A photo reveals a good understanding of a person (or a group of persons). It should show a strong sense of who the person is, what he/she does to make the news, or revealing the personality of the person.
1. Candid portrait - capture the person(s) on the fly
2. Posed portrait - set up situation to take photo of the person(s) at a specific moment and environment
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| Candid portrait | Posed portrait |
Portrait can be showing more than one persons, we call it "group portrait."
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| Candid group portrait | Posed group portrait |
Photo showing the person appears in his/her actual activities.
The photo reveals the person's personality or emotion at a specific time and place.
Viewers should be able to understand the subject quite well by just looking at the photo.
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| High school prom | India market girl |
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| Geisha | Chemist |
Subject is either directly looking at the camera or appears in a setting that is no doubt a staged photo just for the camera's sake.
Photo should show a strong relationship between the subject and his/her environment which summarizes or reveals the person's identity.
Although the moment and location could be a set up, the authenticity of the person, the environment, tools, friends and settings should all truely related to the subjects. No props allowed in such situation.
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| John Lenon and Ono Yoko | Photographers |
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| Factory owner | Korean couple |
Websites for more exemplary works:
"Best of Photojournalism" (BOP) Competition from NPPA
"Picture of the Year" (POY) Competition from University of Missouri
"College Photographer of the Year" (CPOY) Competition from University of Missouri
Portrait assignment (due next Mon/Tue)One photo is in candid, another in posed style.
Caption is needed because you need to tell more about this person to enrich your photo.
Restrictions: The person you take photos of should not be someone you know personally. No family members, no friends. It could be someone you see often but you never exchange names or say hello to each other.
Also, NO KIDS.
Good portrait possibilities: Carpenter, custodian, musician, bartender, dancer, gardener, nurse, skateboard player…