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