Window Light

We don't always need a  studio. We don't always need an expensive camera or a Zeiss lens. I photographed Victoria using window light with a small Fuji camera. But what I did have was beautiful light and a memory of Rembrandt.

Me and My Brothers

There are portraits and then there are memorable portraits.
There are ordinary portraits and then there are extraordinary portraits.
I aim to shoot 50% 'insurance' shots,
25% 'creative' and
25% 'edgy'
And at the end of the day the most important thing is that the client feels special.
Thanks to Adam, Amy and Matt.

Win $5000 with your best Portrait in the Fremantle Portrait Prize. Entries close 1 August 2012.

Learn tips and techniques in Dale Neill's Portrait workshop at UWA Extension. Starts 13 October 2012.

Twelve tips for Better Portraits

Achieving a memorable portrait is far more about the quality of lighting and communicating with your subject than it is about camera settings. Visualising the end result and choosing the right location are important factors. However, at the basis of a ll great portraits is genuinely liking your subject. The great English portrait photographer said he often fell in lobe with his subject during the portrait sitting.

1. Use telephoto in preference to wide-angle

A telephoto lens brings the subject closer but does something more important – the longer focal length flattens perspective and keeps the shape of the face in correct proportion. A telephoto lens avoids the ‘I’ve just been to the dentist’ look!



Eugenie Ong

2. Keep lens above subject’s nose height

If there’s one thing that’s likely to upset your subject it’s a double-chin. Keeping your lens height higher than the subject’s nose reduces the risk. And reduces hours of Photo shopping.

3. Subject-background distance greater than subject-camera distance

An out-of-focus background usually enhances portraits. One simple technique is to keep the background a long way away and the subject close.

4. Focus on the eyes

There’s one part of a portrait that just has to be as sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel – the subject’s eyes (both of them!). The eyes aren’t just the ‘windows to the soul’ they are first point of contact for the viewer.

5. Kids – get down to kid’s level physically and mentally

Typically, parents and grandparents start off by doing the ‘ogre’ shots – standing directly above the baby. Photographers should become children themselves – shoot from their level physically and think like a child when shooting them at play.

6. Shoot for a black and white image
There’s a saying, ‘Shoot in colour and you photograph the subject’s clothes, photograph in black and white and you photograph the subject’s soul.’ Technically, it’s best to shoot in colour and convert in your computer.

7. Choose a great background

A great background makes your subject the ‘star’; makes your subject shine in the frame. Backgrounds that are overly sharp or bright with strong lines and angles should generally be avoided. Dark blurred recesses and open doorways are often useful backgrounds.

8. Become a student of light and use ‘Rembrandt’ lighting

The word ‘Photograph’ comes from the Greek meaning writing or painting with light. Using a light source at ninety degrees to the subject’s face adds drama and modeling. Window light is the easiest quality light to use.

9. Get couples/groups to interact with each other rather than you

The linkages between the couple or members of the group should be far closer than the linkages with the photographer. Ask your subjects to chat and interact with each other. Your task as a portrait photographer is to record the emotional bonds.

10. Photograph your subject with their most treasured item

An individual, no matter whether adult or child will often feel more comfortable with their most treasured item – their guitar, cat, dog or football.

Indian Tsunami
WAPPA - Award winning image 2005

11. Use Auto-Bracket

The ‘Auto-bracket’ setting on your camera gives you sequence of different exposures in quick succession. Auto-bracketing overcomes many of the problems of blinking and odd expressions.

12. Create an Environmental Portrait

Choose a ‘Landscape’ aspect ratio, place your subject in a position of power and use the subject’s favourite room, workspace or outdoors on each side of your subject to help tell the story of your subject.

If you have a special portrait and you'd like to win $5000 cash enter the Fremantle Portrait Prize before 1 August 2012.

And if you want to learn more about Portrait Photography join UWA Extension's Portraits - Memories Forever workshop.

APPA Silver Award

When I met the Carter family from Denmark and saw their beautiful farm it reminded me so much of the 'Little House on the Prairie' television series in the 60s and 70s.

The image won a Silver Award in the Family Portrait category at APPA (Australian Professional Photography Awards) in Melbourne in May 2012.
It also won a Silver Award at WAPPA (Western australian Professional Photography Awards in July 2012.

ENTER the Fremantle Portrait Prize and win AU$5000. Entries close 1 August 2012.

Fremantle Portrait Prize

Fremantle Portrait Prize is Australia's newest photographic award. First prize is $5000 cash and is open to photographers of all ages from around the world. Entries are $15 each and all profits go to the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Foundation of Western Australia.

For details and entry forms please visit:

www.fremantleportraitprize.org.au

Studio Noah drops by

It was one of those days when things started to go wrong. Kerry, a student all the way from PNG, who was having a second session with me after a few unavoidable delays. Then our 'model' for the portrait shoot was delayed in a jam (not sure if traffic or strawberry).

But a ring on our doorbell and there stood beautiful Brenda fresh from the physio. Now Brenda and I go back a little ways - she travelled with me to Greece a decade ago and posed for me at the Acropolis. A year later I asked Brenda to photograph me for my www.fotograf.com.au  website. I chose Brenda because I felt more comfortable with her than any other photographer.

These days Brenda owns and runs Studio Noah - where Brenda photographs animals - everything from Elephants to Aardvarks, budgerigars to buffaloes and doggies to dragons. If you want the favourite pet in your life photographed by the very best pet photographer this side of the rabbit-proof fence visit Brenda at http://studionoah.com.au/ - tell her Dale sent you!

170 years before Photoshop was invented photographers were thinking on how to do interesting stuff inside their own brains and inside their cameras.

For those not completely addicted tp Photoshop you can still do this.

All I did here was use a slow shutter speed and ask one person to stand still. Photoshop time: 0.000 seconds!

Mind you, keep playing with Photoshop and you can sell your DSLR in 5 years with brand, spanking new one second shutter speed in your camera.

My talent: Stringed quartet 'Mill Pond' - watch out for them!