One thing I’ve been conscious of is how my perception is slowly changing over time. Or maybe it is just that I’m starting to open my eyes and actually look at what I’m seeing. Before the men in white coats arrive, let me explain a little about what I mean…This year I’ve put a lot of effort and energy into learning new skills and techniques. Into analysing the scene and learning to see light but more importantly the absence of it. I’ve always been good at holding eye contact, but over recent weeks my sub-conscious has started to pick out subtle things whenever I talk to someone. Like catchlights in the eye and shadows around the eye socket, nose and chin. Like the quality of the light falling on the face. The movement of highlight and shadow as the subject moves into and out of the light.
It isn’t just about light either. Facial muscle tone plays a huge part too and there is a very big difference between shooting models and soneone not use to being in front of the lens. I find very often that when I put the camera to my eye the subject will immediately become nervous, manifesting as tension in the facial muscles. Even in people that are normally very calm and always in control. This is probably why reportage and photojournalistic styles are becomming so popular of late: it is a way to capture people relaxed while the photographer snipes at them from a distance. They are blissfully unaware and are portrayed naturally. The camera is indeed seeing the real person.
That won’t work for a portrait though. The portrait session can be quite daunting and it often takes the subject a while to gain that confidence in front of the camera. This is another skill the photographer requires: to put the subject at ease and help them to be the best that they can be during the shoot. A lot of it comes down to confidence and was one of the very valuable lessions I learned from Leah, the first model I ever shot. But that is the subject of another post…
In summary, the point I want to make here is that good photography isn’t just about knowing your way around the controls of the camera. That is just a very small piece in a very big jigsaw. You need to be able to make the image before you even put the viewfinder to your eye.
Best regards,
Gavin
