ASSIGNMENT 1: A PORTRAIT

Outline: Take one person as a subject and create between five and seven different portraits. Try to differ the style and type, ideally from different photographic sessions.

For this assignment I shall be using my boyfriend as a subject. I have used him throughout this chapter and thought I would keep with him to complete the chapter. I have selected my personal favourite photographs from a number of photo shoots and will analyze each photograph with each image.

A PORTRAIT OF LLOYD 

Check in with the doorman...

I found this derelict building on the side of the road and thought it would be good to use for a shoot. I like the body position here, a torso shot which appears more as a head and shoulders. The model is connecting with the viewer by looking at the camera which makes me focus straight to his face. It might be interesting to shoot at a venue like this later at night, which would obviously create more difficulty due to lighting, or on a vivid sunset to create more shadow to make the scene slightly more eerie.

No entry...

This is another derelict building which was used to create more of an 'alternative' backdrop. The subject has a good strong pose, full of confidence and looking comfortable. I like the fact that this is a full body shot but the focus is still drawn to the subjects face. I also like the composition, with the camera angled slightly creating plenty of diagonal lines in the image. I don't think I would actually want to change anything about this image.

Spiderman..

I really like this image. It was taken at a cemetery in Cardiff, where Lloyd wanted to go to shoot some 'alternative/gothic' type shots. He doesn't like this image but I love how unusual it is. It's not a 'common' pose  and the focus is completely on the subject. I was slightly off to the side taking this image and could've made it more central by possibly straddling the wall the same as the subject was.

Urban snapshot...

This photo was taken at a graffiti 'gallery' at our local recreation centre. My thought was to take some really urban youth style portrait shots.  This was not my favourite of the sequence however it was one of the strongest as a portrait. I was successful incorporating the graffiti while still keeping attention to the subject. Also the diagonal line through the image helps to draw the focus down the photo to the subject. His graffiti style t shirt design fits in really well with the background as well as showing a hint of his arm tattoos. The lighting was awful at the time of the shoot though and this took a bit of work during editing.

Up close and personal...

 This wasn't actually on a location shoot. It was just a shot taken at a local park. I really like the close up framing on his face and the fact he looks so natural and happy, which again fits in with the nature backdrop. The face takes up most of the frame which makes it keep the attention and  the slight tilt of the face creates a good amount of depth the the face with a generally flat perspective. The eyes really stand out in this image.

Natural beauty...

This is another shot which Lloyd looks at ease and comfortable. A slight smile makes him look more natural as opposed to forcing a smile or looking fierce. Again, with this being taken at dusk, the lighting could've been better.

Colour coordinated...

The building Lloyd is leaning on is actually a lighthouse, and I really wanted to include it more in the shoot where this image was taken. However, it was dwarfing Lloyd and taking the focus of the shot so I had to make a split decision to leave it out. Again, this was not my favourite of the sequence but was the strongest. The pose is very casual and relaxed, with the lean against the wall with his thumbs in his pockets. It was very cold and windy at the time too which shows slightly in his facial expression. He is squinting due to the wind and doesn't look as comfortable as he should but the slight smile and eye contact mixed with good body language helps us to connect with the subject.

Mean and moody...

This is one of my favourites of this selection. I like the pose, nice and strong, casual and confident. And the facial expression really adds to the 'Urban Youth' style I was after as the general perception of young people is that they are miserable and moody. A very successful shot.

Conclusion:
My final selection of photographs is very successful as a whole. You can get an insight into the type of photography I produce and the types of pose and locations that I prefer. The images are a good perception of myself as a photographer and also as Lloyd as a person. I am very happy with the technical aspects of my images as well. The perspective is good and the compositions are strong. I hope that this new experience can progress my portrait photography and bring me out of my comfort zone more, of photographing people more naturally and less formally. Hopefully I will now be able to build my confidence as a photographer, to be able to engage more with my subjects and direct them a little more to be able to take more formal type shots.