She's really an outstanding portraitist. Perfect light and technique, despite using available light, and catching people at their most lively and beautiful.
EO said "catching people at their most lively and beautiful"
How do you do that EO? Do you take a big sequence and pick out the best? Or do you pose the person with the expression on their face? I loved "the eyes"..
I think normally you can't catch real "life" by posing too much. Most people freeze, unless they are actors. Here digital comes in handy, since it does not cost money to over-shoot.
I agree, Eo. I think that it's the "candid" moments that a person has to "catch"...in order to get that "treasure". Having the camera, casually "hanging around," but goes unnoticed, after awhile. :-) I don't do enough of those kinds of shots... They take PATIENCE and much TIME, methinks. :-)
So you don't think that the children in these pictures were posed? Some of them are good and yes I'd agree beautiful, unless I'm not catching the meaning of your statemet "real "life"".
I'm finding this very interesting. We've had discussions on your blog about composition. Does composition only really count for, I'll use the term, fixed shots (ie. landscapes and potraits) not for people shots? I don't know the right term to use for 'people shots', maybe this is what you mean by "real "life"" or as TC [Girl] says ""candid" moments"?
Christer, I see your point. I just meant that available light, often weak, can be a challenge technically. However it is often more beautiful if you can really utilise it.
Tommy, ironically those I'd selected are clearly posed, but I was thinking of many of the other pictures on her site, which are clearly captured mid-play and mid-living.
I love to take photos of the kids. But I *HATE* it that at age 3, they've already been "trained" by other family members to pose when they see a camera. (sigh) Lebanese. Sure, posing can have its uses. But I've always been one for candid, truly natural photos. This is why I always try to steal these pictures. They're definitely cutest when they're not self-conscious, not trying to "become" something that would satisfy some photographer. When kids are kids.
Another exasperating habit they've been given, is that every time you take one single @#$%& photo of them, they run over wanting to see themselves on the digital camera's screen. I definitely should check the manual on deactivating the sound effect. Meanwhile, when I'm not satisfied with the photo, I just say directly: "No, it's not good, let's take another one. When it's good I'll show it to you." Let them learn some vicarious self-criticism, it can't hurt them in Hysteriastan.
At least my cat doesn't care the least bit about Pascarazzis. I can shoot leisurely. I've got some pussy photos that would make GoddessNudes envious. ;-)
One of the absolute best photos I have of my grandmother, who hates being photographed, is one I "stole" when she was unaware. She came while I was shooting my cat, I held the camera at chest/waist level while innocently chatting with her, but I was actually aiming, estimating the direction, and I took the shot. It came out just *perfectly* framed. She looks like herself, like the person I want to see on a photo when I'm far away from her, on this shot. I love it.
I also have another photo taken three seconds later, of Granny turning back to leave, looking absolutely furious, mid-gesture. :-) A strong woman with a strong personality. Don't anybody mess with my Granny. She CLAIMS she sold Grandpa's hunting rifle after he passed away, but we never made sure... It took her a whole week to HALF-forgive me for that stolen shot. But "a trust was broken". ;-) Ah well, we eventually got over it. :-)
Hmmm, might work if you're careful. But you'd have to learn to compose pictures upside-down like olde-timey photographers (Rolleiflex and large-format cameras).
There is a lot of room for interpretation in the word "pose". The shots posted here aren't necessarily candid, but also can't be called "posed" in the traditional sense of that word. I prefer to place my subjects in good light, then bring about the expressions and moments through conversation and interaction. So, while there are not candid, they are indeed natural and non-directed.
There is much to say on this subject, but a bit more than I can really address in a blog response.
I agree that often the best portraits come from what you describe here, you get natural expressions. My own portraits here were done this way, and are more or less the first time I've had such good pictures taken of me.
If you have or make an article about it, I'd be delighted to post it, or just to link to it.
I bet Cheryl could make some very nice pictures of people whom "the camera seems to hate". Most of the time, it's about intimate attitude. You hate the camera, the camera will hate you back. It may take some experienced help to take you by the hand and lead you past that high fence.
15 comments:
EO said "catching people at their most lively and beautiful"
How do you do that EO? Do you take a big sequence and pick out the best? Or do you pose the person with the expression on their face? I loved "the eyes"..
I think normally you can't catch real "life" by posing too much. Most people freeze, unless they are actors.
Here digital comes in handy, since it does not cost money to over-shoot.
I agree, Eo. I think that it's the "candid" moments that a person has to "catch"...in order to get that "treasure". Having the camera, casually "hanging around," but goes unnoticed, after awhile. :-) I don't do enough of those kinds of shots... They take PATIENCE and much TIME, methinks. :-)
So you don't think that the children in these pictures were posed? Some of them are good and yes I'd agree beautiful, unless I'm not catching the meaning of your statemet "real "life"".
I'm finding this very interesting. We've had discussions on your blog about composition. Does composition only really count for, I'll use the term, fixed shots (ie. landscapes and potraits) not for people shots? I don't know the right term to use for 'people shots', maybe this is what you mean by "real "life"" or as TC [Girl] says ""candid" moments"?
You said:" despite using available light"
I say: " because of using available light"
Christer Almqvist
Christer, I see your point.
I just meant that available light, often weak, can be a challenge technically.
However it is often more beautiful if you can really utilise it.
Tommy, ironically those I'd selected are clearly posed, but I was thinking of many of the other pictures on her site, which are clearly captured mid-play and mid-living.
... Any picture/photo has a composition. Sometimes it's more consciously composed than other times.
I love to take photos of the kids. But I *HATE* it that at age 3, they've already been "trained" by other family members to pose when they see a camera. (sigh) Lebanese.
Sure, posing can have its uses. But I've always been one for candid, truly natural photos.
This is why I always try to steal these pictures. They're definitely cutest when they're not self-conscious, not trying to "become" something that would satisfy some photographer. When kids are kids.
Another exasperating habit they've been given, is that every time you take one single @#$%& photo of them, they run over wanting to see themselves on the digital camera's screen.
I definitely should check the manual on deactivating the sound effect.
Meanwhile, when I'm not satisfied with the photo, I just say directly: "No, it's not good, let's take another one. When it's good I'll show it to you." Let them learn some vicarious self-criticism, it can't hurt them in Hysteriastan.
At least my cat doesn't care the least bit about Pascarazzis. I can shoot leisurely. I've got some pussy photos that would make GoddessNudes envious. ;-)
One of the absolute best photos I have of my grandmother, who hates being photographed, is one I "stole" when she was unaware. She came while I was shooting my cat, I held the camera at chest/waist level while innocently chatting with her, but I was actually aiming, estimating the direction, and I took the shot. It came out just *perfectly* framed. She looks like herself, like the person I want to see on a photo when I'm far away from her, on this shot. I love it.
I also have another photo taken three seconds later, of Granny turning back to leave, looking absolutely furious, mid-gesture. :-)
A strong woman with a strong personality. Don't anybody mess with my Granny. She CLAIMS she sold Grandpa's hunting rifle after he passed away, but we never made sure...
It took her a whole week to HALF-forgive me for that stolen shot. But "a trust was broken". ;-)
Ah well, we eventually got over it. :-)
A tiltable screen is so great for that. A pity so few cameras have them.
That was back in the days of film cameras. Mine had cost about $20. An ordinary but very reliable model. :-)
Say, how about simply taping a pocket-sized mirror by one side over your camera's screen? ;-)
That's not such a dumb idea...
Hmmm, might work if you're careful. But you'd have to learn to compose pictures upside-down like olde-timey photographers (Rolleiflex and large-format cameras).
Nice to "meet" you all.
There is a lot of room for interpretation in the word "pose". The shots posted here aren't necessarily candid, but also can't be called "posed" in the traditional sense of that word. I prefer to place my subjects in good light, then bring about the expressions and moments through conversation and interaction. So, while there are not candid, they are indeed natural and non-directed.
There is much to say on this subject, but a bit more than I can really address in a blog response.
All the best to you.
- CJN
Cheryl,
Lovely to hear from you.
I agree that often the best portraits come from what you describe here, you get natural expressions. My own portraits here were done this way, and are more or less the first time I've had such good pictures taken of me.
If you have or make an article about it, I'd be delighted to post it, or just to link to it.
I bet Cheryl could make some very nice pictures of people whom "the camera seems to hate".
Most of the time, it's about intimate attitude. You hate the camera, the camera will hate you back. It may take some experienced help to take you by the hand and lead you past that high fence.
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