Instructor's Tip

Enjoy this week's "Instructor's Tip" on portraits from my favorite instructor Russ Burden. The above image was photographed by Russ Burden.

Don't forget to check Take Great Pictures my favorite instructor's my most
recent tips. On the home page, click on the Photo Tips And Techniques
button in the left hand column. Additionally, check out Russ' Digital
Tip of the Month found by clicking on the Digital Photography button.

Open Up For Portraits
A good portrait reveals something about a subject’s character. A
simple smile, an intent stare, a subtle turn of the head, or overall
body stance all help to bring out who he or she is. If elements
within the frame compete for the subject’s attention, it makes it
difficult to discern the nuances in the subject’s face that help
communicate the subject’s character. One fault that appears in many
beginning photographer’s portraits is how they handle the background.
A good rule of thumb is to keep it as simple as possible.

To me, as with any subject, the background is equally as important as
the main subject. If the background is busy and doesn’t complement
the subject, it will compete for attention. In portraiture, the
obvious focal point should be the subject. But a busy background
prevents the eye from focusing on the person. Placing your subject
against a plain background or using a wide open aperture to try to
throw a busy background out of focus is critical in the success of
the portrait.

To learn more about this subject, join Russ on one of his photo tours.
Please visit Russ Burden Photography to get more information.