Indiana Photography

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Comment by Paul D'Andrea on November 16, 2009 at 10:21am

Also, some images from this weekend. I've been working pretty consistently on photo projects related to my day job lately, so it was great to have some down time this weekend to work on my own stuff. It was like taking a nice deep breath.

Comment by Dario Impini on November 16, 2009 at 10:20am

Well you're right -- I dont think there's any one "right way" of doing things, ESPECIALLY in photography. I just appreciate that Glamour Shots beat that approach into me because I dont think I would have found the right personal formula for myself. Different people work different ways, but I think it would be pretty universally true that scuttling around in the dark in brooding silence is probably not the most effective way of getting good results. With live human subjects anyway.

Comment by Paul D'Andrea on November 16, 2009 at 10:16am

Interesting, thanks for the explanation.

I've been thinking quite a bit lately about my interaction with portrait subjects. I've worked pretty hard to understand lighting and how to work with and shape light. It's nice to (mostly) get that down and out of the way so I can get to what seems to be the heart of good portrait, the interaction between me and the subjects.

I'm like you Dario, I'm fine just sitting back and observing, mostly. It's been a bit of work to be more interactive. I think it's been helpful for me to realize that I need to find my own way of doing this. Finding my own way has been a good lesson in all of my photography. I'd see one photographer working in some way and sort of assume that because this guy is further along than I am I should just emulate. I have to keep remembering that I need to take whatever is at the heart of what I'm trying to learn and make it my own.

In the case of working with subjects, while I am pretty quiet, I'm also very curious and (mostly) like people. So my with my subjects instead of being loud and outgoing (which is not bad at all, it's just not me and would come off as forced) I'm trying to me more genuinely curious about my subjects, who they are and what they're about...

Comment by Dario Impini on November 16, 2009 at 9:38am

Comment by Dario Impini on November 16, 2009 at 9:37am

Comment by Dario Impini on November 16, 2009 at 9:37am

Yes, the mystery I think is a powerful element. I think once you show their face, you force a judgement, an imposition upon the viewer. Making it anonymous and mysterious aspires to the "keep them wanting more" maxim. The lack of cognizant information -- identification -- keeps you riveted... forces you to search for meaning while at the same time allowing you the freedom to create your own storyline.
I've heard at this point that I've become somewhat intimidating, or my portfolio has. Models now seem to have a fear of whether they'll live up to my standards. I try to express to them that no model I've shot is perfect -- they all get tweaked to that point, my courtesy in view of my celebration of the female form. I hate when other photographers dont show that courtesy. I've seen some of my models exposed rather cruelly through careless lighting or editing. Of course, this could be simply a style difference, but because I love the female form, I personally take offense when some piddling flaw is not perfected.

The trick to making a subject feel comfortable, whether model, client, nude or clothed, is what I learned at the Glamour Shots boot camp training. Be fun, keep it light, engage the subject, keep it happy, laugh, be chatty, be goofy, be flamboyant, almost gay. This didnt come naturally to me for a long time. Shooting is hard work! Shooting while keeping up that charade is just about impossible at first unless you're naturally keyed that way. Most photographer types arent. We're serious people, artistic, brooding -- a sure fire way to spook your model.

So you're right -- that technique applies to all subjects. Its one of the things I learned at Glamour Shots that I treasure. Some things were good, others not so. That 8 months I spent there was a treasure trove of information.

Some of the latest edited ones...

Comment by Dario Impini on November 15, 2009 at 6:56pm

First shots with the new piano at the studio...

Comment by David L Lawrence on November 13, 2009 at 1:42pm

I think Blue Friday trumps Friday the 13th! Or is it really ground hog day :o)

Comment by PK Koduri on November 9, 2009 at 10:03pm

Portraits that I shot while staying at the White Oaks Cabins.
Read My Blog about the stay at PhotoIndica

Comment by PK Koduri on November 9, 2009 at 10:01pm

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