The Essential Guide to Portraits

Whilst going through yet another airport I chanced upon a magazine entitled as above. Produced by the guys at Digital SLR Photography, it is packed with some very useful hints and expert advice.
Content comprises everything from how to get the correct exposure, to the how to take great mono pictures.

Tuition is given by:
Daniel Lezano (the Editor)
Brett Harkness - one of the UK's leading portrait and social photographers
Bjorn Thomassen - an English born photographer, who specialises in the commercial and social aspects of people photography, and
Paul Ward - a Birmingham based  photographer who specialises in location and studio shoots.

It is not by chance that Bjorn and Paul feature in my blog.

Reflections

Whilst away last weekend, I spent some time on the beach looking at various reflections off the water. Using a combination of wide angle and zoom lenses I captured the images below with varying levels of success.

Thinking of the pictures that I have seen by Jonathan Chritchley, I wanted to try to get some kind of reflective quality into the images, with the minimum amount of detail in the picture. The reflections off the covering of water on the sand gave me that mirror like quality.

Planning
I looked for a wide expanse of beach that would enable me to use my wide angle lens. I took several images with this lens. However, the sky was a very dull grey (until the sun came out!), so I took a number of images in portrait with this lens and then I opted to take various images with my zoom lens, which gave me greater flexibility to shoot near, or far, without having to keep swapping lenses on the beach.

ISO 100: f22:  1/60

Lens: 10-20mm

I like the simplicity of this image. The arc of the clouds is reflected from the sand and draws the eye from left to right in a natural way. There is very little detail, which is intentional, save for the lone windsurfer in the water.

ISO100: f32: 1/25

Lens 55-200mm

Unlike the previous picture this has more detail in it, but the interest here is in the reflection of the runner as he jogs down the beach. Yet again, there is minimal interference in the background, which allows you to concentrate on the runner as he disappears into the distance.

ISO 100: f32: 1/160

Lens 55-200mm

With this image I was trying to see just how much reflected image I could get. I zoomed in closer to fill the viewer with the surfer and got lower in my pose, to try to increase the length of the reflection on the sand. Centering the subject, I tried to make the most of keeping the surfer in the top third that hopefully got me the reflection in the bottom third of the image. The reflection is kind of not exactly where I would have hoped and the reflection is a bit broken, but it was an experiment.

ISO 100: f9: 1/15

Lens 15-55mm

Later in the day I went to take some pictures in a completely different setting. In actual fact my original aim was to take some 'big skies' and reflective images of the sun going down over the sea. As it happened the peninsular obscured what I originally wanted to achieve. However, making the most of the situation, I noticed a lagoon behind me and directly opposite was this boat house. 

The boathouse itself was interesting but, with the stillness of the lagoon and the lowering sun giving a yellowish hue to the picture, I was able to take the above, which is almost a mirror reflection of the boat house and tree.

Corn Wall

Overview

Taken once again in Cornwall, very early in the morning just before sunrise, this picture provides some good contrast between the patterns in the dry stone wall and the milky, foggy, motion of the sea.

I like the way that the patterns in the wall and the rocks contrast with the smooth water.

ISO 100: f10: Shutter Speed 20.0s

Lens: Tamron 55-200mm

It is unlikely that the final image will not remain in colour. I have taken this with the specific thought of converting it to a black and white image. as I envisage that black and white will enhance the effect of the stone wall and that there is not sufficient strength in the rest of the image due to the lack of peripheral light.

Planning.

I wanted to get some shots of the sea when there was little light and I could use a long exposure to get the desire effect of blurring out the water motion. The previous night I checked the map to see where I could go that would give me a good chance of getting the right light and the right amount of wave motion.

As it happens, I should have checked the location out the day before and I will need to bear this in mind again in the future, as the location did not quite live up to expectation.

I knew that this was going to be a 'timed' exposure, so was sure to take my tripod and my remote control trigger.  I also took a variety of lenses to make sure that I had something for every opportunity. I chose the zoom lens in this instance to allow me to get close to the topic and to remove any unwanted peripheral image data.

Health and Safety Considerations

It was early and so quite dark and the picture was taken on a slipway, with boats, fishing nets, and ropes all around. I checked to make sure that there was nothing that could cause much of a hazard. The most likely incident would have been that I could have slipped or fallen over, or into the water. Consequently, I made sure that I was not in danger of tripping or slipping over, and that the area in which I was working was as 'safe' as it could be. In addition I made certain that my tripod was firmly fixed in position. There was no one around, so I did not have to worry about cars or other traffic.

Africa

I am fortunate to be going to Africa with work and whilst I am there I will be looking to take as many pictures as I can. Concentrating on the Portrait theme I will be seeing how I can make the most of my time there.


Having not been before it is difficult to know what to expect. However, I am hoping to get some urban scenes and am thinking about settings and scenarios, for example, people in bars or on the street, kids playing football or such like.

Looking at the health and safety angle, Africa can be a dangerous place, so I am also thinking about security and safety. Not putting myself into a dangeours space and making sure that I am accompanied by a local when out taking photos.

I guess I could look at the guys at work, which would be a safer bet. However, I need to look at what is available and go with it.

Wave Motion

Influenced by Jonathan Chritchley, I took the opportunity to get to the coast and to take some very early morning pictures of the sea. It had to be early in order to enable me to take long exposure of the water, but it had to be light enough to get some light reflecting off the rocks in order to create the contrast in the rock structures.

ISO100: f29: 1/25

This photo was taken with a very small aperture and a long exposure. This allows the water to blur and smooths out and flattens the harshness of the sea.
I tried to find the ideal spot and actually climbed onto some rocks, in order to gain the right view. Armed with my tripod to steady me I took a variety of photos, on continuous shooting, rather than tying to wait for the 'right' wave.
Timing is everything and whilst this was taken very early in the morning, already the  ambient light was getting too strong to allow me to continue taking long exposure photographs as the sun had actually come up over the horizon.
I will ultimately aim to crop this image and convert it to black and white in order to exaggerate the contrast.

The final picture

Background Picture 14-10-2010

I get tired of looking at the same old pictures, so I have changed the background on my blog, to the picture as you see. However the picture is somewhat obscured by the text and comments etc, so I have inserted here for everyone to see.

Bag Lady

This was taken whilst on holiday in Egypt. Arabic nations can be funny about having their picture taken. They either refuse to allow it, or they demand money. However, I took this surreptitiously whilst sitting having coffee in a coffee bar.
It was taken with my zoom lens (Tamron 55-200mm) ISO 100: f10: Shutter Speed 1/30: without her knowledge. I rested the camera on the table and pointed it in her general direction and took several photos. From time to time I checked to see that I was aiming in the right direction (clandestinely) and finally ended up with this shot which captures her mood.
It was a very hot day and she was sitting in the shade, cooling off, relaxing and watching the world go by.....

Statement of Intent - Assignment 208 - Nature

Intentions/purpose of the photography to be undertaken

It is my intention to gain a much better understanding of composition, the use of light, spatial awareness, and generally what constitutes a great photo rather than a good one. In addition to that, understanding the techniques employed to enhance a location and how to identify an interesting location too.
All of this to help me to take great photos too.

Reasons for Selection of theme (including inspiration from the work of others).
I spent much of my life living in the country and have an appreciation for the great outdoors. Today I have a dog and walk for over 1 hour each day in and around the countryside near my home in Lichfield. Hence I have an intense interest in nature and the outdoors.
Having looked at the works of photographers like Paul Forgham I am interested in the use of light and colour to dramatically increase the emphasis on key areas of the image. Also, I have seen that using the natural features of the settings can force you to look at a picture in a certain way and cause you to follow an intended path into the image.


The photo imaging equipment and medium that will be used and why.
I will be using the following:

• Canon 400D Digital SLR Camera
• Canon 18-55mm Lens (f3.5-5.6)
• Sigma 10-20mm wide angle lens (f4-5.6)
• Tamron 55-200mm Zoom Lens (f4-5.6)
• Nissin Di622 Speedlite ETTL Flash
• Camlink TPPRO 028B Tripod with a Manfrotto Pistol Grip head.

With reference to publishing the images, I will be using the internet, in particular this blogsite, as my established medium for distribution. It is widely available for all to access and allows my work to be quickly viewed and commented on.

Techniques that will be used and how they will help convey the visual message

1. The use of different lenses to create different  effects will draw the eye into different aspects of the image. 
2. It is important to get the composition right, so as well as focusing on the subject, get the setting right and  use whatever is available in your surroundings to create emphasis on the subject.
3. Colour or black and white, or even removing certain colours to leave an interesting effect will all be employed to create the right effect.
4. Working in manual, or semi-manual (Aperture priority mode) will give you control of the finished project. So, using combinations of the right aperture and shutter speed combined with an appropriate ISO setting will enable you to control the outcome.
5. You can use flash to increase light or to fill in the foreground on a back-lit situation, but the key thing is to vary the time of day that images are taken to ensure you have the right conditions for what you are trying to achieve. 
6. Finishing the image will also play an important role. The main aim is to have minimum use of software to enhance or adjust the original image, but certain effects will require the use of specific applications (PSE for example) to create the effect that you are trying to achieve.
   

How light quality can be used to help convey the visual message
The effective use of light is critical in delivering the end result. How much? How little? The time of day. The sky, is it bright and sunny, or is it cloudy and grey? The amount of light you have can be helped through increased ISO settings, or by the use of external flash. However, typically the nest times of day will be early in the morning (sunrise) and later in the early evening (sunset). These times of day will give the best results with regard to the golden glow of the sun and the length of shadows. In addition if you are looking to add colour, the sky in the morning and the evening will have a host of golden colours reflecting of any clouds and in the late evening pinks, reds, and purples abound.


Safety considerations
I am sure that the health and safety executive have a number of rules and regulations to cover this topic, but here are some of the things that I think one should consider to help to minimise the risk in outdoor photography:

1. Always keep an eye on where you are and what is around you. Do not stand too close to edges of precipices for example and make sure that you cannot get run down by a car, or tractor perhaps!
2. Think about what you are taking and how that will impact on you and your subject. Getting too close to an animal may startle it, taking your dog into a field of cows will cause mayhem.
3. Look around you. Make sure that you are not in any direct danger from the location - falling debris in a wooded location, falling rocks, or other if you are in a quarry.
4. Avoid climbing into trees or standing on ladders on uneven ground.
5. Take your telephone in case of trouble. 
6. Scope out the location before you take your kit with you. Look at the possible areas of concern and make sure you do not put yourself into obvious danger.
7. Let someone know where you are and when you are likely to be back - just in case.
8. Protect your equipment from danger too and make sure that it is in a secure case or bag.
9. Be aware and respectful of your surroundings and do not drop litter.
10. Do not antagonise the locals (people or animals). Be respectful of your surroundings.
11. If you are on private land, seek permission first before being confronted by land owners.