It was so much fun at the beach, we went back for more! Keep checking back – there was so much interest, there might just be one last call…
I love these kids to death. I got to hang out with them for a few hours last weekend in Iowa, and what a treat! They had loads of fun and Mom even dressed them up in their formal clothes from a wedding they were in last month, which means I had as much fun playing as they did! It’s amazing how much these two kids have changed – and stayed the same.
I got a rare opportunity to photograph a newborn, only 10 days old! So many people wait to have their baby’s portraits done until 3 months or so, and they miss out on this lovely opportunity. Thanks to the S family for welcoming me into your home.
This little guy was dressed so well for portraits! He looks stylish, coordinated, and clean. But what I like most is that he’s comfortable so he can relax and focus on being himself. There’s enough distraction with a camera around; who needs uncomfortable clothes on top of it? I always aim to reflect the moment, and the subject for who/what it is. These parents knew that to have a comfortable portrait that reflects their son’s real essence, he needed to be relaxed and comfortable.
And while we’re here . . . there’s a lot to ponder about the composition in this photograph; especially the use of lines.
There are many elements of composition to be considered when creating an image. Be it a painting, a sculpture, or a photograph, these elements are important to keep in mind. If you are looking for ways to improve your photography at home, composition might be one of the simplest places to start. It doesn’t cost anything in terms of new equipment or fancy software; just a few moments of thinking about what you want your finished piece to look like and creating that image from the beginning. To start you thinking about what is involved in composing a piece of artwork, here are some elements of composition:
Center of interest: The place you want your viewer to rest his/her eyes.
Subject placement: The area of the frame where the main subject is placed.
Simplicity: The idea of keeping out extra information that does not enhance the image or add to its impact.
Viewpoint and camera angle: The physical place from which a photograph is taken in relation to its subject.
Balance: The placement of different objects within an image that allows for a frame to be evenly (or unevenly) utilized.
Shapes and lines: The use of shapes and lines can help draw the viewer’s eye to certain areas of an image.
Pattern: Repeating elements in an image, or across a set of images.
Volume: How much or how little you use certain visual cues: color, pattern, size, etc.
Lighting: The quality, angle, and strength with which light falls across the subject and the background.
Texture: The visual communication of how something might feel to the touch.
Tone: The use of different hues to control the mood of an image.
Contrast: The degree to which middle-tones are used in an image.
Framing: The decision to include or exclude particular elements in an image, and where each element is placed.
Foreground: The area between the subject and the camera.
Background: The area behind and beyond the subject (farther from the camera).
Perspective: The literal and figurative place from which the artist created the image.
The list is long, and in some ways the elements overlap. But each can be considered with every click of the shutter. Every image has composition. Whether or not it was intentional plays a big part in the quality of your work. To start the ball rolling, what elements of composition can you recognize in the image above, and what does it say about the child who is featured?
Some elements I utilized intentionally for this child’s portrait include: perspective, camera angle, texture, lighting, and simplicity. What other elements are utilized, and what do they say to you? These are things to think about with every image you see – and every image you create. When you become more intentional with your photography, the quality of your work increases by leaps and bounds.
I’ve put a lot of thought into posing. I prefer to show things as they are, to study expression, energy, and composition as they are presented in nature,
and harness them in order to display the beauty of life and nature as it really occurs. Our children are themselves every day without putting any effort into it. This is beautiful! It’s something we all cherish. The phases of nature pass us by, and through portraiture we are able to preserve these moments and experience their beauty for a lifetime.
Embracing nature as it is expressed is an ideal to strive for. But it isn’t the only way to work. There are often situations where the aim is to capture great portraits, but nature’s “poses” are not providing the best expression, energy, and composition for the photographic medium. In this case, a photographer might use what she knows to create a realistic scene that conveys a particular feeling that a person embodies. For example, after spending some time with the two sisters below, I found that they were energetic, happy, and fiercely competitive! Nature showed me this; I didn’t make it up. I used this knowledge to create a scene that conveyed this aspect of the relationship to the viewer. While this race didn’t occur without direction, it resonated with the girls and led to a fun, vivacious, and authentic portrait.
From Wallace Stevens’ poem entitled Add This to Rhetoric:
“It is posed and it is posed.
But in nature it merely grows.
Stones pose in the falling night;
And beggars dropping to sleep,
They pose themselves and their rags.
Shucks . . . lavender moonlight falls.
The buildings pose in the sky
And, as you paint, the clouds,
Grisaille, impearled, profound,
Pftt . . . In the way you speak
You arrange, the thing is posed,
What in nature merely grows.”
The world we live in cannot truly be portrayed through art. People are who they are, things exist as nature created them. Our portrayals are merely interpretations of reality as we see it. But portrait artists are assigned the task of creating pieces that evoke a recognition and a memory of the gift that nature gave the world, so that you may cherish it forever. Photography is special because it is created by the very light that shines on nature’s gifts. That piece is true to reality and does not need interpretation.
How does a photographer strike a balance between capturing nature as it occurs and controlling the outcome in order to ensure beautiful images? This is a skill that separates the good from the great.
Yesterday was a big day in our house – Molly’s 6th birthday! It’s amazing how fast they grow, the things they can learn, and the wit that abounds at such a young age! We’ve been through Elmo, Dora, princesses, and now Pokemon.
We’ve been to many museums, beaches, parks, field trips, and parties. The adventure will continue and we look forward to many joys and challenges to come. I have loved watching her grow, and it’s through pictures that I am able to savor the memories.
You might recognize this cute face; I used to get a whole lot of personality from her, but things have changed. I love this expression – it’s very natural, and what I see in her. But it’s not so easy to get the variety and the exuberance that exploded from her as a toddler. We’ve reached the frozen grin stage. I knew it would come – and it will come to your family if it hasn’t already! It wouldn’t bother me much, except that it means she’s a big kid now!!! NOOOO!!!! I think one of my challenges for April will be to get a big expression from her and post it for all to see.
What I love so much about my job is that I’m going through the stages of parenting myself. I really relate to my clients because I know what it’s all about. I understand the joy and the frustrations. Most of all, I understand what a precious thing it is to capture that beautiful essence that we see in our children every day.
It’s that time of year again! Time to plan my travels. This summer I will be heading out to the midwest once again. I will be scheduling appointments in both Chicago and Iowa City in the near future. If you’re interested in booking an appointment, contact me as soon as possible! No flights have been booked on my end, so I might be able to accommodate your travel plans. Last year’s travels were great fun, and I was able to create a lot of memorable photos. Keep your eyes out for upcoming details.
This was one of my favorites from last year’s trip to Iowa City . . .
My big scorer was my “Little Primadonna”, scoring in the “excellent” category!
My next best, selected for exhibition was:
Other entries:
I loved hearing all of the feedback. I hope we can incorporate more critiques into our monthly meetings. I get a lot out of it. This is always a great way to get me optimistic and excited about the future! I look forward to making some creative and stunning images for you this year!
© Copyright 2010 | Lara Grauer Photography
