The other day a fellow contacted me about a picture I made nearly ten years ago. He was an assistant to the master woodcarver and I spent a few minutes making pictures with them. The event was Baby Animal Days at the Western Heritage Center in Logan, UT, and the entire Cache Valley Photographers club came to make pictures for the day. This was my favorite. Patch made hand-carved wooden spoons to sell to tourists, and he did it with tools from the mid-nineteenth century. As if this wasn't enough camera fodder, he also had a genuine eye patch. … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: A chance with Patch
environmental
Portrait Tips: Make pictures now, chimp later
With visions of Joe McNally's firetruck portraits in mind, I set out on a ride-along with the Salt Lake City Fire Department. Now, I didn't get to rig lights outside the truck, and I wasn't driving at night through Times Square, but I was hopeful that I might see a picture worth making. Find a vision My vision for this portrait appeared in my mind really quickly, and I had about the same amount of time to execute it. As we drove, I noticed the colorful autumn leaves outside the truck, and I realized that if we turned east then the sun would … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Make pictures now, chimp later
Portrait Tips: Identify the environment
I'm pretty excited because Vanelli and I are teaching a class at Photoshop World on environmental portraiture. I love making environmental portraits because they help inform our knowledge of the person we're looking at without saying a word. The trouble is, we don't always get to photograph folks in their place with their stuff. But, if you can identify the environment a person brings with them, then you can make a more intimate and revealing portrait even on a white backdrop. Identify the environment When you're hiking in the mountains, … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Identify the environment
How to get perfect detail and tones in environmental portraits
Making pictures of people who are good at their craft while they are doing their craft is one of the best subjects you can ever find. They are passionate, you are passionate, and the pictures always turn out well. When I make environmental portraits, I do my best to control the light. However, since I'm invading someone's space and interrupting their day, it's best to be as quick as possible. That means that I never get to set up four lights with gels and grids to highlight and isolate the interesting stuff. Fortunately, you can use tone … [Read more...] about How to get perfect detail and tones in environmental portraits
Portrait Tips: Include Details
I’ve said many times that the background in a picture is just a backdrop that’s its job is to not ruin the portrait. Well, this time I’m backpedaling a little. The right background or environment or details for your picture can really help explain about a person and give them context and a bit of a story in a single image. This sort of environmental portraiture is my favorite kind of work. Descriptive Details If you can include details that are descriptive without being distracting then it can be worth including them in your picture. But … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Include Details
Portrait Tips: Use HDR For Softer Light
If you know anything about HDR, you probably know it shouldn't be used for portraits. High Dynamic Range photography techniques usually increase the ability to see details, and nobody wants to see more detail in the skin in a portrait. However, used properly, HDR can give you softer transitions from shadows to highlight areas, and that can be flattering and it can help rescue portraits made in bad lighting. Harsh Light Makes Dark Shadows I made this picture late in the morning on a mountain top and the sun was quite direct and … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Use HDR For Softer Light
Offbeat with Joel Grimes
Joel Grimes' work is instantly recognizable. From powerful, dynamic posing, to a rich, yet desaturated, HDR look, to masterful compositing which is both surreal and firmly grounded in reality, his photography is iconic. His work has such intensity that, when I met Joel a few years back, expected him to be equally intense and, perhaps, aloof. Instead, Joel is easy-going, approachable and generous with his time and knowledge. With that in mind, let's hear from Joel. Aside from the mechanics of photography (e.g. the exposure triangle, … [Read more...] about Offbeat with Joel Grimes
Photo of the Day: Mushing Sled Dog
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Joan Manel Zamora Muoz Originally shared on the Photofocus Google+ community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photo of the Day: Mushing Sled Dog
Tips for Shooting Better Portraits
Creating a compelling portrait can take a lot of thought and design. But here are three practical tips you can use to improve your image. Choose the Right Lens Choosing the correct lens can make a huge impact on your portraits. Traditional portrait lenses are 85mm, 100mm, and 135mm, but I much prefer the focal range offered by a 2470mm zoom. At its widest setting of 24mm, it allows you to capture a lot of environment around your subject. Select a longer focal length if you are closer to your subject. Zoom to 70mm for an intimate portrait. A … [Read more...] about Tips for Shooting Better Portraits
My Portrait System — Great Shots Each Time
I photograph a lot of people in their places--people working and living and their environments. These environmental portraits are so much fun to make, but I've usually got a limited time to make them--business people can only halt business for so long while I make pictures. That's why it's important that I have some systems to maximize our opportunities for usable photographs, and here's a simple one. It seems simple, but until I was told to do it every time, I wasn't doing it every time. Does that make sense? Sometimes sensible things just … [Read more...] about My Portrait System — Great Shots Each Time
Powerful Environmental Portraits Need 3 Things
Environmental portraits show people in their place, their habitat. The environment sets the mood and the place of the story, and a single look at the photograph can tell you what the story is about. Let me show you three things I think about as I light the background to make an environment worth photographing. 1. It's Gotta Be Believable Lighting and posing a person so he looks his best is my primary concern. (Here are two other articles about lighting and posing to help people look great.) After that's under control, I've got to figure out … [Read more...] about Powerful Environmental Portraits Need 3 Things
Beat a Rainy Day With a Polarizer and One Tool That’s Practically Free
Today was rainy, and then it was rainy and windy, but what else can I expect in the winter in the Pacific Northwest? Trouble is, I still have to make a living even when it's raining. Fortunately, I had a willing client and two tools that helped me make the most of the situation. Twist to Enrich My client was going to meet me at my office where I had a decent background of greenery available and a covered porch to shoot under. However, things changed, and we ended up going to a different spot. Changing locations can be really terrifying. As you … [Read more...] about Beat a Rainy Day With a Polarizer and One Tool That’s Practically Free
