Disney Institute
I mention in the earlier pages that I took some courses at the Disney Institute. The second course I took was Portrait Photography.
We first began the class by learning the basics of our equipment. I was allowed to use a Nikon N-50.The pictures in the Gallery were taken in front of the Institute.
This was the more difficult of the two courses I took. I've come to see the value of relationships in Portrait Photography. Portrait are more than taking a picture of someone in a pose in nice clothes. Good pictures allow the subject personality to come through. I was tasked to take pictures of people that I had just met. Believe me, it was nerve-racking. But I had to get over my fear.
This was a valuable lesson for the portraits I take today.
The Gallery
Click thumbnail to see larger picture.
It's important to know that these were the practice pictures we took. I chose these four specifically to illustrate some of the principles in Portrait Photography.
This photo is an example of background. A portrait is not simply taking
a picture of a person. You must consider the environment and what's behind
your subject. The trees make a nice background. Look to see that signs
aren't growing out of your subjects head.
This photo is an example of personality. This is a photo of the course
leader. I forgot his name, but he was cool. Before when I took pictures
of people, they just looked like they were taking the picture for their
driver's license. Try to snap some life and personality into your picture.
Strike up a conversation. Talk about his/her hobbies. Put them in a comfortable
environment.
I was concerned about composition in this shot. Notice the subject is
a little off-center and that the sun is in front of the subject. Be careful
about the sun. We have a tendency to squint when the sun is in front of
us.
Again, think of background. I think I could have improved this picture
if I used a flash.
