Portraits by Adam Tan
- 18 Feb, 2022
MY THOUGHTS
Shooting portrait photographs may sound challenging to photography lovers. A good portrait could be as captivating as other genres of photography that’s more than merely pleasing to the eyes , a single, static image must act as a metaphor for movement, character, and soul resulting in good storytelling that evokes viewer’s emotion and feeling as well.
To create a successful portrait, one must learn to isolate those characteristics that reveal a subject’s distinctiveness. It could be just a fleeting facial expression, or the way a subject dresses or the pose the subject strikes. Often, there are several elements coming together fleetingly to provide a visual concentration of personality.
Renowned portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh said “ There is a brief moment when all that there is in a man’s mind and soul and sprit maybe reflected through his eyes, his hands, his attitude. This is the moment to record. This is the elusive ‘moment of truth’.
1. EQUIPMENT GUIDE
The two simple approaches to making portraiture photography are first, a close-up shot (head shot or waist-up shot), and second, a portrait with a background, ie, an environmental portrait. It’ll make our job easier if we have this clarity in mind. A telephoto lens with focal length between 75 and 135mm or a medium telephoto lens (85mm) often called a portrait lens is especially suited to portrait work.
Normal and wide-angle lenses tend to distort facial features at the close distances required for tight head shots. With the suggested medium telephoto, allows you to maintain a comfortable distance from the subject and yet achieve a flattering, detailed likeness.
For large group portraits, or to show subjects in their surroundings, a normal or wide-angle lens or a kit lens (focal length between 18 and 55mm) maybe the choice, even though distortion can present a problem.
2. STARTING OUT
Let me share a few tips from my two decades of learning and experimenting.
What I’m sharing here, irrespective of whoever the subject it may be: relatives, friends, or people we see on the streets or in our travels, there are intriguing reasons that make us want to capture them. Perhaps because of the subjects of character, conducive atmosphere, good environment, and so on. But we might be stuck with no clue as to how to go about it.
To begin with portrait pictures, we could start with our friends or family, people that we are familiar with and whom are comfortable with us. What we need to avoid is the direct, straightforward stereotype snapshot with the subject looking at you and pose with a smile. Instead, urge them to try out different poses with varied expressions and take successions of shots. The key is to look for candid moments and capture those little gestures and expressions that show forth their personality, their essence or spirit so to speak. Or when certain light effect cause beauty to surface on their faces and postures.
Taking portraits of children, especially those we met during our travels, is a good beginning for learning this genre. Children are more natural and more willing to be photographed, and they are not too camera-shy, and even if some are, their expressions carry in them good are storytelling ingredients. This is especially true for children from little towns and villages, they possess certain innocence and simplicity that are quite lovely!
Of course we could also choose to ask the subjects for permission to shoot them. In fact this is advisable in foreign places with different cultures from ours. There are two elements I’m looking for in such a situation : Is the surrounding, or environment good enough? Is the light source good enough?
3. ADVANCED TIPS
If the background and light source are right, posing is the next thing we need to consider. How to shoot them naturally? The first task is always try to make the subjects feel relaxed and look natural. A simple tactic I used is to look for something for them to lean on. Such as placing one elbow on the desk or the lap, having their shoulder lean against the wall, and so on. If they are in the midst of doing something, such as smoking, or carrying something in their hands, it will be even better.
If the background and light source aren’t good enough, we will need to either adjust our position or direct the subject to move a few steps to ensure we achieve the optimum for these two elements. You will be amazed how corporative most folks are in complying!
Background usually has a close connection with the subject. A good subject in its element going about her or his business (ie, a good environment) is most likely to bring good narrative to an image. And light source certainly plays an important part, as we know lighting is one of the essential elements in every genre of photography.
If the background and light source aren’t good enough, we will need to either adjust our position or direct the subject to move a few steps to ensure we achieve the optimum for these two elements. You will be amazed how corporative most folks are in complying!
Background usually has a close connection with the subject. A good subject in its element going about her or his business (ie, a good environment) is most likely to bring good narrative to an image. And light source certainly plays an important part, as we know lighting is one of the essential elements in every genre of photography.
4. FIND ME
I regularly conduct teaching workshops and special thematic sessions at my photography academy. If you have questions or wish to learn about my coming classes, please feel free to contact me at my email enquiry@adamtanphotography.com or follow my Facebook page.
Website: https://www.adamtanphotography.com
