portrait? - DPChallenge Forums

01/04/2010 09:05:18 AM · #1

Would like to hear what people think constitutes a portrait? moving subject? or a non moving subject? lets try to keep it to 1 or the other so we play nice and we don't get locked out of this thread.

01/04/2010 09:08:53 AM · #2

What do you really think about it? :-P

From the Portrait Of A Wild Bird score thread...

Originally posted by rider:

I simply can not believe a flight shot won a portrait challenge!!!!!!!and so many flight shots in the top 10!!!! I guess people don't care what the challenge is

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/04/2010 09:12:47 AM · #3

all you have to do is look at my entry. when i asked for the challenge i had a shot in mind that would be put in a birders guide for id. If a flight shot is considered a portrait why is there a term flight shot? oh and i would just like to find out what the people here in general think which is why i asked to keep it simple kind of a poll more than a discussion

Message edited by author 2010-01-04 09:14:24.

MattO

Nikon D4

01/04/2010 09:18:19 AM · #4

The results of the challenge simply show that it doesn't matter what the challenge is, the voters are in awe of a pretty picture and it doesn't have to fit the challenge at all. I gave the Blue ribbon winner a 4, simply because its a beautiful photo but knocked it down for not fitting the challenge, which to me is essential.

Matt

01/04/2010 09:23:09 AM · #5

I didn't enter the challenge...but based on the challenge description...i thought the top three fit the challenge

Photograph a wild bird in a natural environment -- no birds on leashes, perched on gloves, no zoos, no bird feeders -- just wild and natural.

So i'm not sure what the complaint would be.

ETA: A bird in flight can still be in it's natural environment

Message edited by author 2010-01-04 09:24:23.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/04/2010 09:23:19 AM · #6

Isn't part of a portrait also trying to capture the essence of the subject? Flight is a big part of what a bird is. I can see it more with capturing a bird of prey in flight as speaking to it's profile.

Just thinking out loud here. I'm more of a traditionalist normally, but can kind of see where some photographers may have been coming from with their entries...

MattO

Nikon D4

01/04/2010 09:26:07 AM · #7

Originally posted by glad2badad:

To clarify my prior comment. The birds of prey in the top 10 that are in flight, I actually gave higher scores to then the blue, simply for the reason you state here.

Matt

01/04/2010 09:27:51 AM · #8

Also from dictionary.com...

por·trait (pôr'trĭt, -trāt', pōr'-)
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 of a person.

adj. Of or relating to the orientation of a page such that the longer side runs from top to bottom.

[French, from Old French, image, from past participle of portraire, to portray; see portray.][/i]

Says nothing about the subject remaining still (not moving).

01/04/2010 09:28:01 AM · #9

Originally posted by albc28:

perhaps the orignal question--do you think of a portrait as moving or static?

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

01/04/2010 09:29:17 AM · #10

Originally posted by albc28:

did not ask for definition you personally moving or static?

Hipychik

Sony Alpha a6000

01/04/2010 09:29:53 AM · #11

Originally posted by rider:

Originally posted by albc28:
I didn't enter the challenge...but based on the challenge description...i thought the top three fit the challenge

Photograph a wild bird in a natural environment -- no birds on leashes, perched on gloves, no zoos, no bird feeders -- just wild and natural.

So i'm not sure what the complaint would be.

ETA: A bird in flight can still be in it's natural environment

perhaps the orignal question--do you think of a portrait as moving or static?

Either.

01/04/2010 09:30:34 AM · #12

Originally posted by Hipychik:

Originally posted by rider:

Originally posted by albc28:
I didn't enter the challenge...but based on the challenge description...i thought the top three fit the challenge

Photograph a wild bird in a natural environment -- no birds on leashes, perched on gloves, no zoos, no bird feeders -- just wild and natural.

So i'm not sure what the complaint would be.

ETA: A bird in flight can still be in it's natural environment

perhaps the orignal question--do you think of a portrait as moving or static?

Either.

thankyou

Lytro Illum Light Field Digital

01/04/2010 09:33:42 AM · #13

Originally posted by rider:

Originally posted by albc28:
Also from dictionary.com...

por·trait (pôr'trĭt, -trāt', pōr'-)
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 of a person.

adj. Of or relating to the orientation of a page such that the longer side runs from top to bottom.

[French, from Old French, image, from past participle of portraire, to portray; see portray.][/i]

Says nothing about the subject remaining still (not moving).

did not ask for definition you personally moving or static?

I think you are narrowing it down a bit. My definition of portrait doesn't include moving or static in it. I think a portrait can be of either as long as the face is captured in it....(and even that is kind of loose to interpretation.)

Message edited by author 2010-01-04 09:33:51.

yakatme

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

01/04/2010 09:36:14 AM · #14

From the scores thread:

Originally posted by OmanOtter:

And here's another:

"A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. For this reason, in photography a portrait is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still position. A portrait often shows a person looking directly at the painter or photographer, in order to most successfully engage the subject with the viewer."

By this definition (which specifically applies to people, not birds), I would say that normally the subject would not be moving in a portrait.

I didn't enter this challenge, but I think that some of my past bird shots would serve as "bird portraits":

- - -

None of these are in motion and if I compare these to my shots of birds in flight I can understand how birds in flight seem less like portraits than birds that seem to be posing for the shot as if they are conveying their personality somewhat.

edit for grammar

Message edited by author 2010-01-04 09:37:25.

01/04/2010 09:37:19 AM · #15

Originally posted by albc28:

Originally posted by rider:

Originally posted by albc28:
Also from dictionary.com...

por·trait (pôr'trĭt, -trāt', pōr'-)
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 of a person.

adj. Of or relating to the orientation of a page such that the longer side runs from top to bottom.

[French, from Old French, image, from past participle of portraire, to portray; see portray.][/i]

Says nothing about the subject remaining still (not moving).

did not ask for definition you personally moving or static?

I think you are narrowing it down a bit. My definition of portrait doesn't include moving or static in it. I think a portrait can be of either as long as the face is captured in it....(and even that is kind of loose to interpretation.)

that is the point of the question to narrow it down and see what the general idea of a portrait is. like a poll to find out where the group is on this subject.

Lytro Illum Light Field Digital

01/04/2010 09:40:48 AM · #16

yakatme

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

01/04/2010 09:41:49 AM · #17

Originally posted by glad2badad:

, , ,

Well said. Good point.

01/04/2010 09:45:52 AM · #18

Originally posted by glad2badad:

, , ,

well you'll show us but you can't say it?

01/04/2010 09:50:02 AM · #19

just took a quick stroll thru the portrait side challenge and didn't notice a single shot in motion? bet there will be now though

01/04/2010 09:59:46 AM · #20

am wondering about your defence of movement considering your entry

01/04/2010 10:06:40 AM · #21

Originally posted by rider:

am wondering about your defence of movement considering your entry

Simple really. The White-breasted Nuthatch is my favorite bird. I love this pose specifically. When this shot materialized I was ecstatic! If I had captured a fantastic shot of a hawk in flight, and not this one, I would have entered it without hesitation.

01/04/2010 10:07:30 AM · #22

well i guess i've gotten my answer-- i thought it was an open challenge and was reminded it was a member challenge so now i know where the members stand.

rooum

01/04/2010 10:16:26 AM · #23

I would say that a portrait can definitely involve a moving image whether it is an animal or not. This is a good example of a portrait of a sportsman i'd say...

Its an extremely wide ranging term though and i think in this case the choice of the term 'portrait' for the challenge wasn't great as it obviously confused some people. I think the main point of the challenge was the 'wild bird' part. The blue ribbon was certainly a portrait of a wild bird and a very worthy winner i'd say.