Well guys, let me take off from where I left. Hopefully you would have appreciated the nuances of aperture, shutter speed, exposure, metering and all that stuff that goes with it (If not, well chill after all failures are the stepping stones of success!!). Now lets get our hands dirty and start with shooting. First lets begin with shooting portraits.

So what’s a portrait?? Well it’s a classy pose of a person in which you basically try to bring out emotions and facial features. Well actually that dumb looking photo on your ID is also a portrait, but then I am sure that ‘s not the way you want to see yourself. So question is how should we morons shoot a good portrait. Well the answer depends on 3 variables;

- Depth of field
- Exposure
- Correct scenario

Typically one wants to focus on the person’s face in portrait and to bring out this, one will need to blur the background i.e. keep the background out of focus. This will mean that we will be using large aperture (like f/5.6 or f/4), which have a narrow depth of field. However reverse will be true if you use a small aperture like f/16, f/22. Their DOF is large and everything including foreground, subject and background will be in a crisp focus. Typically you wouldcolor, rich, vivid, use this in a situation where there is something interesting behind subject like some fountain, sculpture etc.

So DOF decided, next question will arise as to how to bring out (or if you are NOT facially endowed, hide!!!) the facial features. Since most of portraits are typically shot in studios or daylight; the scenario is to bring details in brightness. So my good old BUMS ;-D come to rescue i.e. to bring out details in facial features you should under expose, which has added advantage that colors will be richer!! And to hide you will perhaps need to cause normal (i.e. metered) exposure or over exposure.

Of course this remains valid only if you are having a close up of the face (which is yet another trick to make an amazing portrait). Just as you won’t see tiny specks on your face unless you closely peep into the mirror, similarly you don’t expect the poor camera to do that for you without you making effort. This brings forth another interesting point, that for good portraits you should be right into pt. face. This can feel a bit awkward initially but then that’s the part of the game!! Of course all this is crap if you use those humungous telezoom lenses but then that takes away the charm of taking the portrait, that smell of the portrait…doesn’t it???

And finally…correct scenario. An awesome portrait needs spontaneity. You can’t expect anyone to sit in front of camera and smile spontaneously and naturally, as he/she would have done otherwise. So you should just take your readings, establish focus and scenario and then remove camera from “victims face”. Ask him/her about his/her photography experiences, crack a joke or two and do all funny stuff and just when the subject opens up, fire you are all guns and take 4-5 shots instantly. That spontaneity and that natural smile which will come will constitute a heavenly shot. Hmm…in this regard shooting babies is much fun and easier

Well folks that’s all there in portraits. Happy shooting!! And just to summarize this is what I believe constitutes a good portrait;

1. Background blurred.
2. Camera right in subject face.
3. Using a standard f of 50 mm (which in turn ensures that you get close to the your subject)
4. Using ISO 100 for vivid colors.
5. Taking rapid shots in succession to catch changing expressions.
6. Using diffuse lightning. Too bright light will ruin the impact and too little light will render you portrait a kaala saya
7. Avoid taking full-face front shots, better shoot side shots (preferably left; scientists have shown that presenting your lt. side of face to people creates a better impression. WEIRD scientific bingo-lingo!!!)
8. Avoid keeping face centered in the frame. Fill the frame with something interesting.

All in all taking portraits should be a fun exercise for you and your subject. Remember we are not thinking of becoming a pro, photography is just a hobby. It can never be a profession. We are allowed to make mistakes and get away sheepily thereafter too!!

Good old amateur days!!