Project: Settings, Backgrounds, Locations

Exercise: Thinking About Location

The brief is to find six very different settings or backgrounds which could be used effectively and attractively for either a whole body or torso portrait. Take reference pictures of the locations without people, choose one of them and make a portrait.

With portraits I’ve previously always thought of them as being shot in a studio, with the subject(s) posed just so and with a photographers backcloth in place; the archetypal studio portrait. I’ve never put any thought into what else could be done with this genre as before this course it wasn’t something I was particularly interested in, with my family all being shy of the camera it’s not conducive to much practice, so actually having to find setting and backgrounds that can include the studio, but I feel should also include the outdoors is a challenge.

I’ve sat and thought about this exercise for some time now trying to decide where I’d like to go to make some really good portraits and finally I’ve selected a few settings that I think will be suitable and I hope attractive.