...or why I haven't yet mastered portrait photography.
I always dread the occasion when a record photograph is required for publicity and a candid shot is not the answer. As the person responsible for publicity where I work, I have to ensure that the photo is available for social media and the like. But I really haven't a clue when it comes to portrait photography as evidenced yesterday.
My colleague and I were at a function to collect a trophy and the whole session represented here turned out to be quite a farce. Here are just some of the difficulties I encountered
Firstly, I needed to be in the photo which as the person with the camera is always a bad start. I also carelessly chose a dress which I should have known better about - with a pattern that the camera just can not cope with. The function room was singularly lacking in interest or any plain walls to act as a backdrop and by the time lunch was finished, unbeknown to me, there was a small splatter of tomato on the front of my dress. Approaching one of the less elderly members of the rotary club, "are you any good with the camera?" I ventured to ask. No was the reply but I will try. A brief lesson in the basic functions of the camera and the result yon see bottom right (sorry!). Three videos later, I had something I could work with but still required considerable editing just for the work twitter account. Top right.
Outside - we decided to have a go at a better shot - and found the perfect spot with the town bridge in the background. Delighted also to find a suitable wall on which to rest the camera and set the 10 second timer, I checked that all was positioned well whilst waiting for my colleague to arrive. (top left) With all set, and both of us in place as the 10 second count completed, we squinted in the sun and a lorry passed over the bridge to take the centrepiece of the composition. The slope of the path also meant that the camera was not at best angle for my chin! Aware of having been looking into the sun, we both grabbed our phones for a phone selfie - and still managed to mess these up. The only positive I can come up with from the whole fiasco is some editing practice - I managed to remove the tomato stain, add a tiny amount of colour back into my hair and remove a pedestrian on the bridge in the top left photo, and dull the background, remove a picture and improve the contrast in the top right picture. All good practice - but I'm certainly never going to make a wedding photographer!!!
Oh Helen! That's such a hilarious story! I'm so glad to read it! Someone's I think I am so behind everyone else on here regarding progress, thinking that everyone else just picks up their camera and takes amazing shots first time! I'm so glad to hear the story behind your episode.....although I have laughed at your expense! You got some nice ones in the end, and I have to say how lovely you looked. The dress is beautiful, I love the colour, it really suits you ! Maybe we should all add the dilemma's we encounter, so we remember we're all human! Lol!
Oh, my goodness! Definitely hilarious! It was such a wonderful narrative, I had to read it aloud to my husband. You are quite a character, Helen! This posting was a fantastic idea...and a lot of work! Well done! I agree with Jane...it would be interesting to share the photography dilemmas and mishaps we experience. :-)
I agree with Jane. I loved your story. Sometimes I agonise over a shot and it turns out plain. Then a random shot is received in a better light. No answer to that. That dress is beautiful, summery and cool. Great collection of shots. Fav for all the effort!
I certainly feel for you! I think we have all been there! The two top images seem to have worked out best in my opinion! There are two (bottom right and bottom middle) that have a someones backside in the image! It took me a moment to work out what it was. I also rarely face subjects directly facing the sun for the very reason you have described. Cameras are much better these days compared to their film predecessors and post processing is easier. In that instance try shooting a fraction over exposed so that your subject is not in silhouette. Take a few shots at different exposures and you will soon realise what works and what doesn't. Well done anyway!
Oh dear. Half dismayed for you and the other half LOL. It's possible an older person with long association with photography , analogue and start of digital may have been the one to handle your camera. I speak as an older person, and hope it won't create ageism for me. I do most of the editing for my family, fix their settings on cameras when they get in trouble.......blah, blah
@ethelperry I think you have spotted a possible ageist attitude in me which you do well to point out and I apologise for any offence. Perhaps my approach to a younger member backfired to teach me a lesson!
@marshwader I'm glad the top two images looked best as they were the ones I worked on. Thank you for your advice I couldn't agree more but when other people are involved the theories all go out of the window as self consciousness takes over.
@helenhall I don't think of you as being ageist, and the way I think, you were not punished nor being taught a lesson. I think in terms of possibilities. Some of my young friends have helped me with iPhone and iPad. They come to me and we talk photography together. To me, it's just "horses for courses" and age doesn't come in to it.
Good on you for even attempting these shots and then persisting with editing and publishing. I am definitely not comfortable with people shots - too much pressure :) You look very nice in these shots by the way.
Well, that was an adventure and you've come out the other side and learnt a lot! Your story made me smile Helen. Think photographing people is one of the scariest things but you've got a collection together. You look very smart by the way.
June 14th, 2016
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