Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:46 pm
Post subject: What's in a portrait?
Portrait has
more functions than we thought. Here are what I mentioned in the training
session:
2.3.1. Visual identity of persons
2.3.2. Expression of persons
2.3.3. Attitudes of persons
2.3.4. Thoughts/feeling of persons
2.3.5. Characteristic of persons
2.3.6. Personality of persons
2.3.2. Expression of persons
2.3.3. Attitudes of persons
2.3.4. Thoughts/feeling of persons
2.3.5. Characteristic of persons
2.3.6. Personality of persons
Looks like nobody needs any further interpretation of these. If you want some interpretation to post your questions and let's talk.
The conventional photographic portrait of ordinary people like me might be used just for the first function. Everyone can take that kind of photographic portrait. Some of the snapshot portraits might not be qualified for legal usage.
When it comes to the other functions the number of balking photographers might increase.
A lot of photographers get frustrated waiting for a good pose, gesture, expression to show up.
One reason is that we get so used to the traditional way of photographing people where we expect the subject to freeze and "don't move". The freezing pose is actually the rule of thumb in the old time when camera shutters and the films are slow and no one can capture a moving subject.
Today, technology has advanced to the extent we can and we should go the other way.
My first principle of photographing people is to tell them "keep moving", "don't stop what you are doing", "do something, say something", "don't try to pose for me."
I actually start shooting before they get ready and continue to shoot after they believe it is over.
Have you thought of these? Quite a renewal in the basic of photography, isn't it? It is actually a renewal experience in the personal philosophy of life.
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