Shot this portrait of the Queen of a Renaissance Fair while walking through with some friends this weekend. She was kind enough to pose while I stood over her precariously trying to balance on a rickety old bench.
I am all for breaking the rules, but this one misses the mark for me.
Massive potential to show off her outfit, but it is hidden due to the vantage point and narrow DOF.
Not sure she would appreciate being able to see her bra from this angle as well.
Just my .02
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Thanks for taking the time to comment. Always appreciated.
I took plenty of more traditional style images, but also envisioned this different image. It came out as I had envisioned it with the focus on the Queens, face coloring and makeup. I felt that this was a great match with the color of the dress and wanted just the soft color in the background. It is my favorite image from the weekend.
Overall, I think the image was successful in its intent. There were a great number of photographers at the event as there always is. Including a couple of dozen from my local camera club. The Queen says it is her favorite portrait she has ever had. She has requested a high resolution file to have printed large. The image also received the most, and highest praise, out of all other images taken by members that weekend.
I will take your advise about the small section of visible bra and edit that area in photoshop. Thanks for that. No one else mentioned it.
I guess it's that unique POV that we are looking down on a queen, instead of she looks down on the viewers.. I think this was unusual angle we see from this kind of portrait.
I like it for being quirky! Even the "revealing" part plays a role in the composition IMO. Hopefully you did get other shots to show the outfit in full.
KE_Photo wrote:
I like it for being quirky! Even the "revealing" part plays a role in the composition IMO. Hopefully you did get other shots to show the outfit in full.
I did get a lot of "standard" costume focused shots. Those are more about the event. This one was intended to be about the woman who plays the Queen.
Jim Rickards wrote:
To generate interest, choose an unusual POV. Looks like that's what you did here and it worked.
Jim, thanks for the kind words. i am pleased you enjoyed the image.
The unusual point of view did tend to separate from other images. Just this morning I signed a nice licensing contract for using this image in advertising, So, overall I do consider this a successful image.
I really like that POV. Now, this is not something one would use every day, but works for me. I did a bunch of photos with very similar one and it really turned out nice.
Steve, sometimes it is fun and perfectly fine to take images from a different perspective. I enjoy it and the shallow depth-of-field works here. I hope you did take more images of her from other perspective, too.
I I like the point of view. I think in any portrait the face is key and the clothing and other things in the frame are just supporting elements. If this were a fashion shot selling the cloths that might be a different story. So to me there is enough to get the feel you are going for. Well done....
And as far as rules go there are no rules period. Heres what some of the greatest to push a shutter had to say about it.
A little video by one of the greats. Just push the blue rectangle that says watch on Vimeo. The really relevant part about rules is near the end It's short and really worth a watch.
And some words by some of the greats.
"When subject matter is forced to fit into preconceived patterns, there can be no freshness of vision. Following rules of composition can only lead to a tedious repetition of pictorial cliches." - Edward Weston
Love this one by Newman. He is one of the truly great portrait photographers.
"There are no rules and regulations for perfect composition. If there were we would be able to put all the information into a computer and would come out with a masterpiece. We know that's impossible. You have to compose by the seat of your pants." - Arnold Newman
"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs." - Ansel Adams
"And in not learning the rules, I was free. I always say, you're either defined by the medium or you redefine the medium in terms of your needs." - Duane Michals
"There are no shortcuts, no rules." - Paul Strand
"Photography is not a sport. It has no rules. Everything must be dared and tried!" - Bill Brandt
"I came from the outside, the rules of photography didn't interest me... "-William Klein
"...... a photograph can look any way. Or, there's no way a photograph has to look (beyond being an illusion of a literal description). Or, there are no external or abstract or preconceived rules of design that can apply to still photographs. "-Garry Winogrand
and maybe my favorite " ......so called “composition” becomes a personal thing, to be developed along with technique, as a personal way of seeing." - Edward Weston
I think everything in this image is working to support the subject so very well done. Anyway that's my 2 cents take it for what it is worth.
Allen
