First attempt at portraits

Hatch1921 · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 1:20 pm Post subject: First attempt at portraits

Hi all,

As the title states... this was a first for me. You all have seen the bug shots and sports stuff...never people. There is a reason for this. My lack of confidence to photograph the human subject is huge!

So, with all that being said... a friend out of Tucson who is a pro shooter invited me to shoot at a local bull riding competition. He said we would have fun with a soft box setup and see what we could come up with. I was excited and went along to learn as much as I could. The event was on private property and is a small venue. The family who own the area has a neat little western style house for the bull riders to stay overnight in if they need to. We asked a couple folks if they wouldn't mind letting us practice photographing them. They agreed and we proceeded to shoot. The shots were late in the day and we were working fast to beat the sun from setting. I think the shots would have been even better if we had more time and were not rushed. This was a first as I mentioned. I had NO idea how much a single soft box could impact photos. When I returned home late in the evening I had a look at the shots. It is hard to explain how excited I was at seeing how much detail the images displayed. AMAZING!

These are not the best shots ever… but… I am very pleased with the results. I see flaws in all of them and have an idea of what to look for next time we go out to practice.

I can go back and warm the shots up a little in PS… this was one of the things I noticed right away. The second would be the large bar behind the cowboy’s head. Look for distracting things in the background. I need to remove the bird droppings from the rails as well. LOL

Let me know what you think and how you would have shot the scene. Any and all comments welcomed. Being this was a first for me… I am overjoyed with the results.

Take care, Hatch

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TeCetera · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:31 pm Post subject:

Nice photos. I really like the black and white one. Lots of nice tonalities in that shot. Great stuff Hatch.
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josvandel · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 2:43 am Post subject:

Jeepers, the light and the 'quality' are wonderful as always Hatch, but the people seem dead.
They need to react to you more. You can get more dynamic looking photos by making them feel more comfortable, best way to do that easily is to give them something to use to pose on, like a farm gate to lean over or a chair to put a foot on and lean an elbow on the knee. A straight stand flat on to the camera is as hard and awkward as it gets. To get the feel of movement in a classic portrait, you get the shoulder line in one direction while the head turns the other way into the light...
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Hatch1921 · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:26 pm Post subject:

josvandel · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:05 am Post subject:

Good one Hatch!

They do say that the human animal is the hardest to photograph, but of course also the most rewarding.

A softbox is the ultimate studio tool, I've never been able to afford one but I used large opaque plastic sheeting stretched over a big frame and used one studio light with brolly to shine through it.
A simple reflector of white cardboard from near the camera position makes the lighting quite classic.
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TeCetera · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:10 am Post subject:

Hey Hatch made forum lord tonite! Welcome to Forum Lordiness. May you enjoy your new rank.

I can see where people would be very difficult to photograph convincingly. My mom isn't very photogenic and if I can find the print I'll post one of my favorite pics of her. I think its one of my best photos ever. Atleast of people, technically I suspect its quite flawed.
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Boleyn · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:10 am Post subject:

good shots, anyway, Hatch, especially the girl and the little boy. The girl is eager to bring out her good looks the way she often exercised in front of a mirror I bet. Next time tell her a joke and catch her laughing.
The boy looks just like he probably felt and that is the best you can catch with a camera. But I also agree with Jos on the cowboy. He looks as if he had swallowed a stick

But as I said, good shots for first ones! I would be proud to have taken them. My good shots are mostly coincidence

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Boleyn · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:11 am Post subject:

oh and congrats on the newly gained title, Lord of the photos!
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