But.…once you know the rules, you can try to break them to achieve a particular result. This image is a good example of a headless portrait that works IMO. If we try to analyze WHY it works, it works because the coupled elements tell a story. The Jake tattoo on the hand coupled with the suit, coupled with the Royal Monaco car actually tell a SPECIFIC story. These are all elements of the movie The Blues Brothers and both the photographer and I likely show our age by knowing this fact.

However, even if I did not catch the Blues Brothers connection, for me this shot still works. The elements are still there. The tattoo, older freckled skin, suit and older car all suggest a story. The fact that the shot is in black and white reinforce this fact. It’s up to the viewer to extract the story for themselves, but all the elements are there.

Okay then — do you agree? What do YOU think about this shot and the concept of a headless portrait?

Many thanks to 1putts of our photography forum for allowing me to use this image. Here’s the original photo.

~ Watch which way your lighting is coming in and check the quality of the light. Softer diffused light is a much better light for flattering portraits than harsh direct light. Although backlight is amazing for dramatic interesting portraits, it’s harder to work with especially for someone newer to photography. Using front light, sidelight, and 3/4 light along with fill light from a secondary flash‚ or reflector will bring your portrait skills up a notch.
~ Adjust your aperture so that the background blurs out a bit and more focus is placed on your subject.
~ Alter your perspective by taking the shot from a different angle rather than eye level. This can really change the ‘wow’ factor of your photo.
~‚ Play with eye contact — it does wonders to a photograph when your subject’s focus is on something else.

Shooting the perfect portrait may seem daunting, but keeping useful tips in mind when doing so will make portrait photography a ‘snap’.

More tips can be found at: http://www.photography.ca/Forums/showthread.php?t=2393

Even in this medium range shot you can see sharp bright eyes

The bulldog’s eye (stock) sings because the iris is sharp & bright

Links mentioned in this podcast:
The eyes have it thread from the photography forum
Accessories podcast (check image of the light stand holding reflector with magic arm)
A dodging technique for the eyes described in paragraph 2 of the post
Gary Fong diffuser at B&H
Podcamp Montreal
CC Chapman

Thanks as always to Benny and Susan who posted a blog comment about our last podcast and for her suggestion that inspired this podcast. Thanks also to Ram, Hallow’s maiden, Rabiakamaran, Gatepc, BenH, MikeS, Dabow,‚ Inukamori, svantland & PKMax who recently joined the photography.ca forum and posted a few times. We LOVE comments and suggestions so please send more.

If you are looking at this material on any other site except Photography.ca — Please hop on over to the Photography.ca blog and podcast and get this and other photography info directly from the source. I Subscribe with iTunes I Subscribe via RSS feed I Subscribe with Google Reader I

You can download this photography podcast directly by clicking the preceding link or listen to it almost immediately with the embedded player below.

Yesterday as I walked through my new favourite location (Parc Lafontaine), I spotted 2 lovers in a hammock and asked if I could take their portrait. They agreed and I think I captured the feelings they have for one another. This was shot at about 6pm with no flash or reflector, only ambient light.

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to meet the Poet/Singer/Songwriter Leonard Cohen in Saguenay Quebec. I have always been an enormous fan and rarely does a week go by when I don’t listen to one of his truly great songs. Although we only spent a few precious minutes with him, he was gracious enough to allow us to take a few shots. This shot was my favourite of the few shots we took.

It was a hot sunny cloudless day and the sun was still fairly high which meant I had to be on the lookout for shadows in the face. I therefore set my flash to minus 2 which would fill in the potential shadows. This shot was originally processed in colour and I really like how it turned out (maybe I’ll post the colour version sometime). However there is something timeless and mysterious about Mr. Cohen’s music and I knew when I took the image that I’d likely process it in black and white. Also, his suit and hat were just screaming to be photographed in black and white.

I’d like to thank Leonard Cohen (and his UNBELIEVABLE ensemble of musicians) for the fantastic concert where he received at least 15 standing ovations, and for allowing me the pleasure to take a few shots. My only regret is that my wife (who is equally an enormous fan) wasn’t there to meet him with me. She was resting at the hotel since she was tired from the 5 hour drive from Montreal.

I took this photograph the same day I did the podcast on 1 light portraits.
Aside from photography, I am truly passionate about pets, so when I get to combine the two…well, Yahoo!
This was shot in Westmount Park on a cold overcast Montreal afternoon. Boog the dog started shivering pretty quickly so we did not stay out long. I used a faster than normal shutter speed because of the shivering.
Exif data ISO 400, F-4.5, 1/800 sec.

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You can download this photography podcast directly by clicking the preceding link or listen to it almost immediately with the embedded player below this image.

Photo of the week
This week, the photograph is by Zseike and I comment in the podcast on why I think this photograph is fantastic.

Thanks as always for the comments by‚Gary H, ‚Andre, Tom, Yves Janse, David and Mikael. We LOVE comments and suggestions so please send more.