The aim of this exercise was to photograph six backgrounds that were suitable for a full-length or torso portrait and to return to one of them with a subject to complete a portrait.
511301P&PEx2.1
511301P&PEx2.2
511301P&PEx2.3
511301P&PEx2.4
511301P&PEx2.5
511301P&PEx2.6
511301P&PEx2.7
Commentary
This proved to be a difficult exercise for me to complete as almost any scene can be used as the background for a portrait. I was torn between the two suggestions given for completion of the exercise: ‘…tonal and textural simplicity from edge to edge…’ and ‘…ultimately your choice will be based on what you like’ – I compromised by incorporating both.
The instructions contain a really good piece of advice, however: ‘…carrying a camera with you as often as possible.’ I came to the conclusion that I ought to do this half way through TAOP and bought a digital compact camera which lives in my briefcase and which easily slips into a pocket before heading out of the door. As I’ve heard repeated so many times, the best camera is the one that’s with you. For me, that doesn’t extend quite as far as my iPhone (although its better than nothing) as the ability to manipulate images is limited by the fact that it doesn’t shoot RAW (iPhone 6, perhaps?) but the quality of the images that I can take with this pocket-sized camera, such as these sunflowers in SW France last month, still amazes me.
People & Place 