The makings of a great portrait.

I found a great article on the makings of a great portrait over at [EV+/-] Exposure Compensation. It’s a wonderful collaborative article on finding that “it” factor for a portrait. It deserves a read.

As a photographer that used to make a living creating portraiture I really loved the points of view in this article. It reminded me of sitting at the cafe, meeting with other photographers in the area, and enjoying conversation about great works of art. The things that inspire and sometimes haunt us.

I’ve always felt that creating a great portrait really encompasses more than lighting and composition. It’s capturing mood and intensity. Sometimes the lack thereof. It’s about challenging yourself, as an artist, to portray an accurate photograph that depicts both the subject and yourself. When working on an art show depicting people with tattoos I chose to use black and white imagery to downplay the actual tattoo. I didn’t want it to be about tattoos, I needed it to be about people. The tattoos were simply the glue that bonded all of these people together. So when people thought at first they would be seeing a show about tattoos, they left knowing that they had a glimpse inside of other people.

photograph by myself

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