Portrait Analysis - A Talented Friend

Introduction

Welcome back to the portrait analysis series. Last week, for the first analysis, we discussed a self portrait. This week we’ll be taking a look at a photo I took of a friend recently in the studio. I am quite proud of this image because it, again, communicates where I’d like to go with my style of portraiture.

The inspiration for this photo comes from the work of Phil Sharp (@philsharp), a photographer that I look to for inspiration often. While this is a different source than in the previous analysis, I think my goal is to mix the two as best as I can.

Analysis

Lighting

Lighting in this photo of Dakota (@dakotaiversin) is quite unique for me. I used an optical snoot for the first time, and the results were immediately beyond my expectations. The snoot, creating the window light, was used as the key light while I used a fill light on the same axis as the snoot. The lighting is a large part of this image and I think it’s pretty good. I like the way it looks like there’s a street light outside of a large window. This was, however, my first time using the optical snoot, so there is a lot to improve. Not to mention, I am learning lighting as I go, so there are also general things I would change. I love the angle and the intensity of the light. At first, I didn’t like the shadow of the subject cast on the background, but the more I look, the more I believe it’s necessary for the image to feel natural.

Color

I like the color a lot in this image as well. It seems as though monochromatic or near-monochromatic schemes appeal to me. I could see myself adding a curtain on the side to create a second dimension of color. The image is warm in a way that appeals to me as well. I love blues, but when it comes to portraits, I connect more when the overall color is on the warmer side.

Composition

As simple as the composition is here, it took me a while to realize where I wanted the camera in relation to the subject. In the previous analysis, I mentioned that I liked the composition quite a bit and would add more negative space as with this image. The window pattern allows me to fill more of the frame with negative space. Somehow, it feels as though this pulls me into the image more than when the frame is filled with the subject. In the future, I may try to add small environmental props such as a curtain in the background or an ashtray with a lit cigarette on the table. With that said, I don’t want to take away from the subject too much, so minimal environmental distraction is important. If I were to do it again, I might try seeing what it looks like when there is less of the window in the frame so that there is more of the dark background on the left and possibly at the top. I think this could pull my view into the subject even more.

Conclusion

I must say, having a talented model available to photograph makes all of these factors less important. I’ll remind us both that it’s the connection to the subject that really makes an image special. Dakota is very comfortable in front of the camera and I couldn’t have created this image without his specific input.

Check in next week, when we look at the work of one of the photographers I look up to. The goal in that analysis will be to help myself develop as a photographer by picking out what I like about images that I find pleasing that are created by others in the same industry.