Exercise: Portrait - scale and setting.

The first exercise requires us to find a setting, and then vary the focal length. My first problem was finding a willing subject and luckily my sister agreed to model for me. The second was finding the time she could manage.....there was a very small window of opportunity one afternoon this week. Due to time it meant that we could only photograph at the house she is currently staying in, which has a very small concrete walled garden. It's not really what you would call and 'interesting and attractive setting' as required in the notes. Fear of falling behind meant that I had to make do. Anyway I am focusing more on my model at the moment and the importance of composition.

Begin with a tight framing on the face.

 

1/20 f10 ISO 320 105mm WB Auto

 

Part of he outline of the head needed to be cropped by the frame. I do quite like this close up shot as you get to see more detail in the face, particularly the eyes.

 

 

Head and shoulders.

 

 

 

1/50 f10 ISO320 66mm WB Auto

 

 

This is my favourite image in the series. My sister was quite conscious of being photographed and was really trying to look serious but I made her laugh and quickly took this shot before se had time to compose herself. It is much more natural and I prefer that to shots that look very posed for.

 

 

Torso.

 

 



 

1/60 f10 ISO320 35mm WB Auto

 

I decided to crop slightly below the waist as I felt that it looked more flattering in this instance. My model naturally positioned her hands like this and I felt that to make her move them would make her feel more uncomfortable.

 

 

Full length

 

 

 

1/40 f10 ISO320 28mm WB Auto

 

 

This is my least favourite of the set. I think that she had become more conscious of being photographed and looks quite uncomfortable. It is probably not helped by the background which I find pretty distracting. With a different setting I think this shot would have come out much better.

 

 

As expected the first three images have the face as the main focus point, and I do prefer that, there is much more to take in when viewing the full length image. I think that there is a time and a place for each of these crops, all dependant on what you are trying to show.