Tuesday, August 19, 2008
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Photography: Going for the Look - Part 3
Posing Your Subject
So what about when you aren't looking for something spontaneous? Sometimes we don't always want to struggle for the spontaneous; just taking wild shots in the dark hoping for something amazing. How can we script our shots to get what we are looking for? Several people pointed out from my last post that the Afghan Girl was more posed than spontaneous. Good eye. You are right. While the look in her eyes spoke volumes and couldn't have been there for long, still this girl was just sitting there waiting for the photographer to take her picture. He may have taken 20 or 30 shots of her before he got this famous image.
Just as placing your subject in a place with good lighting is always a first when posing your subjects, so is getting them comfortable. They need somewhere to sit or lean that makes them appear comfortable. And of course an obvious rule of thumb is usually a subject looks comfortable when they are, so ask them to find a spot they like. While you look through the camera and compose your shot you can inform your subject that you are just making adjustments and to not worry about smiling or doing anything special. Encourage them to look around them, talk or engage other people near by, and adjust their position until they are feeling at ease and natural. During this time take several test shots. Check your image on the back of your camera to see how things look and adjust your settings if necessary.When everything looks good, shoot several shots while the person still thinks you are doing adjustments. Look for changing expressions to shoot. Talk to them and crack jokes or comment on the surroundings. After getting all you can that way start giving the subject more direction. Ask them to look up at the sky or down at the ground. Have them look off to the left or right. If you do this remember to move the subject in the view finder so that say if they are looking to their LEFT, you have the subject more toward your LEFT side of the viewfinder. See my example here of my daughter looking "off the edge" of the picture:
The photo is more pleasing in this next one:
This gives the appearance of something for her to look at. Keep the Rule of Thirds in mind. Try to start breaking your picture into thirds and put major subject matter in one of those thirds. As you begin to avoid always centering everything you'll notice your photography get less generic and start to take on a more professional feel.Where do you usually position the subject(s) of your photos (e.g. center, left, etc.)? Have you heard of the Rule of Thirds before?
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Comments (6)
I almost always go to the left unless it's a group shot then it's centered...or if I'm going for more of a head shot and it too would be centered. My daugher tends to start posing the moment a camera comes out so I usually just start flashing with her. However, the pictures that people don't expect to be taken...the ones you just wait for...are almost always my favorites.
I have a lot of favorite shots and most of them are spontaneous like you said. I have a nice picture of my brother. He didn't know I took it at the time, but he had the "The Thinker" pose going. It was great.
The subject is usually on the left or in the corner.
I never knew about the rule of thirds till I bought a digital and started joining a couple of photography sites - it has made such a difference in many of my pics and how I look at things now through the camera lens.
I am enjoying your articles here - good work. Always something new to learn.
Thanks for the great tips!
That second picture of your daughter is so much nicer than the first! Great example, I'll try to remember that when my subject is facing one direction or another.