Exercise 3: Experimenting with light

The third exercise asks to use the same person as a model and take between four and six standard head and shoulders portraits that are very different in lighting effect.
I have to find locations in which the light varies and is suitable for taking a portrait photograph.

For me Nicola is Bari, or "La Bari" as he would say.
Bari is the third largest city in the Southern part of Italy and it is known for its sunny weather, its food and its great people.
I have been working with Nicola for the last 7 years and we became friends despite the alleged rivalry between people from North and South of Italy (I was born in the Northern city of Turin and I always had more friends coming from the South than from the North).
The best words that could define Nicola is "generosity" and "football".
Counting on his first characteristic, I decided to ask him to help me for my exercise and of course he answered enthusiastically.
However, it was not easy!
I consider myself a street photographer and, frankly speaking, I am used to take pictures of people.
I do not like to steal photos and, therefore, I know very well that the relation with the subjects is key for a good shot.
Generally, I speak with them, I explain my project, I share a bit of my life, of my feelings, of my artistic desires and I listen to them and I try to understand their approach.
Everything can be quick, few words, few glances or it can end up in a long chat.
Photography is discovery and I like it for this.
As I know him well, I thought that with Nicola the task would have been easy, but taking his portrait was not.
I had to play a role that I never played before: to be a professional photographer.
During the different sessions I had to learn to choose the right location where to shoot, how to lead him fighting with technical constraints and always thinking at the final goal of the exercise.
Nicola was very patient and cooperative, but definitely I was not at ease and, above all in the beginning, I lacked of leadership.

I decided to split the exercise in two: outside and indoor shooting.
For both I decided to have three different situations where the light was hitting my subject in front, laterally and from the back respectively.
The photos were taken in a rare sunny week here in Luxembourg in the financial area of Kirchberg during our lunch breaks.
All the images were slightly corrected with PS in post-production: histogram, curves, brightness, saturation, contrast and vibrance.


OUTSIDE.

A. Front light.

Image 1.

f 8, 1/750 sec, ISO 200, 21 mm

Within the technical constraints given by the brief, I tried to get the "real" Nicola's characteristics across the image I produced.

So, no need to say it, in Image 1 he wears the Bari football team scarf.

I like the perspective of this shot and, of course, the contrast between the scarf and the suit.

"Bari, you will never walk alone."

Image 2. 

f 4.5, 1/2000 sec, ISO 200, 18 mm 

"What am I doing here?" seems to say this photo which is representative of a general state of mind that, particularly the first day, Nicola an I had during the shooting.

I like a lot his genuine facial expression and the very graphic background.

Image 3. 

f 11, 1/350 sec, ISO 200, 55 mm

"Make love to the camera!"
The third shot of the sequence reveals the Italian charm that naturally Nicola expresses in his gesture.
Of course, it is a sort of stereotype, but I believe that also Image 3 is well representative of one of the major characteristics of Nicola's attitude.

B. Side light.

Image 4.

f 8, 1/750 sec, ISO 200, 18 mm 

I appreciate the sincere look and the little cunning smile in Image 4.

I slightly cropped the photo in order to reframe it with PS.

I believe that a less centered portrait and the lines in the background give a bit more dynamism to the picture.

Image 5. 

f 9.5, 1/750 sec, ISO 200, 18 mm

Again another typical Nicola's facial expression. I know what it means, but I can not translate it.

C. Backlit.

Image 6.

f 16, 1/180 sec, ISO 200, 18 mm

Image 6 is intended to show the benefit of using flash in an outdoor daylight situation. 

Nicola was intentionally backlit and this can cause problems getting the correct exposure. 

Often, if the face is well exposed, the background details are lost. 

Or otherwise the strong backlight creates dark shadows across the face. 

Probably my location is not particularly brilliant to demonstrate this, but the background detail has not been lost and the flash has produced a clear view of his face.

INDOOR.

A. Front light.

Image 7.

f 4.5, 1/45 sec, ISO 200, 18 mm

Image 7 enjoys a diffused daylight. Soft bright light diffused by a large window. 

Contrary to the previous photos taken outside, the light is rather soft and bright in this image. 

The lighting and background have created a gentle looking portrait. 

B. Side light.

Image 8.

f 8, 1/500 sec, ISO 200, 18 mm

What I like about this type of lighting is the added drama it can create but there is the danger of losing too much detail in the shadows.
The face has depth and form creating character by showing some wrinkles.
I simply adore the expression on his face.

C. Backlit.

Image 9.

f 4, 1/90 sec, ISO 200, 21 mm

In Image 9 the light was very bright on a typical head and shoulders portrait.
This is the only shot which was a bit more heavily modified in post production.
I decided to highlight the contrast between the milky, almost paradisiac background, and Nicola's "evil" expression.
Therefore, I increased the brightness in order to have almost a totally white window and the contrast in order to better see the face.
I like a lot the result particularly for the framing and the sort of white arrow above his head.