Tag Archives: portrait

$25,000 for this???

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This (click here) is this years winner of the Australian National Portrait prize. I ask you to have a look at the rest of the gallery, and someone please explain why that photo is the rightful winner over shots like David Sandlson’s shot of Len Green or John Cann and his father by Hugh Stewart? I will take part of a rant I put on one internet forum and plonk it in here to give you some idea of how I am thinking.

With regards to your opening sentence N, me being the proud little philistine that I am, I have to ask. Do you wonder why people the likes of my good self think that the art fraternity are a bunch of pretentious #$@&! when photos like the one I linked to above, win a prize worth $25,000, when the good majority of people think it is a steaming pile of #*!%? There are so many other entries in the comp that are so much better, and not just in my eyes, in every single person I have asked today. Whilst ever the chardy sipping tools are saying that is the best photo and the rest of us don’t understand why, art will never make inroads imho.

Really, I don’t understand it. Can some explain? I always thought portraits where supposed to engage the subject. Make a connection. Maybe it is why I cant take a portrait to save myself! To me, that photo is no more than a family snap shot. No offence meant to the photographer, I hope he enjoys the $25k.

So, you have a fancy camera, can you photograph my wedding?

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Who has heard words to that effect? I wonder if it had the same effect on you as it did me? See, I am not a huge fan of portrait photography. Not being the best people person doesn’t help at all. Landscapes, macros, sunrise/sunsets all seem easier than trying to photograph people. Its a bit of a bugger really, because it seems like that is where the dollars are. I have photographed one wedding, and I doubt I will do another. It is very stressful. This is one couples big day, and you don’t want to stuff it up. I know all about that. We took the cheap route with our wedding photographer, and the results weren’t very good at all. You get what you pay for it seems.

What about other portrait work? Well just recently I was asked to take some photos of a friends two daughters. “No problems” I said with out thinking. It took a while, but eventually, it was organised. I will be honest and say it was a sleepless night beforehand. I don’t know why I worried, I wasn’t being paid, and they live a few streets away, so it isn’t like it couldn’t be done again if I completely stuffed it up.

As it turned out, I really enjoyed it. I learnt a hell of a lot and the photos didn’t turn out to badly either.

The GirlsThe Girls.

This shoot has really helped my confidence. The girls mum loved lots of the photos. I was happy to Photoshop them to get all the types of photos she was after, and she got them printed up before christmas for some of the relatives. Apparently they all loved them as well. So maybe there is a future in this portrait type stuff. I imagine it must be easier with people you know, but I am actually looking forward to doing it again to see if I can put into practise what I learnt on that day.

So, have you heard those words before, “Can you photograph my wedding/birthday/children?” and how did you handle it?

Photographers on the other side of the camera

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Why is it that a lot of photographers don’t like having their photos taken? I know I don’t. I don’t mind the occasional self portrait, but having other people take my photo makes me uncomfortable. Is it a control thing? Is it that I am 20kgs over weight? Is it that I have a face like a dropped pie?

Fade to Black (PSD)

Do other photographers have the same thoughts? Are you comfortable in front of a camera, instead of hiding behind it? Does the camera love you baby, yeah! Maybe the people that take a lot of portrait shots are more comfortable than those who don’t.