So really... what IS a portrait???

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/03/2006 04:22:46 PM · #3

Welcome to DPC....Lol

dallasdux

Pentax *ist DL

Tamron AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical XR IF Super Zoom for Pentax

11/03/2006 04:24:48 PM · #4

Originally posted by ace flyman:

Welcome to DPC....Lol

And right now it seems to be prime Trolling time. Lots of falling scores after this morning seemed to be kind.

cryingdragon

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

11/03/2006 04:24:56 PM · #5

From what I get from DPC

Portrait: a photograph taken of a person or likelness, specifically set up for that shot.

Candid: A very well composed snapshot--but only if done by a professional, it's a snapshot if done by amateur (only the pros can purposely set up a snapshot to look like it is)

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

11/03/2006 04:26:46 PM · #6

I see several entries that I would not classify as a portrait. But I tries to be a loose as possible.

Some didn't even have people in them, (and I am not talking about the people that entered their Landscape entry in the wrong challenge)

Those suffered in the voting I'm sure.

I have 2 criteria to be considered a photographic portrait.

1. It must be of a person (pets ar OK but it is a stretch unless it is specifically Animal Portraits. Portrait alone implies people, IMO)

2. The subject should be aware of the camera and engaging the audience, the people looking at the finished product. This doesn't mean they have to be looking into the camera necessisarily, but they should be aware that they are being photographed and engaged in the process.

Just one guy's opinion.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/03/2006 04:41:15 PM · #7

To me, it's the difference between a "controlled environment" and happenstance.

In a portrait, the subjects are aware of the camera. The environment is set up to portray them in a specific way (see the word "portrait" in "portray"?). There may still be some fluidity in the subject's posing (think how models move around and pose for the camera), but they are still in a controlled environment, working "with" the photographer to have their picture taken.

Candids, on the other hand, are generally taken of individuals who are unaware of the camera. Or are caught off guard. Or are not working with the photographer to have their likeness "portrayed" in a specific way.

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

11/03/2006 04:44:02 PM · #8

Originally posted by thebugsmommy:

No....it's not you. But, the definition you posted does say 'USUALLY of a person', not ALWAYS.

From American Heritage Dictionary:
por·trait (pôrtrt, -trt, pr-) Pronunciation Key
n.
A likeness of a person, especially one showing the face, that is created by a painter or photographer, for example.
A verbal picture or description, especially (not always) of a person.

Portrait definitions (no matter where you look it up) does not always include a person. Feel free to include your own definition if you like. But, after voting is over, expect a barage of 'Why did my photo get DNMC?'

Message edited by author 2006-11-03 16:44:46.

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

11/03/2006 04:50:23 PM · #9

For me, a portrait depicts the (timeless) essence of individuality.

A candid can do that. And for some individuals that's the only way it can be done because some will put up their guard at the sight of a lens.

A portrait can be taken of anything that expresses individuality...it can be of a dog or other sentient animal, a human, or something that represents individuality...inanimate objects collected.

What a portrait is not (to me) is an individual at a mere moment in time. If you don't have pop-ups entirely disabled, it's likely that you've seen "candid" images of the current president--his mouth open mid-word, a confused look upon his face and the accompanying text asking you to check yes or no to indicate your opinion of "the man".... This is not a portrait (though some would have you believe it to be)...despite my loathing for the current leader of my country, I can not believe that this is his "essence" or even a good representation of his character and appearance. Into the snapshot bin with it!

fotomann_forever

11/03/2006 04:56:50 PM · #10

Originally posted by scarbrd:

1. It must be of a person (pets ar OK but it is a stretch unless it is specifically Animal Portraits. Portrait alone implies people, IMO)

ISn't that contradictory? If one is a subset of the other, then why differientiate between the two if the subset is not specified?

To me, that is like saying for a Bird challenge that you shouldn't shoot a penguin because it doesn't fly :-)

My opinion will cost your two cents :-P

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

11/03/2006 05:00:56 PM · #11

Whatever a portrait is I'm guessing many think my entry isn't one. I've already gotten multiple comments saying this is a ribbon contender yet I have to laugh because my score suggests it will finish around the 50-60 percentile.

Azrifel

Nikon Coolpix P340

11/03/2006 05:00:59 PM · #12

Originally posted by KaDi:

For me, a portrait depicts the (timeless) essence of individuality.

I was thinking about what to say, but had a hard time putting Dutch thoughts into english. Your defenition is a very good one.

robinssong

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

11/03/2006 05:11:02 PM · #13

A portrait, to me, is an image where the subject (person or animal) is artistically portrayed.

This is an image that the subject should approve of.

IMHO you can do portraits of anything that has a face.

nsoroma79

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/03/2006 05:21:24 PM · #14

Yeah... I was just thinking this. I got a comment that said that my meets challenge "Score" was a 2! It's a person, it's in landscape format.... How the heck does it NMC!?!?!?

*sigh*

dallasdux

Pentax *ist DL

Tamron AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical XR IF Super Zoom for Pentax

11/03/2006 05:27:37 PM · #15

Originally posted by nsoroma79:

Yeah... I was just thinking this. I got a comment that said that my meets challenge "Score" was a 2! It's a person, it's in landscape format.... How the heck does it NMC!?!?!?

*sigh*

Just a thought, I got one like that too (several as of late), but that 2 always represented a possible 2 points (out of 2) for 1 category such as:

Meets Challenge X (out of 2)
Lighting: X (out of 2)
Composition: X (out of 2)
Wow Factor: X (out of 2)
Overall Impression: X (out of 2)

So, a possible 10 points. You just sum the 5 scores for a total.

If you really only got a 2 as a total score and they said that is only because it met the challenge, then I too would be very irked.

nsoroma79

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/03/2006 05:30:59 PM · #16

I think it meant I got a total of 4 points... but I don't get it. I can't say much more without giving away my entry or calling the person out... which I'm not going to do. But, still... ugh!

nsoroma79

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/03/2006 05:33:26 PM · #17

Originally posted by KaDi:

I just want to say that I agree with you 100%. A portrait is well thought out and well shot.. where a candid is a snapshot that freezes that moment in time. While a portrait does the same, it is more planned. A candid is spur of the moment.

That is how I voted this challenge. :)

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

11/03/2006 05:59:23 PM · #18

Originally posted by nsoroma79:

While I love being agreed with almost as much as I enjoy being disagreed with, my description does allow for "candids." I do not equate "candid" with "snapshot"...a candid, to me, simply means that the subject is unaware of (or unprepared for) the photographer. A snapshot, on the other hand, is what you say....just a frozen moment in time...and it may or may not capture anything of intention (either on the photographer's behalf or the subject).

11/03/2006 06:00:43 PM · #19

How I see it:

A portrait is staged. You "sit" for a portrait. You arrange the scene. Everything in it is planned. The subject is aware of being photographed. Someone says "cheese".

A candid is not staged. The subject is either caught off guard or isn't even aware that a photo is being taken. Candids are more natural moments in life.

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

11/03/2006 06:03:09 PM · #20

Originally posted by karmabreeze:

What if it's a little of both what do you call it? For example, say you didn't arrange anything except say "go there" and the subject was aware of you taking the picture (i.e. they asked you or you asked them). What's that called?

Edited for clarity.

Message edited by author 2006-11-03 18:04:47.

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

11/03/2006 06:04:21 PM · #21

Originally posted by karmabreeze:

So this is not a portrait?

11/03/2006 06:04:31 PM · #22

Originally posted by scarbrd:

Some didn't even have people in them, (and I am not talking about the people that entered their Landscape entry in the wrong challenge)

Some people are going to vote the animals down, but I think a well-staged pet shot is just as much a portrait as those with human subjects.

11/03/2006 06:06:40 PM · #23

Originally posted by yanko:

Originally posted by karmabreeze:
How I see it:

A portrait is staged. You "sit" for a portrait. You arrange the scene. Everything in it is planned. The subject is aware of being photographed. Someone says "cheese".

A candid is not staged. The subject is either caught off guard or isn't even aware that a photo is being taken. Candids are more natural moments in life.

What if it's a little of both what do you call it? For example, say you didn't arrange anything except say "go there" and the subject was aware of you taking the picture (i.e. they asked you or you asked them). What's that called?

Edited for clarity.

I actually tend to be extremely lenient in the voting. There are vast gray areas where the two blend. But if you just want straight definitions of one vs. the other, then there you go.

11/03/2006 06:10:07 PM · #24

Originally posted by KaDi:

She looks to me like she's probably quite aware of being photographed. The subject doesn't need to be looking at the camera for that sense to be conveyed.

Anyway, as I stated above, there are vast gray areas here, but the OP seemed to want straight definitions, one vs. the other.

yanko