Emphasise the Eyes

Not that you can tell from this picture, but this shot was taken at Hersheys Chocolate World. On our trip this weekend we went there and this was taken when we had our chocolate fondue in the desert creations area.

Portrait shots are something I struggle with. Both artistically and techinically. The kids are always moving and often badly lit. I often end up with junk or clutter in the background I do not want. I think it is to get us much detail as possible and to avoid this background clutter that I have started zooming in quite far when I take my shot. Without realizing it I very often zoom too far.

A shot that seems well composed as I take it often turns out to be already too cropped before any editing has begun. It is tendancy I am aware of but one a pit I keep falling back into. It leaves me very trapped with the shot that was taken with no room for maneuver.

Realizing you have become entrenched is I guess the first step in advancing to better habits and techniques.

This image has been twisted to remove some background distractions and to make (in my view anyway) the image of my little monster look more interesting. Rotating the image so that I find it more interesting is possibly not something that everybody else will like and is possibly my next rut to sink into doing in every shot I edit.

The image was made BW after this step to reduce distractions and also to prevent the eye being drawn towards the very green top of the woman in the backdrop (her head was cut off in the first step!).

I really like the look in the little monsters eye, so the reveal the eyes the highlights were dropped considerably to minimise the complete washing out that would result when the image was then brightened until the eyes became the dominant object in the shot.

The result is a very washed out image that shows no sign of where we are or what we are doing but it does emphasise the eyes. :-)

I think that taking of pictures is a bit like riding a bike, in that giving you list of instructions doesnt mean you can just do it. You need to experiment for yourself and build this indescribable gestalt mass in your mind that gives you the feeling of what you should do rather than follow a set list of rules to get what you want from the process.

I do not believe this means you must do your own thing and the experience of others. Civilization was built by our ability to learn from the experiences of others. Your gestalt should not become rigid but always influenced by new experiences and ideas so the advice and critique of others is a good thing to receive.

To build your gestalt I guess you must follow and create rules and then see when it is appropriate to break or even totally abandon some rules.

When I was learning to drive my driving instructor told me that passing my test and getting a license did not show I could drive. Getting your license just pronounces you as being deemed safe to go out and learn how to drive for yourself. Luckily we do not need licenses to use a camera, a train wreck of a photo (not to be confused with a photo of a train wreck) luckily does not cause any destruction, so we are safe to learn without damage. There are of course exceptions to this statement. Learning to get a dramatic photograph of an oncoming train by climbing onto a branch that hangs the railway track... that probably is a case of the learning process involving some destruction.

These weird masses of text that I periodically spew out are not intended to be taken as me lecturing others on what they should do or to boast about anything I (very well mistakenly) may feel I have learned. They start as a simple statement that I then try and explain to myself. My mind divides up and discusses it with itself, as this happens I type away so I may have some hope of remembering my thought process... and I suppose I must admit its also kinda fun to see what falls out when I start the wheels turning... Anyone who wants to follow along with the flow is more than welcome to join me, if thats fine too :-)

So anyway, there is not quick easy answer of how to take a better portrait photo... but I always welcome (constructive) criticism and discussion.