Blog Notes: Ch. 5 Portraits (p. 120-125)

• environmental portrait - subject's surroundings used to help tell person's story, combo of formal portrait & photojournalism, shows subject's life, prominence of background depends on how much it says about the person
• wide-angle lenses (indoors): 35mm, 28mm, 24mm
• f/5.6, f/8, f/11 for greater depth of field (sharp & in focus)

How to retouch a digital portrait...

1. clone stamp tool or healing brush for blemishes & imperfections
2. 100% opacity to completely block out area & replace it
3. Alt (Opt) key & left click to sample area you want to clone/copy

• self portrait - you become your own subject, show who you are, show something about your life, can reveal as little or as much as you want

Blog Notes: Ch. 5 Portraits (p. 114-119)

How to shoot a formal portrait...

1. 10-20 ft. of clear space in front of background, 4-6 ft. of space between background & stool
2. light 45* to the right side of subject, reflector held 3-4 ft. from subject on left side
3. camera set 6-10 ft. away from subject--depends on lens: telephoto = further

• wide-open aperture for out of focus background
• 35mm cameras, 50mm lens: f/2 or f/2.8
• zoom lenses: f/3.5 or f/4.5
• focuses on subject
• increases shutter speed (slowest is 1/60 of a sec.)
• indoors - light 45* on on side of subject & reflector on other side
• outdoors - open shade (avoid deep shade), assistants holding reflectors stand 3-6 ft. away from subject, overcast = bueno
• candid portraits - capture a person going about everyday life & activities, completely natural, include surroundings (context & meaning)
• shutter speed of 1/250 or higher

5 Random Photos

Old School

hap-pi-ness [hap-ee-nis] --noun: 1. the quality or state of being happy, 2. good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy, 3. see Briana 

Blush

Hammertime

The Chelsea Daily

Self Portrait

Blog Notes: Ch. 5 Portraits (p. 108-113)

• collaborative, teamwork
• build relationship with person
• 4x5 view cameras: most detail, slow to operate, can't see through them when photographing
• 35mm cameras: candid & environmental portraits, fast to operate (respond quickly to changing expressions & actions), not as much detail
• bigger negative = more detail
• slow film (50-100 ISO) - fine grained & small particles of silver for B&W films/dye for color films, more detail, smoother look (good for formal portraits), tripod (slower shutter speed)
• fast films (400-3200 ISO) - more sensitive to light, ideally suited to available-light photography (candid & environmental portraits), coarser grain structure, not as detailed, no need for tripod (sharp images anyway), faster shutter speeds
• B&W - focus on subject (eliminates distracting elements), formal & serious qualities, edgy energy with grainy & harsh B&W images
• color - feelings & impressions, mood
• 24 mm - distortion
• 50 mm - less rounded & broad, slight distortion
• 100 mm - most flattering, near normal perspective
• tripod - steady & sharpen
• cable release - flexible wire, one end attached to camera release, other end lets you trip the shutter
• reflector - for flattering 3-D portraits
• formal portrait - simplest, emphasizes person only, neutral background, close-up face or full-length view
• Julia Margaret Cameron (1815-1879) - England, Victorian photographer, dreamlike & softly romantic paintings, self-taught, inspired & influenced Alfred Stieglitz

Blog Notes: Ch. 5 Portraits (p. 103-107)

• formal portraits - emphasize only subject in photograph (person)
• candid portraits - capture person in everyday activities
• environmental portraits - person in setting that says something about them
• photography replaced painting as primary medium of portraits (people = popular subjects)
• Gaspard-Felix Tournachon (1820-1910) - a.k.a. "Nadar," 1853: started photoraphing in France, first great portrait photographer, soft lighting + dark backgrounds = formal & eloquent portraits, comfortable working relationship = "speaking likeness" (portraits reveal subjects' personalities)
• August Sander (1876-1964) - Germany, created some of the first environmental portraits (settings of lives & work), 1892-1954: great photographic documentary of Germans
• values - what catches our attention first, textures & shapes, depth, emotional content, emphasis
• shape - when a line meets itself, flat, 2-D
• organic - flowing curves & irregular outlines
• geometric - circles, ovals, squares, triangles, etc.
• form - 3-D shape

Photo Essay: In Mercy Students' Shoes

Get yelled at by your advisor on a Monday morning.

Eat a bagel with cream cheese while the PA system blares with an SBO's voice.

Finish your calculus homework in advisory.

Whisper about the cute Italian guys encountered on your friend’s trip to Europe.

Partake in the secretive taking of pictures during an English presentation.

Eat lunch on the green with your friend that duct-tapes her shoes.

Sit next to your best friend in study hall as she starts her Religion homework that's due next class.

Wait with your friends to get picked up after school even though you can drive.