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Hi All

I am undertaking a photography project for 2013, taking portraits of local pensioners and getting them to write a 500 word bio to accompany the photo. Here are the first four images taken. Would appreciate feedback before I get too far into the project and then realise I should have done something different. I have elected to go with 'landscape' orientation as the words will be under each image and all images will be in B&W. These are shot in a studio setup [single light front and above through a brolly] but I hope to get some enviromental shots too. The final presentation will be in a coffe table style book.

Arthur


Jan


John


Maureen

Lovely faces and I bet they will have
some stories to tell. May I suggest you
try taking their photos with the bodies
at an angle, but their faces looking
towards the lense or different positions?
You might find that it will make the
arrangement a lightly more interesting
and show more their personality.

Great concept Geoff. I love old people, and one day (hopefully) will be one. I especially like the character of the third portrait. Any particular reason for B/W?

Oz.

Charming portraits and nicely done. I like that you've taken a casual approach and not tried to get too tricky with them. I think a 3/4 view would add a formality to the images that is not required. Hope to see more of these...by the way, printed to 1 x 1 metre and framed these will take on a power that is currently not seen.

zafra52 wrote:Lovely faces and I bet they will have
some stories to tell. May I suggest you
try taking their photos with the bodies
at an angle, but their faces looking
towards the lense or different positions?
You might find that it will make the
arrangement a lightly more interesting
and show more their personality.

I am hoping that the enviromental shots will add variety to the collection of images so that the book is not all 'same, same".

ozimax wrote:Great concept Geoff. I love old people, and one day (hopefully) will be one. I especially like the character of the third portrait. Any particular reason for B/W?

Oz.

Thanks Ozi. I too hope to live to a good age with good health.

Why B&W? not sure really, I just like monochrome images, especially for portraiture.

Here is a colour version of John.

Matt. K wrote:Charming portraits and nicely done. I like that you've taken a casual approach and not tried to get too tricky with them. I think a 3/4 view would add a formality to the images that is not required. Hope to see more of these...by the way, printed to 1 x 1 metre and framed these will take on a power that is currently not seen.

Thanks for the feedback Matt, I have been considering square crops but this would not work as well for the enviromental shots, decisions, decisions!

Geoff, I'd strongly suggest a white(r) background to have a light(er) mood. If you overexpose the background by one stop, then this will bleed and help to shape their heads into more 3D which I think is usually a good thing when it comes to portraits.

I like both versions (colour and BW) of John. Classic portrait of a wonderful character. Can''t wait to read his bio.

I agree with surenj. Perhaps a white or grey background? I think black is a bit too strong/serious/moody?

However, if it's story telling I think taking the picture on location would be better.