Portrait Technique

Girl Wearing Blue Hat

Uzbekistan 2012 :  A serendipitous shot in a museum in Fergana Valley.

The light behind the girl is coming from an open door. This separates her from the background. It makes her stand out.  Light next to dark, keep that in mind for all your photos. If she were blond it wouldn’t be as effective, you’d look for a dark background in that case.

Her face is turned toward the light, (giving a feeling of motion) highlighting her hair, the right side of her face and casting a triangle of light on her left cheek. This, too, is light/dark/light/ dark. The contrast adds interest. Have the head and chest facing different directions.

The marble floor reflects light from the door creating an arc of light on the left side of her face and under her chin. This gives shape and some texture to her face.

Her dominant eye is in the middle of the photo. I had been taught to have the eyes on the top third line, but the other day I watched a video from B&H Photo Video and the lecturer talked about how the Old Master painters would place the eye in the center of their painting. Having the dominant eye, which is the eye nearest you, in the center of the painting gives the impression of the eye ‘following’ the viewer as he moves from one side of the painting to the other. I haven’t printed this photo to test that theory, but when my printer gets fixed, I will.

After watching the video from B&H, which you can find on YouTube, I looked for a portrait with the dominant eye in the center.  I found this girl whom I shot in a museum one afternoon. The photo incorporates all the ideas given in the lecture. I’m not sure if I’ll always have the dominant eye in the middle of my photo, but I’ll use that technique in one of my shots if I can. Then I can compare and choose the one I like. In the end, you are the judge. Maybe you like your dominant eye on the bottom third…well, for you, that is perfect!

For information about Uzbekistan or to plan your own tour contact Penelope at www.uzbekjourneys.com