Delving into Portrait Photography

Exploring Portrait Photography

Defined as a branch of photography that specialises in capturing images of individuals or groups.
Originating in painting, it’s used to reveal the character and mood of the subject.
Portrait images often present a strong focus on the person’s face, expression, as well as other distinguishing features.
Generally categorised into three types: candid, posed, and self-portraits.

Key Concepts in Portrait Photography

Subject: The individual or group being photographed, usually cooperating with the portrait photographer.
Lighting: Lighting is crucial; a significant element manipulated to highlight aspects of the subject or create a mood.
Composition: Like the framing and angle, how the subject appears within the frame can present different meanings or emotions.
Focus: The area of sharpness within a photograph. Focusing on the subject’s eyes enhances connection with the viewers.
Background: Depending on the situation, either a simple background to keep focus on the subject or a contextual one to tell more about the subject may be used.

Prominent Portrait Photographers

Steve McCurry: Renowned for the “Afghan Girl” portrait which appeared on the cover of National Geographic.
Richard Avedon: Known for capturing personality in his portraits by engaging his subjects during the shoot.
Annie Leibovitz: Famous for her unique, often theatrical and elaborate, celebrity portraits.
Diane Arbus: Used her camera as a tool to meet and understand people who were different, often outsiders of society.

Portrait Photography Techniques

Soft Lighting: Utilised to accomplish a calm and pleasing aesthetic which is often flattering to subjects.
Hard Lighting: Creates dramatic shadows and sharp contrasts to emphasise form and outline.
Relaxed Poses: Encouraging subjects to adopt natural, relaxed postures leads to genuine expressions.
Close Up Shots: Capturing the face closely can reveal true emotions and the depth of their character.
Background Blur: This technique, also known as bokeh, keeps the subjects in sharp focus while the background is blurred, creating depth.

Interpreting Portrait Photographs

Evaluate the emotions captured in the portrait. Does the subjects’ expression evoke particular sentiments?
Analyse the use of light and shadows. How do they affect the mood of the photograph?
Consider the background and how it adds to or distracts from the subject.
Take note of the composition and how the subject is positioned in the frame.

Revisiting the works of professional portrait photographers, understanding their methodology, and employing relevant photographic terminology for analysis are fundamental practices for advancing skills.