Useful Tips on Portraits and Self Portraits By David H. Urmann At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Ever since the olden days, making self-portraits pose as a challenge to men, especially the women painters. When making a portrait of anyone, someone else and a self-portrait, there are various things to consider.

Self-portraits are representations of an artist which he has painted, drawn, sculpted or photographed. Although these were rampant since the olden times, it is only during the mid 1400s or Early Renaissance period when artists were identified to depict themselves as the important character or main subject in their line of work. In fact, via panel portrait, which requires the help of cheaper and better mirrors, several printmakers, sculptors and painters were able to try self-portraiture.

A portrait is an image made to the likeness of a person. Oftentimes, it is the picture of a face that reveals an individual’s features. Of course, there are cases wherein it reveals, suggests or depicts even more. Such photographic portraits can also reveal or depict a person’s style, general personality, character, manner, demeanor, air or mien. This is aside from the bearing and appearance of the person.

Making a Portrait of Anyone

In making a photographic portrait, there are things you need to consider such as paying attention to composition, composing a beautiful portrait, controlling the background and being careful of the background’s sharp lines, making sure the lighting is appropriate as well as using light reflectors or fill flashes, getting the subject to look into the camera, carefully focusing on the individual’s eyes, bracketing your photos as a type of insurance against good exposure and shooting various shots.

Making a Portrait of Someone Else

Making a portrait of someone else pertains to photographs made under a good setting and then revealing the person where a story can unfold. Aside from the factors affecting how you can make a portrait for anyone, when you are photographing someone else, there are other things you need to consider. This would include the need to ask permission to photograph him or her (why you need to plan ahead), to discover how you can gain access (only if necessary) and the need for advance planning (making a re-shoot very difficult).

Making a Self-Portrait

Self-portraits are referred to as photographs made in the right setting and thus revealing yourself in the process. When conducting a photo-shoot for yourself, there are several things you need to consider. This would include the difficulty to focus on your own eyes, the need to look for someone who can stand in on your behalf for focus issues (otherwise you need to set-up a prop 1st in order to set the focus), the need to utilize a mirror while shooting a reflection of the scene and the delicateness of focusing on the exact spot for your eyes as well as shooting with a shutter wide open because the lighting is low (so that the field depth becomes shallow), being expressive and in giving more information about yourself. You can also add using a tripod that has a self-timer or a long cable release that you can control as well as longer exposures and the inappropriateness of seeing more of the environment.

All about Women Painters in the Past

The most notable self-portrait producers ever since the olden days were women. In fact, these women have left a legacy of their work. Look into the works of Caterina van Hemessen, Frida Kahlo and Elizabeth Vigee-Lebrum. It is indicated that the latter had about 37 self-portraits painted. However, women at that time were not trained in nude drawings, making it very hard for them to paint bigger figure compositions.

In the 19th century, most self-portraits of women are paintings of themselves holding a palette and a brush. There were even speculations if the clothes they wore are really the ones they were wearing at the time.

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