articles/Portraiture/miniellyportraits-page2
by Craig Minielly Published 01/08/2010
Personally, I like a sense of depth within my image, and generally try to stay away from a 'two-dimensional' capture. Foreground elements become as important as background objects, with my subject occupying some middle ground between. Light styling creates a flow for the viewer's eye in manoeuvring through the visual palette, with highlights enhancing detail, while shadows create depth, stability and intrigue.
Natural ambience in lighting is as powerful as carefully styled and lit creations - they each have their 'feel' that reaches out to the viewer. Deciding what style to use is usually a combination of what suits the subject, what is of interest to the viewer, and what is practical for the photographer in successfully satisfying their objectives.
I love the challenges that new subjects and environments bring to a session, and always strive to tell the story from a variety of angles and presentations...for editorial and commercial assignments it ensures a happy client, and for portrait commissions it does wonders for the image combinations that can be offered, and the profits that come with them!
Session set-ups need not be complicated as there are tools, recommended methods, and usually a few tricks that are all easily employed. Once learned and comfortably mastered, they can allow the image maker to concentrate on the moment at hand, rather than having technical challenges become distracting obstacles.
Above all else though, is the creative enticement to greet each session with a fresh, opportunistic attitude, and to once again feel the passion and excitement that allowed what was once a hobby, to turn into a chosen (and very fortunate) vocation.
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