P & P - Part One People Aware - Exercise 5 - Eye Contact and Expression

This exercise requires a portrait session where the face is prominent and the subject should at times look toward and away from the camera. Eye contact can be important for the images where the subject is looking toward the lens.

I've been experimenting when taking images to always try to capture the subject whole, sometimes some cropping is needed in post processing to tidy the image but these type of images can prove more interesting for the viewer. The key element with your subject is try build some rapport so that they can relax and an element of the character can be shared with the viewer, or perhaps the photographer can create a character using the subject. Sometimes this can be because the subject has created this, sometimes the photographer when we see some captured candid moments of celebs captured coming out of night clubs by the paparazzi

Image 1

I've learnt not to frame or crop the very ends of arms or legs, if you need to crop an arm or leg avoid doing this below the elbow or knee as the result can appear more like an amputation


Image 2

The the first image perhaps creates a connection between viewer and subjects eyes, in this second image the eyes are less visible but instead the connection is with the happy subject because of his smile.

Exercise Learning's

1. Some subjects are more natural in front of the camera, a combination of confidence, ease with the photographer and perhaps at times an element of showmanship

2. When cropping arms and legs do so above the elbow and knee for limbs

3. Consider who the image may be viewed, what feeling do you want the subject to create in the viewer

4. Sometimes "chimping" / showing the image on the camera screen to the subject can create confidence from the subject to the viewer and also that the images are looking OK and they are happy for you to continue you shooting

5. A focus toward the eyes can create a connection between the subject and the viewers of the image