and zoom in on the ones that offer tangible and helpful insights, and the more interesting portfolios.

CHEERS!

Thanks for the link bro.........