Among the many forms of portraiture, I enjoying creating the environmental portrait the most.
You are all familiar with portraits. The setting may vary but making the subject look good is almost always the photographer's primary concern.
The environmental portrait is different in that beauty takes a back seat in this form of portraiture, The goal is to show the subject's character. The more clearly you can show the character, the more successful the environmental portrait is.
There are several things a photographer can do to make an environmental portrait more successful:
You are all familiar with portraits. The setting may vary but making the subject look good is almost always the photographer's primary concern.
The environmental portrait is different in that beauty takes a back seat in this form of portraiture, The goal is to show the subject's character. The more clearly you can show the character, the more successful the environmental portrait is.
There are several things a photographer can do to make an environmental portrait more successful:
- Show the subject in the environment that will clearly aid in characterization. This may mean shooting inside the subject's workplace, home, or any other place that is relevant to the subject's character. This is not 100% necessary but is certainly helpful.
- Use only props that are relevant. A hammer and chisel, for example, naturally belong to a sculptor's environmental portrait, while his car keys and hairbrush do not. Do not overdo it. You don't want the props to be the main focus of the portrait.
- Pose the subject properly. This may mean carefully planing the pose/s. Showing the subject at work is a good idea and it ensures that viewers will understand the character better. The subject does not need to face the camera.
- Focusing on the face is optional. To use the sculptor again, for example, his hands are a more important part of his work than his face. Giving his hands more prominence in the composition is a good idea, then.
The more clearly you can show the character, the more successful the environmental portrait is.
Many have the misguided notion that the environmental portrait has to do with nature or outdoor portraiture. The word "environmental" in the phrase "environmental portrait" refers to the subjects usual environment. Shooting the subject in an environment relevant to his character, to me, is the single most helpful strategy in creating environmental portraits.
The surgeon shown above is a good friend of mine. I was able to observe one of his surgeries and took the opportunity to take some environmental portraits.
Learn more about portraiture when you attend my 3-Day Basic Photography Seminar. =)
The surgeon shown above is a good friend of mine. I was able to observe one of his surgeries and took the opportunity to take some environmental portraits.
Learn more about portraiture when you attend my 3-Day Basic Photography Seminar. =)