PORTRAIT SERIES EXPLORATION - Jan 5

Objective: Explore the diverse possibilities of portrait photography by creating a series of images that demonstrate technical skill, creative vision, and conceptual thinking. 


You must complete a TOTAL OF 8 PORTRAITS with a minimum of three (3) of the following seven categories.


  1. The Categories:

  • Classic Portraiture: Create a black and white portrait that emphasizes light, shadow, and contrast. Use lighting (natural or artificial) to shape the face and create a distinct mood.

  • Emotion Study: Capture a portrait that clearly communicates one specific emotion (e.g., joy, melancholy, anger, contemplation). The feeling should be immediately understandable to a viewer without any written explanation.

  • Staged Portrait / Props: This image must be fully planned and constructed. Carefully consider pose, lighting, background, expression, and the use of at least one prop. Everything in the frame should feel deliberate and contribute to a cohesive idea.

  • Spontaneous / Candid Portrait: Capture a natural, unposed moment. The subject should appear relaxed, engaged in an activity, or unaware of the camera. The goal is authenticity, not perfection.

  • Identity Portrait: Create a portrait that communicates something essential about the subject’s personality, interests, culture, or identity without using words. Use context, clothing, environment, or gesture to tell a story.

  • Unconventional Framing or Angle: Shoot from an unexpected perspective. Experiment with extreme close-ups, reflections, partial framing of the face, shooting through objects, or unusual angles (bird’s-eye, worm’s-eye, etc.).

  • *FOR BUNUS MARKS after assignment completion* Altered Reality (Photoshop Experiment): Use Photoshop to obviously and creatively alter the portrait. Add or remove elements, create a surreal scene, distort reality, or apply heavy editing for visual impact. The manipulation must be intentional and noticeable, not a subtle correction.


  1. Final Submission

  • You must submit a minimum of 6 final portraits in total.

  • Since you are doing at least 3 categories with 2 images each, you will submit at least 6 images.

  • You may do more categories or more than 2 images per category for extra credit or exploration.


  1. Subject & Process

  • You may photograph another person OR yourself (self-portrait).

  • For self-portraits: You may need a tripod (or stable surface) and your camera’s self-timer or a remote shutter release. 

  • Whether shooting another or yourself, the concept and execution for each category must be clear.


Technical & Artistic Guidelines

  • Composition: Be mindful of the rule of thirds, negative space, and how your framing directs the viewer’s eye.

  • Focus & Exposure: Your subject should be in sharp focus. Exposure should be intentional—correct for the mood you want.

  • Editing: All images should be properly adjusted for contrast, exposure, and color balance (unless B&W). Cropping is allowed. For the "Altered Reality" category, Photoshop edits are the primary focus.

  • Authenticity: For candid and emotion shots, strive for genuine moments. For staged and identity shots, strive for clear communication.

  • All photos must be saved as JPEG in a file folder named “Portrait Series” and be labeled (what ever style it’s in and numbered ex: “ Classic 1” or “Identity 2”)


 

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