Photography 1: P & P, Proj 5: Eye-contact and Expression

Project 5: Eye-contact and Expression.

For this exercise I photographed the subject using a simple head and shoulders composition against a plain background.  No clothes are visible in the images.  This is to avoid the viewer's gaze being distracted from the subject.  For lighting I used an on-camera flash with a Gary Fong Light Sphere attached, (with cap removed).

Full-Face-1; Nikon D300; 50mm Primary Lens (75mm equiv.); F5.6; 1/60s

The general composition of this photograph is satisfactory although somewhat static, with the subject placed centrally.  I could have asked the subject to remove her earrings to further simplify the image.  However, I feel that they are part of the subject's public face, so I have left them in.  The lighting balance is about right due to the use of the light sphere on the flash.  This diffuser gives an even all-over lighting effect.  The subject is looking straight towards the camera with her head in a relaxed position.  The subject has a passive facial expression.  The subject's body language communicates that she is relaxed and at ease in the photographer's company.

Up-And-Away-1; Nikon D300; 50mm Primary Lens (75mm equiv.); F5.6; 1/60s

The general composition of this photograph is more interesting.  The subject is placed slightly off centre with her gaze away from the camera and up to her right.  The coloured background has worked better.  The subject is more differentiated from the background.  Once again the use of the light sphere on the flash has given an even lighting effect with few shadows.  The subject's head is at an interesting angle, tilted up towards the upper left of the frame.  The subject has an "interested" facial expression that is more attractive than that in the previous image.  The subject's body language communicates alertness, which makes for a more interesting portrait.

What have I learned from this project?

The background of a portrait is at least as important as the subject.  An unfussy background can isolate the subject and encourage the viewer to focus on the person in the portrait.  A coloured background helps to make the subject stand out.  Ideally, the colour should be different enough and possibly complimentary.  Sometimes a portrait will work better when the subject is not facing directly at the camera.  This can result in a more relaxed image of a non-professional model.