#10 Portraits

In this class, we were told about what a DSLR means and does. We were told about the meaning of photographs, mirrorless cameras and how we can read an image. 

DSLR: SLR is the start of the camera history. 

Digital Single lens reflex or Single lens reflex 

 

Mirrorless cameras: There is a mirror infant of a sensor in DSLR’s and in a mirrorless camera the mirror is removed. 

Photograph: a representation of a person or an object 

 

Photos: Light 

Graph: To draw 

 

How to read an image: 

 

-Study the photo for several minutes

-Write down everything you see 

-Divide it into 4 sections and look for important elements in each section

We were further then asked to read a few images and give our points on those. 

Later, in the next class

We talked about the history of portraits and their different types

There is no main medium for a portrait as a portrait can be drawn on a canvas as well as taken by a camera

 

History: They were started out as paintings

 

Power of portraiture:  People are remembered by their pictures, they give off a message by what they capture. 

 

Types of portrait photography:

• Traditional : The portrait that captures traditions (Rangoli, Masjid, etc) 
• Environmental : The portrait where we are showing a specific environment (a teacher in the class room or a chef) 
• Candid : Very natural 
• Glamor : Fashion portraits - advertisement shoots 
• Lifestyle : a series of portrait (a specific lifestyle) 
• Surreal : The portraits in which we are showing an artificial thing (Abstract portraits) 
• Conceptual : Kind of surreal portraits (Specific conceptual representation) (Society, a dark side)  

 

Things to keep in mind while taking a portrait: 

• Learn to focus your camera on manual
• Learn to expose your picture correctly 
• Eyes not sharp 
• Avoid busy backgrounds 
• Don’t crop body parts 
• Avoid strobe into windows 
• Harsh shadow or shadow less 
• Shooting from the wrong height/angle 

 

Factors to consider while taking a portrait: 

• Focal Length (Range of the length)  
• Camera sensor size 
• Prime lens or Zoom lens (a lens having one specific focal length is a prime lens ; fixed focal length) 
• Bokeh (Background lighting and how to show it in your portrait) 
• Minimum focusing distance