Did you enjoy popping in a little color last week? I did! This week our black and white shots will feature portraits. Lest you run away from the computer now in a complete panic, let me reassure you that you do not have to take this literally. That is, you do not have to find 7 people to pose for you unless you absolutely want to! Remember our Covid version of Flash of Red February gives you the option to interpret the weekly themes at face value or to broaden your interpretation to suit your needs and comfort level. That means, if you’d like to take 7 pet portraits, so be it! Or perhaps you want to capture faces of sculptures- that works too. You might find faces in tree bark or unexpected places like the potato you’ll be mashing for dinner tonight. We never thwart creativity here- if it’s a portrait to you, you have the creative right to use it! Maybe you have some photos of family members in your archives that you’ve wanted to work on- go for it!
Whether you’re one of the talented or brave portrait photographers here who do the “100 Strangers” project or this will be your first foray into shooting portraits, here are some tips for taking portraits in black and white that work for both formal and candid portraits:
1) Start with Black and White in mind. If you can start creating an image knowing that you ultimately intend it to be black and white, you can take steps to ensure that all of the elements of a good monochrome image are in place before you press the shutter. Use your camera’s monochrome setting if you have trouble imagining how a picture will look in black and white. Otherwise, shoot as you usually do, and convert to black and white in post processing.
2) Keep the eyes sharp and well lit. In the majority of portraits, the most important part is the eyes. Eyes are usually the focal point that the rest of your image is built around. This is especially true in black and white because the lack of color will break down into graphic forms and shapes. Eyes are shapes that everyone recognizes, and they immediately capture the attention of your viewers. So make sure that your subject’s eyes are well-lit and in-focus for a stunning black and white portrait.
3) Expressions will be emphasized in Black and White. As with the eyes, other facial features become very prominent in a black and white portrait. Use this to your advantage by conveying emotion in your images. Even tiny changes in your subject’s expression can make a difference. Things like a raised eyebrow, a twitch at the corner of the mouth, and smile lines under the eyes can all be used to great effect.
4) Be aware of your lighting. When it comes to lighting black and white portrait photography, there are no hard and fast rules. If you like high-contrast images with hard gradations in tone, then choose a harder source of light. If you like soft tones and subtler images, then you want a softer light source. Your personal preference will come into play here. If you’re not sure what you like, search for black and white portraits on the internet. Find the first ten black and white portraits that stand out to you the most and see if you can deconstruct the lighting. Then try to use those lighting techniques in your own images!
5) Contrast is your friend! It not only gives contour and shape to your 2D picture, it gives an overall mood to your image. If you want to create high-contrast black and white portrait photos, the best advice is to add contrast with light, not in post-processing. However adjustments after the fact won’t hurt your images. Stay away from cranking the contrast slider and try to keep it between +15 and -15 in your post processing. For local adjustments in post-processing, use a dodging and burning technique of your choice. The key point here, and in all post-production, is subtlety. Use high key or low key contrast when it makes artistic sense. Most of the time natural or studio lighting will add the right amount of contrast. While it is true that ultimately, you can use contrast adjustments while editing, it is better to let the lighting perform its own contrast magic!
6) When shooting candids, be mindful of when and where to take the shot so that you are not “detected”. Obviously you do not want to invade someone’s privacy, but you may have to be a little sneaky if you’re in a public place. Candids in the home are less tricky and usually expected by your subjects (family and friends), but in public you must be respectful of a person’s dignity and the legal implications of who you’re capturing unbeknownst to them (for example- children and the homeless). Be mindful of your boundaries and try to keep your distance. Candids are filled with emotion so it’s important to keep a balance between capturing that emotion without exploiting it.
7) Play with perspective. Not every portrait has to be shot head on. If the background is cluttered, try getting low. This puts your subject in the sky (or in the ceiling if you’re indoors) and removes all of the distractions around you. If there is a horizon line cutting through the neck of your subject, get low and make sure the subject is above the horizon line. By being above your subject you can emphasize facial features as they look up. And sometimes a compelling portrait can be captured by using a reflective object- such as shooting into a mirror instead of shooting the person directly. Creative perspectives can produce compelling portraits so be on the lookout for them!
While the above list is geared more towards shooting people, the basic principles of lighting and contrast apply to any subject- human, animal or inanimate. Take particular note of those elements in your pictures this week- especially concerning the eyes if you’re shooting people or pets.
I know many of you thought the first two weeks were a challenge! But just like exercise, if you don’t work the muscles you’ll never get stronger. Work your photographic muscles this week in whatever way is comfortable for you. But most of all- have fun! That’s what learning and art should be.
Week Three runs from Monday, February 15th to Sunday, February 21st.
The tag remains the same- FOR2021.
My good friend used to go out in the Colorado Mountains and do point and shoot landscapes like many of us do, but about 2016 she decided to really push herself to become a portrait photographer with the creation of art rivaling the old painting masters as her goal. If you want to see gorgeous examples of mostly brown toned photographs, her website is https://www.barbaramacferrinphotography.com/
@olivetreeann thank you so much for your great instructions and ideas. I do t know if you are a teacher, if you aren’t, you missed your calling. Your lessons are excellent. Thank you so much and Happy Valentine’s Day!
@louannwarren Thank you Lou Ann! I was a teacher for a while in a small private school. When they ran out of money to pay me, I was basically put into early retirement. I miss it, but as you can see, I find other ways to teach now. I'm glad you are getting something out of these "lessons" because I'm learning too as I put them together.
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The posting for week #3 is up- but remember it doesn't start until the 15th.