Journal Notes 114-125

Camera Settings

• formal portrait=wide aperature to make background out of focus
• normal lenses= f/2 or f/2.8
• 35mm camera= 50-100mm range
• wide aperature increases the shutter speed
• shutter speed should be no slower than 1/60 of a second to avoid blinking

Lighting for Formal Portraits
Indoors

• one light at appx. 45 degree angle on one side of subject
• use a reflector such as white cardboard on other side of subject

Outdoors

• direct sunlight is NOT the best lighting for portraits
• open shade such as shadow of building or tree; avoid deep shade
• include the cloudless sky but not direct sunlight
• reflector anywhere between 3-6 ft. away from the subject
• cloudy days=great for photographing
• even lighting it provides is flaterring for portraits

Photo by:Gill Barker

The Candid Portrait

• capture a person going about everyday life and activities
• don't try to pose subject
• try to shoot subject without them noticing you
• inlcude subject's surroundings
• background gives context and meaning
• capture different moods
• take more time and more shots
• similar to family snapshots

Photo by: Phitar

Camera Settings

• faster shutter speed such as f/250 or higher so it freezes action
• you can use flash for candid portraits
• use flash, get close

The environmental Portrait

• uses a subject's surroundings to help tell that peron's story
• combination of formal portraits and photo journalism
• may be posed
• subject can be smaller part of image
• background is most important
• if background gives away biggest clues, background more prominent
• if background only provides a context or setting, subject more prominent
• try different set-ups and angles

Photo by:Wayne Rainey

Camera Settings

• wide-angle lenses
• zoom 28mm
• f/5.6 to f/8 or even f/11 for greater depth of a field= sharp and in focus

Retouch a Digital Portrait

• clone stamp tool
• healing brush

The Self Portrait

• you become your own subject
• reveal as much or as little as you want of your life
• choose setting
• in control
• tell a story about you

Enterprising

Self Portrait- How I Identify Myself

This is a photo of me on a Hornblower Cruise ship. I identify myself with where I live- the beautiful city of San Francisco

Journal Notes-Portraits

3 main types of portraits:

1. Taken by Dennis Walsh



2. Taken by: John B. Crane



3. Taken by Mallard Pond Studios

1. environmental   
2. candid
3. formal

Early Portrait Photgraphy

• Gaspard-Felix Tournachon (France, 1820-1910); first portrait photographer
• August Sander (Germany, 1876-1964); first environmental portrait photographer

Thinking Artistically

• value is important to consider (range of light and dark areas) --> attrract attention and help move our eyes through an image
• location of light source in an image to take advantage of light values
• subtle changes in value can produce a sense of depth in an image
• value can bring emotional content
• use value for emphasis
• Rule of thirds is important also

Shape and Form

• shape is critical (emphasizing subject)
• groups of people- geometrical shape (ex. triangle)

Camera Formats

• candid and environmental: 35mm cameras are perfect (fast to operate and respond quickly to subject's changing expressions)
• bigger the negative-the more detail captured
• medium format cameras- bigger negatives and ease/speed of operation

Film Speed

• Slow films (50-100 ISO) fine grained-capture more detail and smoother looking; good for formal portraits; use tripod; slow films=slow shutter speed
• Fast fimls (400-3200 ISO) more sensative to light; good for candid and environmental; coarser and doesn't capture fine details as well; handheld; fast films=fast shutter speed

Black and White or Color?

• black and white: can focus viewer's attention on subject
• eliminate certain distracting elements
• formal, serious quality or can suggest edgy energy
• color: carry feelings and impressions
• set a mood of energy with warm colors (red, orange, yellow)
• restful and calm mood: (blue, green)

Equipment Choices: Lenses for Portraits

• 24mm: distortion, too close, not flattering
• 50mm: less rounded and broad face, distortion decreases
• 100mm: most flattering; no distortion

Camera Accesories

• tripod: three-legged metal stand which you can mount camera on (steady camera, sharpen shots especially with slow shutter speed)
• cable release: flexible wire attached to cameras shutter release, other end has a plunger that lets you trip the shutter without touching the camera
• relfector: anything that will reflect light into shadows to lighten them for a flattering, 3-D portrait; standard full sheet of white mat/ foam-core board about 32X40 in. is perfect

Formal Portrait

• simplest portrait style and emphasizes person and nothing else
• person in front of neutral background
• can close-up or full-length

Julia Margaret Cameron (England, 1815-1879)

• self-taught Victorian photographer
• one of the first to approach photography as an art form
• long lasting effectg on the history of photography

Photo Essay

Here are the photos I chose to be apart of my photo essay- The Life of a Dancer