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6 views4 pages

Assn6_ExploringPortraiture

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jaylahunter242
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ART 254 Intro to Digital Photography

Assignment 6: Exploring Portraiture

Objective: Portrait photography is a powerful genre that goes beyond capturing a likeness. It
allows us the opportunity to glimpse a person’s emotions, personality, and the possibility to connect
with the subject on a deeper level. Portraiture requires more than just pointing your camera and taking
a picture. By using the technical skills you've learned in class, like aperture, shutter speed, and
composition, along with additional creative elements like lighting, posing, and subject connection, you'll
be able to create truly captivating portraits.

Materials
 Digital camera (DSLR, mirrorless, or smartphone camera)
 A willing human subject (friend, family member, classmate. No animals or pets)
 Optional: Reflectors, diffusers, or other lighting modifiers

Procedures
Inspiration

Review the Portrait Photography document before attempting to complete this assignment.

Concept & Planning

o Decide on a story or emotion you want to convey in your portraits.


o Consider your subject's personality and how you can capture it visually.
o Research some ideas for poses, compositions, and lighting setups.

Making the Photos


Make at least 35 pictures with your digital camera for this assignment.

Shooting Your Portraits


o Technical Skills: Put your understanding of depth of field, shutter speed, aperture, composition,
and vantage point to use.
o Experiment with different apertures to control the background blur and draw focus to your
subject. Since you cannot change the aperture setting on a smartphone, try using the “portrait”
mode (then import the images into Lightroom for editing).
o Adjust the shutter speed to capture movement or create a sense of stillness.
o Try shooting from low, high, and eye-level angles to create different perspectives.

Lighting
o Read Chapter 5 in your book for additional information about lighting.
o Explore natural light vs. artificial light. When using artificial light, it is recommended that the
main light be placed above head height to avoid unflattering shadows.
o Experiment with soft light for flattering portraits and shadows for drama.

Subject Connection & Posing


o Build rapport with your subject and make them feel comfortable.
o Use clear direction to guide them into flattering poses. Consider their personality and the story
you want to tell.

Selection & Editing


o Select four of your best portraits that showcase your technical and creative skills.
o Edit the portraits in Lightroom to enhance your images (color corrections or conversion to black
and white, cropping, exposure adjustments, etc.) but avoid over-editing.
o Apply Texture, Clarity, and Detail (all RAW/DNG photos need sharpening) edits.

Projected Outcomes
Students will…

o Create a series of compelling portraits that showcase their understanding of technical skills,
lighting, subject connection, posing, and storytelling.
o Develop an improved ability to connect with and photograph people.
o Gain a deeper understanding of how technical skills and creative vision work together in portrait
photography.

Submit your work


Create an album in Lightroom and title it Assignment 6 Exploring Portraiture. Add your four best
photographs made for this assignment to the album. Upload your four photos by the due date and time
on the course schedule.

Student work
Below are some examples of portraits made by students enrolled in photography classes at
MSU.

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