Learning Center
Self Assigned
Portraits

A great portrait should convey something about the person being photographed. It is one thing to have a technically well exposed image or expert lighting but it is another to capture a unique vision of the portrayed.

Last fall, I taught on a photographic cruise on the Columbia River. As it was our goal to have a final slideshow with all of the participants images, I thought it might be nice to shoot portraits of everyone to introduce the respective photographers images. I created a self assignment to shoot environmental portraits, mostly aboard the ship, of the dozen photographers.

About the Subject:
Dick Stanley is a photographer who looks for patterns, colors and compositions. He shoots down grates, through windows and into water. His images are mysterious, beautiful and abstract. This portrait of him combines how I see him and the approach he has to his art.

Tech Tip:
By using the f2.8 aperture and focusing on Dick's eye, the depth of field becomes very shallow and throws the background out of focus. This puts the focus exactly on the subject and de-emphasizes the background, while still giving the subject a context in which to exist.

Lens Used:
Tamron 17-50 F/2.8

About the Subject:
Dianne Wittig is a fun and funny person who enjoys being goofy and laughing. She is anything but serious unless it concerns learning. She enjoys taking pictures and I would call her a real people person.

Tech Tip:
There is an off camera flash behind Dianne which is creating the edge light on her back.

Lens Used:
Tamron 18-200 F/3.5-6.3

About the Subject:
Don Gale is a great photographer who was also teaching on the cruise. He is very serious about his photography but has a great sense of humor. I was joking with him about doing a Tim Conway style "dwarf" image of him. As you might notice, his shoes are at his knees.

Tech Tip:
I exposed the image for the boat in the background and used an off camera flash on a radio slave to illuminate Don.

Lens Used:
Tamron 17-50 F/2.8

About the Subject:
Bill Wilde has just about everything you might need for any situation, though he may not always have it on him. This includes not only a raincoat for him, but one for his camera. He loves taking pictures no matter where he is, so why not the shower?

Tech Tip:
I used two flashes in this image, one had a gel which created the green on the curtain and the other was the direct flash on Bill.

Lens Used:
Tamron 11-18 F/4.5-5.6

About the Subject:
When I approached Joan Wilde about doing a portrait, she insisted on a mustache and bowler hat. Fortunately, there was a show on the ship that had a performer with a bowler hat who agreed to loan it to us. With a little eyeliner to take care of the mustache, we were ready to shoot. I didn't ask any questions. When an 80 year old woman says I want a mustache and bowler hat, you just do it.

Tech Tip:
I bounced the on camera flash into the wall opposite her face to get a nice soft light.

Lens Used:
Tamron 17-50 F/2.8

About the Subject:
Joan Sanacker is a free spirited woman who I thought would be great doing a Titanic pose near the bow of the ship. The dark coat contrasted nicely with the light sky.

Tech Tip:
I had to set the camera on manuel mode to expose Joan correctly while shooting into the sun. Because she is backlit, the camera's meter can often get confused about which part of the image you want to expose correctly.

Lens Used:
Tamron 28-300 F/3.8-6.3