P | P5 | EX1: The distance between us
- Amber Houbara
- Nov 27, 2024
- 3 min read
Use your camera as a measuring device. This doesn’t refer to the distance scale on the focus ring. Rather, find a subject that you have an empathy with and take a sequence of shots to ‘explore the distance between you’. Add the sequence to your learning log, indicating which is your ‘select’ – your best shot.
When you review the set to decide upon a ‘select’, don’t evaluate the shots just according to the idea you had when you took the photographs; instead evaluate it by what you discover within the frame (you’ve already done this in Exercise 1.4). In other words, be open to the unexpected. In conversation with the author, the photographer Alexia Clorinda expressed this idea in the following way:
Look critically at the work you did by including what you didn’t mean to do. Include the mistake, or your unconscious, or whatever you want to call it, and analyse it not from the point of view of
your intention, but because it is there.
The distance between the photographer and the subject is not just about the actual distance in meters or on the focus ring. A photograph is a relationship, even if just brief between the photographer and the subject.
Without the photographer - there will be no photograph, without the subject - there will be no photograph.
It takes two to tango as they say!
So, for this exercise firstly, I wanted to focus on a portrait.
I took several courses on Skillshare for this exercise:
Portrait Photography on the Street: Connecting with Strangers by Zun Lee, Artist, Author
I decided to take photographs of my partner, I feel he could feel comfortable with me and I could feel comfortable with him.
He is very impatient though so I knew I don't have much time before he will be annoyed.
I saw the light from the window in the afternoon was very beautiful against our rammed earth wall, so I placed him there and started to take some pictures. I used the skills, I was looking at the shadow casted on his face and even though it was strong, I really liked it.
I started directing him with his head position to catch the shade on his face in a flattering way, I also took a chair and changed my positions, one some I was straight in front, some I took from above and some from below.
The distance between a photographer and the subject, as I mentioned above, is a relationship. It has to start with feeling comfortable, and even if our relationship is loving and close and comfortable, once I place a camera between us, my partner, and other subjects, can feel more shy or freeze.
One of our roles as photographers is to make the subject feel welcomed, relaxed and comfortable.
It is also a matter of trust.
Not only the distance with the camera, it is also the angle:
Above - is always a bit more vulnerable - used a lot in female photography in fashion in the past
Below - is always a bit more fierce, giving the subject more strength and power - used a lot in male photography in fashion
Eye level - usually 'eye level', honest, realistic
Profile - showing the side, flattering some nose shapes, maybe less flattering others.
To look further into face angels and different hights I researched a bit more.
I also found this tutorial which I liked.
I was also playing around with the 'Rembrandt' shade, and 'catch' on the eye which was in the shade.
At the end of the day, my favourite shot was this one:
The reason behind it is that he felt comfortable and I probably also said something which made him laugh a little, I think it was a pretty spontaneous shot, and he felt relaxed and was himself, I can see our relationship in his face expression because of it too.
I also think the shade is flattering him very much, creating a strong jaw line. I also think this was the more creative shot out of the bunch, as I thought why not to play with the geometric shapes of the composition and add the actual window - which also gives a tiny bit of information and continuation to where he is looking at, but also keeps it a bit mysterious.
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