First attempt at portraiture...

[nps474]

A buddy of mine came by, I think he was doing one of his tough guy poses, I mostly shoot bugs, plants, buildnigs, suff like that, photographing people seems somehow more daunting to me...





Tips and stuff?

[mamajan]

When I look at this the picture isn't about your friend as much as it is about the scenery in his glasses. It's almost like he's just incidental to the scene. Interesting.

[nps474]

When I look at this the picture isn't about your friend as much as it is about the scenery in his glasses. It's almost like he's just incidental to the scene. Interesting.

He's not much of a friend really, I just use him for his extensive collection of exotic eye wear . Joking, but your point as regarding the photo is very astute, the landscape refelected in the aviators is somehow more alluring then that of his facial features, lol...

[starriderrick]

When I look at this the picture isn't about your friend as much as it is about the scenery in his glasses. It's almost like he's just incidental to the scene. Interesting.

Image 1. I agree, The glasses pull me in but not his eyeball staring at me. A reflections theme is what I see.No tough guy feeling at all.

Image 1. As a portrait I find this too distracting.AND I'm no expert.
What I do see here is a wonderful effects opportunity. Change the scene in the glasses.

Possibly frame the subject looking at something that pops... in front of a tall mirrored building,or a Ferrari...ect. I might use a 50mm lense. No clouds no distraction,It would be great to try. Do it!

[nps474]

I agree, The glasses pull me in.Glass only would be a good theme.Several ways to crop this.

As a portrait I find this too distracting.AND I'm no expert.
What I do see here is a wonderful effects opportunity.

If you had a helper hold a sheet of stainless steel or a pane of mirrored glass.Position this to the left and the reflection would be wild.No clouds no distraction,It would great to try. Do it!

THIS IS AWESOME! I will do this for sure, thanks...

Question though, (somewhat nebulous I know) when does the contrast between the image reflected and face itself become interesting/distracting? Meaning, I can see that a viewers eye sort of struggles a bit ,you want to naturally focus and become visually acclimated with the face you are viewing (natural bio instict vestiges maybe?) but the eye winds up wandering into the plane of the sunglass "vista" I get this can be distracting, but isnt that sort of the point? I love to analize the mental gymnastics (if any) created by viewing a "good" photo (if these pics even do that successfully? Subjective i think...)

[Tyson L. Sparks]

You lost the drama with the reflection of the photographer in the glasses ie. you. You need to take yourself out of the picture. You are in all three photos and smoking is not cool anymore. Puckered lips..........not tough !

Try this turn his head to the side so it is not a straight on shot, get your self out of the photo, those sun glasses look like State Highway patrol shades from 1970' ish time period. It would be hard for me to take him serious as a "tough guy"

Now this is a tough guy,,,,,,no glasses needed.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

If you are trying to make creative shots go to yard sales and such. Pick up old military cloths or jeans, something ,,,,,,,,,,,,, different than a polo shirt. Gas mask, respirator, hat, helmet, leather, boots, cheap sward or knife, rain coat, pipe, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Yard sales atre full of cool stuff and it is the season.

[nps474]

You lost the drama with the reflection of the photographer in the glasses ie. you. You need to take yourself out of the picture. You are in all three photos and smoking is not cool anymore. Puckered lips..........not tough !

Try this turn his head to the side so it is not a straight on shot, get your self out of the photo, those sun glasses look like State Highway patrol shades from 1970' ish time period. It would be hard for me to take him serious as a "tough guy"

Now this is a tough guy,,,,,,no glasses needed.

Thanks for the tips, I wasn't realy trying to stage anything, just shooting some pics of my buddy who stopped by. Seriously though, you info is very helpful, and yes soldiers who fight in wars with guns and real bullets are in fact tougher then guys who hang out at my place wearing retro sunglasses. But I thought you said smoking WASN'T cool anymore?

[Tyson L. Sparks]

I am a smoker and wish I could quit! Being a fire fighter and all I don't help me none.

[nps474]

Firefighter? Now there's a "tough guy". Quitting smoking? Jeez, don't even get me started on how hard I think that is....

[Tyson L. Sparks]

Ok the retro shades can stay!

[nps474]

I love it! Gives me some ideas for next times...

[Tyson L. Sparks]

Ya firefighter here is a shot of me on a 90 deg day at an arson fire.

[Greg McCary]

When taking pictures like this you need to try and capture their character. Try and catch your subject off gaurd and take their picture when they are not expecting it. Maybe while they are doing something that they enjoy.

[nps474]

[QUOTE=Tyson L. Sparks]Ya firefighter here is a shot of me on a 90 deg day at an arson fire.


Awesome photo! Looks very comfortable!... Hope they caught the guy who did it.

[nps474]

When taking pictures like this you need to try and capture their character. Try and catch your subject off gaurd and take their picture when they are not expecting it. Maybe while they are doing something that they enjoy.

Got it, thank you mucho.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

I have a ton of fire pictures but lack,,,,,,,stranger, type shots. I can't get anyone to pose for me.