PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY is a photograph that captures the personality of a person or a group of people. They can be taken using effective lighting, powerful backdrops and dramatic poses to display the mood that the subject wants to create. A portrait photograph can be used for creative purposes or part of a medical study.

some types of PORTRAITURE PHOTOGRAPHY

• traditional portraiture
• environmental portraiture
• candid portraiture
• glamour portraiture
• lifestyle portraiture
• surreal portraiture
• conceptual portraiture
• abstract portraiture

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mood board

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CONTEMPORARY PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY is a photograph which relates to the time/era in which we are in, they may reflect values, challenges, and perceptions that are important in this particular era.

technical aspects of PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY can be taken in different ways. They can be formal, meaning the subject is posed to reflect their mood or something similar. Portraits can also be informal or candid, meaning the subject is captured in a natural way, and they may not even know their photograph is being taken at that time.

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PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY can be just a head shot, which is a photograph that is just of the subjects head. Photographs can also be half body, which is a picture of the subject trunk and head. Photographers can also capture full body photographs, which is a picture of the subjects full body.

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PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY can be taken at different angles. Photographers may decide to take a photograph at a high angle, which means that it is taken from above eye level to get a more expressive and creative shot. Photographers may decide to also take a photograph at a low angle, which means that it is taken from below eye level to produce a more interesting shot. Photographers may decide to take a photograph at a canted angle, which means that it is taken at a tilted angle to produce the mood of tension or uneasiness.

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PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY may be to edited to change them to black and white, which will produce a more contrasted and interesting image. A photographer may decided to keep the photograph in its original state, allowing the photograph to be bright and colourful.

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PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY can be taken to light and airy, which would be classed as high key photographs. Portraits can also be highly contrasted, which would be classed as low key photographs.

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A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. It can capture a person or group of people that is able to highlight the personality and characteristics of the subject whilst using effective lighting, poses and backdrops. It is regarded as an art of shooting other people, either one person or a group of people. A good portrait artist can use lighting, position and location to show the characteristics and personality of the subject. The different types of portrait photography are: Formal (Posed), Informal (Similar to Candid and Natural), Environmental, Contemporary and Traditional.

A portrait picture might be artistic, or it might be clinical, as part of a medical study. Frequently, portraits are commissioned for special occasions, such as weddings or school events. Portraits can serve many purposes, from usage on a personal Web site to display in the lobby of a business.

The invention of photography can be credited to Louis Daguerre, who first introduced the concept to the French Academy of Sciences in 1839. That same year, Robert Cornelius produced what’s considered the first photographic self-portrait.

I decided to use the lighthouse as a focus point, while making sure not to place the focal point in the middle of the picture as I felt the picture needed the open blue sky to show the eeriness of the tower.

I changed the gradient map to improve the sense of warmth and get rid of the creepiness. I felt having a warm colour would expose the audience to a sense of love rather than a sense of darkness. The bright tower has a pop art feel and could be interpenetrated by the audience in ways of variety.

INSPIRATION:

I will be taking inspiration from Arnold Newman’s environmental portrait photography as it is simple yet effective. I also enjoy his editing style, which is black and white, I would like to use this in my experimentations and editing of my outcomes.

PHOTOSHOOT PLAN:

WHO

I will be taking photographs of a chef at Berestford Street Kitchen in St Helier.

WHAT

I will focus on the working space of the chef and the equipment they use in the kitchen. Features of the backdrop may include ovens, cookers, spiking and grills. This will surround the subject of the photograph it chair working environment. It could also include their office or desk space, however I will include these ideas in my experimentations.

WHERE

I will take the photoshoot in the kitchen of Berestford street, where the chef spends his day working.

WHEN

I will take the photographs during the first week of December.

WHY

I think that this is a good example of an environmental portrait setting as this is the chefs natural setting where they will feel most comfortable. It also shows their working environment and includes themes to their job/ occupation.

HOW

During the photoshoot I will make sure I have a range of head-shot / half body / three quarter length / full length body shots. The lighting in the kitchen is fluorescent so there are no cool or warm shades to the light.

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• My camera settings will consist of a relatively low ISO of 100/200
• the shutter speed will be relatively high to eliminate blurs from camera shakes and I will now be using a tripod.
• the aperture will be low to compensate for the high shutter speed.