Ex 9: A comfortable situation

I attended Scotland's Festival of History at Lanark Racecourse on August 22nd. My primary objective was to use my 55-200mm lens to try to get candid photographs of the spectators and participants. Using a medium-long focal length to keep my distance, I hoped to feel more comfortable and less intrusive than I had at the Ayr Flower Show. I used aperture priority and portrait mode, giving a shallow depth of field, to defocus the cluttered backdrops of cars, tents and spectators.

The day went better than I could have imagined. The reenactors were expecting to have their picture taken so were friendly and quite happy to pose, which quickly put me at ease. They went about their business in the living history camps, so candid shots were plentiful.

I think the fact I didn't feel uncomfortable taking the pictures enabled me to get some great shots. I am very pleased with the results and intend to return next year with greater confidence.

Nikon D40, F5.6, 150mm, ISO 200

Nikon D40, F4.8, 116 mm, ISO 200

Nikon D40, F5.6, 200 mm, ISO 360

 

Nikon D40, F4, 55 mm, ISO 250 

Nikon D40, F5.6, 200 mm, ISO 200 

Nikon D40, F5.6, 116 mm, ISO 200 

Nikon D40, F6.3, 55 mm, ISO 200 

Nikon D40, F4.3, 80 mm, ISO 360 

Ex 1: Portrait, scale and setting

Some aspects of this exercise worked and others didn't. David felt quite akward being 'posed' which is apparent in many of the pictures, although I feel some do successfully hint at his character. I prepared by collecting portait examples from the weekend suppliments and looking at a variety of magazines.

The close crop shots work well as the background is defocused and not prominent but as the shots pull back the foliage becomes too fusy, so perhaps the garden was a poor choice of setting. The weather was dull and overcast, giving less than flattering light.

I intend to repeat the exercise which, with a bit more thought, should yeild better results.

1 FACE, CROPPED IN CLOSE

Nikon D90, Aperture priority F5.6, 98mm, ISO 200

I think the viewer would think this to be a warm, friendly person with a cheeky smile. The head tilted to one side, with direct eye contact creates a relaxed rapport.

2 HEAD AND SHOULDERS

 

 Nikon D90, Aperture priority F4.8, 45mm, ISO 200

Shooting from below gives David an elevated status, reinforced by a more serious look. The viewer is still engaged by direct eye contact, although the eyes are not as prominent. Now, the background starts to detract from the subject.

3 TORSO

Nikon D90, Aperture priority F4.2, 30mm, ISO 200

30mm is too wide an angle for a 'normal' torso shot. The perspective makes his head disproportionately small compared to the body and the facial expression is lost.

4 FULL FIGURE

 

Nikon D90, Aperture priority F4, 26mm, ISO 200

I like the seated pose but the background is far too busy and similar in colour/tone to the subject.
I should also have placed him off-centre, looking into the frame.

Reflection and thoughts

 Update 27/4/10

I finally get a breathing space from work to update my blog and the internet is playing up. Argghhh! On the plus side I have completed a few more exercises and just need to get them uploaded. Have also arranged a client for the final assignment but have agreed to leave things until I finish college in June, so I can give it my full attention.

Finding it very difficult to make time to read and look at photography on the web. So frustrating as there is so much out there to learn from. Planning to visit the Diane Arbus exhibition at the Dean Gallery, Edinburgh at the end of May.


Update 5/12/09

I hate making yet more excuses for not doing coursework but November really has not been my month. My mother has been in hospital and my college workload increases every day. It's dark at night, i'm tired and have no energy to take or edit photographs. Something will have to change as I am really missing not creating pictures and feeling very guilty about my current lack of committment to the course.

On the plus side I have been listening to various photography podcasts, such as '7 Photography Questions' and 'Photography 101', which are informative and inspiring. It will soon be the holidays and I am determined to move forward - and to complete assignment 2, which is waiting patiently for me to finish editing and to write about. I am thinking about the images a wish to create, researching techniques and examples and I have borrowed a prime lens from college, hoping to experiment with depth of field for the formal portrait exercises.

I intend visiting the 2009 BP Portrait award exibition in Edinburgh, as seeing the 2008 exhibition in London alongside the work of Annie Leibovitz, was a major influence in my decision to start studying with the OCA. Here's to a much more productive few months ahead. . .


It's almost the end of September and although I have been taking pictures for the exercises, I am aware that I have not been giving the course due time and attention. I now have a lot of work to do to get my blog up to date. Resolved to set aside dedicated time each week from now on. It's proving more difficult than I expected to co-ordinate people and places at suitable times or weather conditions. I also appear to have somewhat camera shy acquaintances and my initial list of possible sitters has rapidly dwindled.

I have approached 2 hillwalking friends who have agreed to sit for me early October and have planned several constructed portraits of my husband, David, working towards Assignment 1.