Self Portraits and Portraits Part I

I liked this casual portrait because of the location of the subject in the shot. Having the man in the middle of the frame draws attention to him, and the blurred background provides a scene behind him on either side. I chose this photo because the man's face is captured in amazing detail, and the setting of the background ties to his outfit.

I liked this casual portrait because it feels very natural and the couple is framed very nicely on the road between the rows of blurred grass in the background. I chose this picture because the colors popped out and the couple's smiles were infectious.

I liked this self portrait because of how dramatic it is. The lighting adds to this dramatic effect and so does the closeness of the shot. I chose this photo because something about her eyes drew me in.

I really like this self portrait because the blur of action the photographer used demonstrates his mental turmoil and depression. I find this very powerful and it is emotionally moving. I chose it because the photographer got creative to showcase his personality, and something I hope to do when shooting myself.

I like this environmental portrait because it tells a story about their climb, and conveys their struggle. I chose this picture because I like the way the photographer composed it with balance.

I liked this environmental portrait because it provides an insight into the subjects' lives without revealing too much. This leaves me curious about how they got to this point. I chose the photo because I think the environment in the shot is just as important as the subjects, something I would strive to do when shooting environmental portraits.

For my portrait, I would like to shoot subjects wearing unique clothing. I think a person's fashion can really showcase their personality so I would love to capture that. I think I can find interesting fashion downtown, especially on East 6th St. I would shoot torso and up against a simple background to highlight their face and clothing. I don't think I want to shoot with the rule of thirds, because I liked the portraits where the subject was right in the middle. To make the shot successful, I will make sure it is lighted correctly and choose captivating subjects to shoot.

For my self portrait I want to shoot either in my room or outside, because those are the two places I feel most comfortable. I liked the idea of playing with the angle of the shot, and will probably experiment with both bird's eye and ground eye view. When in my room I would shoot with a book, my favorite teddy bear or a blank journal. When outside I would shoot by a tree, holding a ball or lying in the grass. All of these environments and props have a special meaning/passion for me, so I would like to use them. Another thing I want to experiment with is using rays of light to show my optimism. To make the shot successful I will make sure that it is lighted correctly and that my personality really comes through.

Three tips I found to work well are to focus upon one body part/get close up, find an interesting subject and to shoot candids.