Exercise: Eye contact and expression.

For this exercise we need to set up a portrait session in which the face is prominent and over the course of shooting direct our subject to either look towards us or away. This can be slightly away or completely to one side.

I decided to combine this exercise with the following one on 'review a portrait sequence' as I had finally managed to convince a friend to pose somewhat reluctantly for me. I feel that these two exercises fit will together and I was able to snap away uninterrupted once I had set up the tripod.

 

1/40 f5.3 ISO 200 66mm WB Auto

 

Looking directly at the camera.

 

 

 

 

1/40 f5.3 ISO 200 75mm WB Auto.

 

Closer crop on the face and looking ever so slightly away from the camera.

 

 

 

1/40 f5.3 ISO 200 66mm WB Auto

 

Looking down as though reading.

 

 

 

1/40 f5 ISO 200 58mm WB Auto

 

Looking away as though listening to someone talking looking more comfortable and relaxed.

 

 

 

1/40 f5 ISO 200 40mm WB Auto

 

Looking completely away from the camera watching something out of the window.

 

 

I think that I prefer the shots where my model was looking directly at the camera and the one where it looks as though he is listening to someone speaking. They are both completely different images and I don't think it is the styles that I prefer I think that my model looks better in these particular shots. Having the camera o the tripod made things a lot easier as I was able to leave it set up and then chat to my model rather than being hidden behind it having to look through the viewfinder.  definitely think that it made a difference doing this and does put your model more at ease.