Images of My Thoughts

Couple weeks ago, I said that I wanted to photograph portraits with a different approach, trying to imitate the way that Platon does it.  The communication, the relationships and level of comfort between the photographer and the subject, and the ability to click that shutter when the eyes see the emotions and compositions.

Therefore, for my studio lighting final portfolio, I decided not to pose my subjects, instead, we have conversations and as that carries on and the comfort level increases, I click the shutter at the moment where there is a genuine feeling involved within the conversation.

It’s really difficult for me because I am not a talkative guy; however, this exercise taught me a lot.  My professor said something in one of the classes, “There are two types of photographers who does portraiture, the first one is where the photographers are more active and they tell what the models should do and the models follow that instruction;  the second is where the photographers are more passive and they are there letting the models do what they want and capture the moment when they believe it is right.”  There are pros and cons to either type of photographers, but to me, I rather be the second one.  I feel like the first type of portraiture photographers, they are there to capture the physical side of the models; for the second type of photographers, they are there to capture the emotional side of the models.  Therefore, to me, it is in much difficult and interesting to see the inner being of a person through photography because usually, that is not the intention of photography.

There is something that money cannot buy, and to me, that is the genuine expression on people’s faces that I am able to capture.

From politicians to athletes, Platon has shot them all.  With one simple front light, he is able to show the personalities of the portraiture.  How does he do it?  Communication.  Portrait photography to me is one that causes much more difficulty than any other genre of photography because of the concept of posing people and being unnatural.  First of all, I am uncomfortable of telling people what to do; how to place their hands, how to tilt their heads; how to sit a certain way in order to achieve the shots I want.  Even if all the poses are the way I wanted, I am rarely happy with the images that come out because everything seems forced.

Platon on the other hand, his ability to talk to the subjects and able make them comfortable in front of the camera amazes me to no degree.  The posture, expression as well as the level of confidence that all the subjects possess in his photographs, and then to capture that in a confined time and space, it is a gift that I would gladly have without a second thought.

So, I am going to try a new way to shoot portraiture.  Whenever I am shooting portraits, I am going to set up everything and then sit the subjects down and try to connect with them so that they are able to show who they are really are and at that point, take the shot.

The more I look at photographs, the more I am amazed how something that seems so simple can be the most difficult thing to achieve.  Photography takes discipline, that includes the patience, the ability to take control of the situation, the skill to see what the camera sees instead what our eyes see and the knowledge that everything can be improved upon.

Here are some images of Platon, I might try to include some of mine with the idea of mimicing Platon’s style later on, but we will see =P.

President Vladimir Putin

David Beckham