Reader's Comments - Index of - Free

Portrait Photography
me rather than at the camera, so that in the photograph he is looking above the viewer. Generally this is not a
good thing. (Recently I've used a digital camera with a tilting LCD display. Working with children I often hold
the camera down at the child's eye level and look down at the tilted display. This produces the same challenge as
the twin-lens reflex.)
Regarding the disadvantage of a point-and-shoot camera of always having much depth of field, the same is true
of many digital cameras, particularly those without removable lenses. Most digital cameras on the market have
very small sensors and therefore very short focal-length lenses. Short focal-length lenses produce great depth of
field, even at a relatively wide aperture. With such cameras, to get the least depth of field (for a blurred
background), zoom all the way out and use a wide-open aperture (small f/stop number).
There are as many ways to make portraits as there are people making them. Be creative!
-- Arlin Geyer, December 9, 2004
I own a Canon EOS 50mm/1.8, and a Sigma 70-200mm/2.8. The first lense I bought new for ~$75.00. The Sigma
I bought used for ~$400.00.
I've taken fantastic portraits with both.
-- Heather Thivierge, December 18, 2004
That picture of your gandfather with the dog...I don't like it. I personally think it is an example of a horrible
portrait. Not that I can say much, i've only been shooting for a year, but i am practicing, and I would never use
that photo as an example for anything. This is just my personal opinion on the content and execution of the
photograph...not on you as a photographer.
-- Emily Rose Bennett, January 3, 2005
In his wonderful book "Once" photographer/author Wim Wenders provides a brillient and gritty perspective on
capturing images. Of importance to this thread on portrait photography, Wenders notes, "Taking pictures is
always an act of presumption and rebellion."
I have observed through the years that the formula for a good portrait requires that the "permission" of the subject
be in equal or greater measure to the "presumption" of the photographer. So too, the photographer's rebellios
drive to capture an image must be accompanied, again, in equal or greater measure, with respect for the soul
within the subject.
A good portrait, of course, will exhibit good light and composition, but if it is to capture the imagination of
anyone not related to the subject, it will exhibit passion and respect.
Image:So warm PN.jpg
-- Patrick MacDonald, January 6, 2005
A good portrait can tell a lot about the subject, not just show the forms. For that, it helps if the subject is
comfortable with the photographer.
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