Compulsory portrait

[aslsw]

This is the first time I have posted one of my photos here...

The backstory to this image is that I moved to Geneva a year ago. As my wife didn't join me from the start, I was at a bit of a loose end so I joined some photo walks organised by a local photographer. The format is that we walk around different parts of the city, but each walk has a compulsory session where were are paired up to take portraits of each other.

I'll admit that I have always hated portraits. I guess I'm uncomfortable with interacting with people, thinking about posing, trying to work with people who feel uncomfortable in front of the camera etc. The portraits from the first photowalk were quite simply terrible.

But on my second photowalk I was paired up with this lady who, despite her protestations, just seemed to be a natural. I took about 40-50 shots of her (yes, it feels very creepy to be taking that many photos of another woman) in a mix of black-and-white and colour.

Looking at the photo now, I know it could be better technically and with more experience I hope I am getting better, but there is something about the lighting and the pose which were very much "in the moment" and can never be recreated.

Despite the objection of my wife, and for reasons I can't really explain, I think this is one of the best photos I have ever taken. The subject was also very happy with the result!

f5.6, 1/200s, ISO5000

[chauncey]

I think this is one of the best photos I have ever taken

The photo is quite nice, but it's the monologue that kinda bothers me in that, IMHO, you're attaching
excessive importance to this one image.

[aslsw]

The photo is quite nice, but it's the monologue that kinda bothers me in that, IMHO, you're attaching
excessive importance to this one image.

I guess the point of the monologue was to discuss how I got to the point of taking portraits for the first time in years. In the end, I don't know why I like that photo - I just do. And I think that's the biggest lesson I have learned over the last year - I try to let the technical stuff wash away and just figure out if I like something or not.

I'll try to shut up in future!!

[Mike Buckley]

I think it's a very nice image and I also enjoyed the explanation of how it came to be. If the image is important to you for whatever reason, I think that's fine.

The one suggestion I can make is that you decide why you like or dislike a particular photo. Until you understand that, you won't be able to reliably make photos that you enjoy.

[Manfred M]

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I'm with you and do try to put some information about the image and what I was thinking about / trying to do to put the shot into context for the viewers, so you are not alone. I think this really adds to the viewer's knowledge when looking at your work.

It seems to me that this work is quite important as it really is the anchor that kept you moving in photography. I think analysing why you like it and the specific subtilies that you like (and dislike about it) and use that as a tool to continue to improve your work.

Nice shot!

[Shadowman]

This is the first time I have posted one of my photos here...

Despite the objection of my wife, and for reasons I can't really explain, I think this is one of the best photos I have ever taken. The subject was also very happy with the result!

f5.6, 1/200s, ISO5000

I can possibly see why the wife would object.
Was this woman a photographer, it would partly explain why she was reluctant to pose, I'd rather be behind the camera rather than in front of it; the person behind the camera is having all the fun.

Nice image.

[aslsw]

I can possibly see why the wife would object.
Was this woman a photographer, it would partly explain why she was reluctant to pose, I'd rather be behind the camera rather than in front of it; the person behind the camera is having all the fun.

Nice image.

The lady in the photo was just another member of the photowalk group. The requirement is that we pair up, and then spend 10 minutes taking portraits of each other in turn.

And yes, posing for another person is more challenging than getting someone to pose for you!

Apart from my first photowalk, all of my other partners were ladies!

[aslsw]

It seems to me that this work is quite important as it really is the anchor that kept you moving in photography.

Thank you - you've clarified something for me. When I first looked at that photo, it was probably the first time that I thought "I can do this!" ie. take portraits. Not always successfully, but definitely worth making the attempt.

I think analysing why you like it and the specific subtilies that you like (and dislike about it) and use that as a tool to continue to improve your work.

Things I like:

- lack of direct eye contact. Even though I was there, it makes we wonder what she was thinking about. Lack of direct eye contact is also somehow less confronting,
- lack of background. One of the things I struggle with in posing other people is finding places where there is no background to distract the eye. On our photowalks, you just have to use whatever place we are in - this was in a schoolyard,
- light. There's just enough contrast to highlight her facial features, with a faint outline on her neck and face to separate her from the wall behind.

[aslsw]

Thanks for the comments so far.

Although I used to anticipate the portrait sessions with dread, one of the things that I appreciated was stepping outside my comfort zone and trying something different.

Your comments have made me realise that this style has become part of my new comfort zone - more candid style photos of people. It's less intrusive than direct portraiture and requires less interaction with the subject, but then can also subject to the variables of time and place. I also like it because it feels more natural, and now I realise that I've been incorporating it more and more into my photography.

[Shadowman]

Things I like:


- lack of background. One of the things I struggle with in posing other people is finding places where there is no background to distract the eye. On our photowalks, you just have to use whatever place we are in - this was in a schoolyard,
- light. There's just enough contrast to highlight her facial features, with a faint outline on her neck and face to separate her from the wall behind.

Anura,

As I'm assure you aware, you can achieve that distraction free background through use of wider aperture, placement of subject to the background, and your position to the subject.

[aslsw]

"Aware" in a technical sense, but the issue is to practice until it becomes normal.

In this case, aperture was something that I was definitely conscious of. The background I deliberately chose but I'll confess that looking at the results it seem feels like a fluke (ie. lucky). Position subjects is the hard one - working with people to get the right combination of background, expression and pose really takes me out my comfort zone. Something to practice...

[Shadowman]

"Aware" in a technical sense, but the issue is to practice until it becomes normal.

In this case, aperture was something that I was definitely conscious of. The background I deliberately chose but I'll confess that looking at the results it seem feels like a fluke (ie. lucky). Position subjects is the hard one - working with people to get the right combination of background, expression and pose really takes me out my comfort zone. Something to practice...

Anura,

If it's something you really want to pursue; consider finding a workshop where there will be people willing to participate as models.

[Werner]

Well, I like the portrait. - The story, I don't know....

[Manfred M]

Things I like:

- lack of direct eye contact. Even though I was there, it makes we wonder what she was thinking about. Lack of direct eye contact is also somehow less confronting,.

This is something that can be duplicated fairly easily as you pose your model. Ask him or her do for you. That being said, you are getting rather close to having the nose cut across the cheek line, but it works, so good.

- lack of background. One of the things I struggle with in posing other people is finding places where there is no background to distract the eye. On our photowalks, you just have to use whatever place we are in - this was in a schoolyard,.

I assume that you can move around and shoot against a relatively plain background, even on a photo walk? Shallow depth of field can be a termendous tool in ensuring that the background does not compete with the model.

- light. There's just enough contrast to highlight her facial features, with a faint outline on her neck and face to separate her from the wall behind.

Again, good observations, the background contrasts your model's hair (i.e. shooting blonde or someone with light hair might not have worked as well. Same comment for the chin, again, the tone of the background contrasts with the model's face and chin, and again, you have the separation of the model from the background.