Experience
I had an amazing experience yesterday.
I got behind the camera and started taking pictures and really, really felt like that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. More so than all the other times I’ve used my camera.
We had a little workshop yesterday for the photo students and we were doing portraits of each other or whoever we could get. I was timid at first, just watching everyone else and trying to come up with my own idea. My one friend was doing a dark, dramatic portrait but I started formulating in my head that I wanted a white background. I asked one of the girls if I could shoot her since she had some of the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen and we found a great sunlit room to do it in (I was shooting digital for this).
We had a great helper too (and so freaking HOT. Every girl there had a huge crush on him, lol.). He just taught us so much and was so helpful in just helping us achieve what we wanted (rather than telling us how he would do it).
So we set up, put a white reflector board behind her for the background and I just started taking pictures. It was a total “Duh” moment- like, “Duh, this is totally what I’m supposed to do.” With in the first 10 frames I just said how I wanted to do it forever. I’ve always known I was drawn to portraiture, but because I’d never had a real opportunity to do something so set up like this, it wasn’t as concrete as a desire.
Now I’m certain that I really, really want to shoot people.
And I’m even more excited to be helping Barbara Nitke tomorrow (I also feel like I’ll be of a little more use because of how much I learned).
(I also feel a little ready to start transitioning to digital, but I would never abandon film. I’m just beginning to try out medium format! My first roll right now!)
I have a portrait assignment coming up for class this semester and I can’t wait to do it. I think I’m gonna do my mom, or maybe both her and my step-dad.
It took me a little while to get to this point (and lots of random majors beforehand) but I’m so excited to finally have a direction (and also feel like I’m good at it).
Tags: growing up, photography, sex blog
Art, Life, Random musings, photography | 
Avah | February 16, 2008
By Dov, February 16, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
I know that feeling you start clicking and it just becomes an extension of yourself
By Adrian Hardhand, February 16, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
Hello Avah
I agree. Portraiture is *most* enjoyable. I hope your photography teacher has told you — or you’ve realised on your own — that the eyes must always be in focus. Look at a Playboy centerfold: Whatever else is going on, the eyes are always in focus.
Yrs in pervery, Adrian
By Avah, February 16, 2008 @ 7:13 pm
Yes, I was both taught that at the time and realized it even more during the editing process and having to throw out a bunch of pictures just because the eyes weren’t quite in focus.
By Adrian Hardhand, February 16, 2008 @ 10:11 pm
Hello Avah,
Perspective. I hope you’ve been told how to prevent foreshortening of the facial features. If you haven’t, you need to know that the preferred distance between photog & subject for head & shoulders shots is 8′ - 10′, using a medium tele. For head & torso, a 50mm works well, same distance. If you haven’t already done so, feel around with taking shots really close to your subject, so that you are aware of the foreshortening issue.
Sitter’s angle: I prefer to have the sitter sitting rotated at 45 degrees from the camera. I prefer to have sitter looking at photographer, so when the sitter turns his/her head to look at the camera, the presentation of the shoulders is pleasing.
Yrs in pervery, Adrian
By Noelle, February 16, 2008 @ 10:58 pm
:0) im proud of you
By Adrian Hardhand, February 16, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
Hello Avah
Master portraitist: Yousuf Karsh. If you aren’t familiar with his work, go to
http://cybermuse.gallery.ca/cybermuse/search/artist_work_e.jsp?iartistid=2833
Yrs in pervery, Adrian
By Jocasta, February 16, 2008 @ 11:58 pm
You gotta send me smaller files! My computer freaking choked, froze and rolled over dead last night. Too big!
Jocasta’s last blog post..Positional Asphixia