Basic Photography Course

CHAPTER 7

PORTRAITURE

A portrait is a likeness of a person, especially the

face. This definition isolates one essential point in
portraiture. A portrait should emphasize the person,
rather than the person's environment or something
associated with the person. However, a pictorial
representation that portrays only a recognizable likeness
of a person is not enough. A portrait must be more than

just a photograph, It must have mood, personality, and

possess characteristics from which a viewer can draw
conclusions about the subject. By manipulating
expressions, posing, lighting, and environments, a
portrait photographer can portray any mood from
happiness to gloom, as well as the personality of a
subject. Posing the subject with familiar objects and
environments can produce a more natural expression
and pose because the subject will be more at ease.
Articles or props included in the scene can help tell more
about the subject.

Success in portraiture requires a thorough

understanding of the techniques involved, an artistic

ability, and a talent for directing the subject through a

desired expression or pose. The portrait photographer

should have a sensitivity for, and an understanding of,
people. Portrait photographers vary considerably in
their styles and techniques. The subjects of portraits vary
in their likes and dislikes. There is no one blueprint or
formula that will assure success.

The portrait is an interesting and challenging

assignment to many Navy photographers. In portraiture
the subject is always changing and challenging the
Photographer's Mates. To meet the challenge of portrait
photography, you must have vision, good judgment, and

the ability and willingness to show them to greatest

advantage.

Most people have their portrait made because they

want someone else to see how they look A beautiful
woman knows she is beautiful, and in a picture, she
wants to appear beautiful-so make her beautiful. Some
flattery may be necessary, but you should not overdo it.
Men know their features; they know whether they
appear dignified; they know whether they appear to have
great strength of character; and they are correct in
expecting the photographer to emphasize these good
points. The subject expects a true portrait-a good
expression and a natural pose, a portrait that shows

whatever beauty or strength the person has, and one that
reflects his or her character and features.

Character is formed by life. A frown or a smile today

leaves no trace, but continued use of facial muscles to
form a smile, a laugh, or a frown leaves lines on the
forehead, around the eyes, nose, and mouth. These lines
and expressions form facial character. They are subdued
or exaggerated by the way you light the subject. You
should not eliminate character lines altogether, but, you
should only soften them with lighting. A face has
features: two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and two ears, but
photographically these features are not equally
important. To the portrait photographer, the most
important and most expressive are the eyes; the mouth
is second only to the eyes.

Facial expressions constantly change and last only

momentarily. No happy expression or frown lasts long
enough to take full notice of it-until it is photographed.
When you photograph an expression at the wrong
instant, all the bad points appear exaggerated.

To be a good portrait photographer, you must learn

to study each face as it appears before the camera, and
light it to represent the natural features and character
accurately. Do not try to capture that fleeting expression.
It is not the expression that shows that person's true
character. What you want is a person's natural
expression. A softness of expression is best-neither too
sharp nor too faint; not too lively or too gloomy.

PORTRAIT STUDIO

The portrait studio should be a place isolated from

distraction where the photographer and subject can

work without interruption. It should be a comfortable

place where the subject feels at ease, where the tested
equipment works, where the color quality of the light
can be controlled, and where the photographer and
subject can move from pose to pose without
interruption. Avoid using the portrait studio as a crew's
lounge or lunchroom. The portrait studio should always
be clean and neat. The portrait studio is one of the few

areas that customers ever see, and it represents the
overall condition of your photo lab.

7-1

contents

Basic Photography Course

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DOFMaster for Windows On-line Depth of Field Calculator DOFMaster for Mobile Devices On-line Depth of Field Table Hyperfocal Distance Chart Articles FAQ Recommended Books Support Contact Links Home As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	contents <- previous page next page -> CHAPTER 7 PORTRAITURE A portrait is a likeness of a person, especially the face. This definition isolates one essential point in portraiture. A portrait should emphasize the person, rather than the person's environment or something associated with the person. However, a pictorial representation that portrays only a recognizable likeness of a person is not enough. A portrait must be more than just a photograph, It must have mood, personality, and possess characteristics from which a viewer can draw conclusions about the subject. By manipulating expressions, posing, lighting, and environments, a portrait photographer can portray any mood from happiness to gloom, as well as the personality of a subject. Posing the subject with familiar objects and environments can produce a more natural expression and pose because the subject will be more at ease. Articles or props included in the scene can help tell more about the subject. Success in portraiture requires a thorough understanding of the techniques involved, an artistic ability, and a talent for directing the subject through a desired expression or pose. The portrait photographer should have a sensitivity for, and an understanding of, people. Portrait photographers vary considerably in their styles and techniques. The subjects of portraits vary in their likes and dislikes. There is no one blueprint or formula that will assure success. The portrait is an interesting and challenging assignment to many Navy photographers. In portraiture the subject is always changing and challenging the Photographer's Mates. To meet the challenge of portrait photography, you must have vision, good judgment, and the ability and willingness to show them to greatest advantage. Most people have their portrait made because they want someone else to see how they look A beautiful woman knows she is beautiful, and in a picture, she wants to appear beautiful-so make her beautiful. Some flattery may be necessary, but you should not overdo it. Men know their features; they know whether they appear dignified; they know whether they appear to have great strength of character; and they are correct in expecting the photographer to emphasize these good points. The subject expects a true portrait-a good expression and a natural pose, a portrait that shows whatever beauty or strength the person has, and one that reflects his or her character and features. Character is formed by life. A frown or a smile today leaves no trace, but continued use of facial muscles to form a smile, a laugh, or a frown leaves lines on the forehead, around the eyes, nose, and mouth. These lines and expressions form facial character. They are subdued or exaggerated by the way you light the subject. You should not eliminate character lines altogether, but, you should only soften them with lighting. A face has features: two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and two ears, but photographically these features are not equally important. To the portrait photographer, the most important and most expressive are the eyes; the mouth is second only to the eyes. Facial expressions constantly change and last only momentarily. No happy expression or frown lasts long enough to take full notice of it-until it is photographed. When you photograph an expression at the wrong instant, all the bad points appear exaggerated. To be a good portrait photographer, you must learn to study each face as it appears before the camera, and light it to represent the natural features and character accurately. Do not try to capture that fleeting expression. It is not the expression that shows that person's true character. What you want is a person's natural expression. A softness of expression is best-neither too sharp nor too faint; not too lively or too gloomy. PORTRAIT STUDIO The portrait studio should be a place isolated from distraction where the photographer and subject can work without interruption. It should be a comfortable place where the subject feels at ease, where the tested equipment works, where the color quality of the light can be controlled, and where the photographer and subject can move from pose to pose without interruption. Avoid using the portrait studio as a crew's lounge or lunchroom. The portrait studio should always be clean and neat. The portrait studio is one of the few areas that customers ever see, and it represents the overall condition of your photo lab. 7-1 contents Basic Photography Course <- previous page next page ->	As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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