This week, we were told to take a camera out of Media Loans and photograph a stranger. I asked my sister if she had a friend who would be willing to have their photo taken and in the end I took photographs of Molly and Joe in Hykeham Village Green. I positioned them on a band stand with a park in the background. I chose to have the park slightly blurred in the background because the amount of different aspects of the background (The park equipment, buildings, trees etc.) made the image quite busy and I wanted to make it clear to the viewer that the stranger is supposed to be where their attention goes. I do however think that the pops of colour from the park make the photos more interesting and the equipment in the setting implies that the people in the photos are young people.
Both of the people I photographed were quite comfortable in front of the camera, most likely due to the fact that they knew each other well and so didn’t have the added anxiety of having their photo taken in front of several people they don’t know. To make them feel calmer at first I gave them specific instructions such as to look in certain directions or to express certain emotions. This took some pressure and awkwardness away. I also got them to take some photos together and allowed them to try out different poses of their choosing. In the photos where they are together, it is clear that they know each other and have good chemistry which makes for a more informal, candid photo. I have cropped the photo with them together because there was a lot of empty space which did not look aesthetically pleasing.
Below are some of my favourite photos from the shoot:
Unfortunately, because we were taking photos outside, there was very little I could do to adjust the lighting. By positioning them under the cover of a band stand, I was able to create a softer light with no harsh shadows. This would have been different if we had taken photos in the direct sunlight which would have made harsher shadows and would have been likely to cause the subjects to squint. Also several of the photos I took were slightly out of focus. This was because I was stood quite a bit away from the subject so even when I looked through the viewfinder, I couldn’t tell how in focus the person was. If I were to do this again, I would have stood closer to the subject and taken my time a bit more.
Below is my final portrait image. I have chosen this one for many reasons. Firstly, the subject is central in the composition which makes it clear that the viewer’s attention should be directed straight at him. I really love the focus being on the finger he is pointing to the camera. This naturally draws the viewer’s attention to it and makes them feel involved, as though the subject is pointing at them. The subject is also looking straight down the lens, adding intensity. This coupled with the pointing finger seems, in my opinion, almost confrontational, making for an interesting portrait. I think this because portraits are usually for the viewer to observe the person in the photograph whereas here, it’s as though the person in the photograph is watching the viewer. The subject’s directness also implies confidence and a self-assured attitude. I also like how level the photo is. This is hard to tell at first because the post he is leaning on has been built deliberately on a slant but the subject is stood up straight so the viewer knows it is level.
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