Reading Notes-pg. 114-119: Portraits

How to shoot a formal portrait:

1. place the background for the photograph close to a wall
1. 10-20 feet of clear space in front of the background, plus some room to the sides
2. place the light about 45 degrees to the right side of the subject
3. set the camera directly in front of the subject, anywhere from 6-10 feet away, depending on what kind of lens you are using

Camera Settings

• formal portrait - wide-open aperture to make the background out of focus 
• 50mm lens - f/2 or f/2.8
• zoom lens - f/3.5 or f/4.5
• shutter speed no slower than 1/60 of a second
• faster that you subject's eyes can blink

Lighting for Formal Portraits

• Indoors
• place one light at approximately a 45 degree angle on one side or the other of your subject (use a reflector on the opposite side)
• Outdoors
• direct sunlight isn't the best lighting (harsh and squinting occurs)
• shoot in open shade (from building or tree)
• cloudy days are great for photographing

The Candid Portrait

• candid portraits
• capture a person going about everyday life and activities, whether it's playing basketball, singing in a choir, watching TV, or talking with friends
• Camera Settings
• 1/250 shutter speed - will freeze the action
• if you use a flash, get close

Homework: 5 Photos

I took the following pictures during Open House at Santa Clara University on Saturday, October 16th.

Reading Notes-pg. 108-113: Portraits

• Working with People
• photographer must gain the subject's trust and cooperation
• a successful photographer learns to work with both known people and strangers
• a good portrait involves building a relationship with your subject, even if it's only temporary
• Camera Formats
• many professional photographers go with medium format cameras , because of their bigger negatives and their ease and speed of operation
• Film Choices for Portraits
• Films Speed
• Slow Films (50 to 100 ISO)-usually mean slower shutter speeds
• Fast Films (400 to 3200 ISO)-more sensitive to light and are ideally suited to available-light photography; candid and environmental portraits
• Black and White or Color?
• black and white-focuses the viewer's attention on the subject
• color-can carry feelings and impressions
• Equipment Choices: Lenses for Portraits
• 24mm-too close; distortion is obvious
• 50mm-shows the face as less rounded and broad
• 100mm-gives you the most flattering image
• Camera Accessories
• tripod-three-legged metal stand on which you can mount your camera
• cable release-a flexible wire, one end of which attaches to the camera's shutter release
• reflector-anything that will reflect light into shadows to lighten them for a flattering and three-dimensional portrait
• The Formal Portrait
• the formal portrait is the simplest portrait and should emphasize the person and nothing else
• Julia Margaret Cameron (England, 1815-1879)
• Victorian photographer
• her photographs had a lasting effect on the history of photography
• inspired and influenced Alfred Stieglitz and the Pictorialist photographers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries

Reading Notes-pg. 102-107: Portraits

• Chapter 5 Portraits
• people are, by far, the most popular subject for photography
• portraits demonstrate the similarities and differences between the subject and us, the viewer
• self-portraits can be a way to explore who we are to ourselves and to other people, and who we want to be
• different types of portraits:
• formal portraits-emphasize only the person who is the subject of the photograph
• candid portraits-capture a person going about everyday activities
• environmental portraits-place the person in a setting that says something about him or her
• self-portraits-feature you, the photographer, as your own subject
• Early Portrait Photography:
• shortly after photography was invented, people became popular subjects for photographs
• Gaspard-Felix Tournachon (France, 1820-1910)-the first great portrait photographer
• August Sander (Germany, 1876-1964)-created some of the first environmental portraits
• Creating Portrait Photos
• Thinking Artistically
• value is an important design element to consider when creating a portrait
• the range of light and dark areas
• the lightest and darkest areas of an image attract our attention and help to move our eyes through an image

Photo Essay: "A Week in the Life of a Varsity Football Player"

The team analyzes their upcoming opponent during "Films" at lunch.

Prior to the first practice, the team takes a knee and listens as the coaches discuss the upcoming week.

During practice, the team works to fine-tune ever play in the play-book.

At the end of the week, the team and coaches come together in the Chapel and strengthen their brotherhood and unity.

Led by the team captains, the team stretches as they prepare for pre-game drills.

The offensive and defensive lines taking reps before the game.

Father Joe Bradley leads the team in prayer before every game.

All the hard work and practice gets put to the test, because it's...Game Time!