The Portrait
Requirements:
Photograph one person as many different ways as you can think of.
At least 12 exposures must be close up photographs (waist up).
At least 12 photographs must be taken outside for optimal lighting.
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-Back lighting – As a silhouette in a sunset, or against a window, or from an artificial source such as a lamp placed behind the subject. Be careful with this lighting and take a close up meter reading of your subject. The light meter can be fooled when using backlighting.
-Direct lighting – As from the sun, a side view to the light ill give a modeled or shaded effect.
-Dramatic lighting – As light from one window into a room, or from a spotlight.
-Low lighting – As from outside lights at night, or candlelight, or fireplace light.
**Remember that the 400 ISO film must have a good light source. Make sure that you have enough light on your composition to make it work. You need a green light!
Photograph one person as many different ways as you can think of.
At least 12 exposures must be close up photographs (waist up).
At least 12 photographs must be taken outside for optimal lighting.
______________________________________________________________________________
- The entire roll of film should be taken of one person only. The person you select may be any age. Other people may appear in the pictures but the one person you choose should always be the center of interest.
- The portraits can range from close ups to full figure photographs. Close ups can be only select parts of the body or face of you choose. The person’s face does not have to appear in every picture (a side view or a picture of the back of their head). This does not mean you should cut off the person’s head in the composition. That very rarely works! Consider shots where the person is looking away from the camera.
- The surroundings can range from a simple, plain background to a panoramic landscape. Consider the various places in which to do a portrait. Try to take the pictures in more than one setting. Would the surroundings have to be attractive to be considered a portrait? Consider places like an alley, an auto junk yard or posing your subject next to a peeling sign or a wall of graffiti. Framing your subject in a doorway, an opened window, sitting in an arbor, or buried in a pile of leaves with just their face showing are also good possibilities.
- Try different types of lighting:
-Back lighting – As a silhouette in a sunset, or against a window, or from an artificial source such as a lamp placed behind the subject. Be careful with this lighting and take a close up meter reading of your subject. The light meter can be fooled when using backlighting.
-Direct lighting – As from the sun, a side view to the light ill give a modeled or shaded effect.
-Dramatic lighting – As light from one window into a room, or from a spotlight.
-Low lighting – As from outside lights at night, or candlelight, or fireplace light.
**Remember that the 400 ISO film must have a good light source. Make sure that you have enough light on your composition to make it work. You need a green light!
- Try different types of poses, from very contrived poses to natural, candid poses.
- Try different types of moods or expressions, from silly to serious.
- Try different types of clothing, from formal to casual. You could also consider some type of costume, mask, or make up application.
- It is important to develop a photographer’s rapport with your subject. Make them feel comfortable. Show them the pose that you want by doing it first. Talk to your subject, give them something to do.
- Know your subject. Be prepared the day of the shoot with appropriate props and locations.
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