“It is one thing to photograph people. It is another to make others care about them by revealing the core of their humanness.” – Paul Strand, American photographer, 1890-1976.
This week we launch our new photo competition, Portraits. If that sounds like an easy brief, you may be underestimating the challenge. The measure of any portrait is the degree to which it captures the “humanness” of the subject, and that’s not an easy thing to do. It’s easy to record a person’s physical features, much harder to reveal something of their personal story.
So, how do you shoot more effective portraits? Over the coming weeks we’ll be seeking answers to that question from some of Australia’s leading portrait photographers. Our Shoot Better Portraits series kicks off today with tips and images from award-winning Melbourne-based photographer Tobias Titz.
My tip for successful portrait photography is to be genuinely interested in the person being photographed. In my eyes, it’s very important to make the subject feel comfortable and engage with them.
Technical aspects are fundamental to a good photograph but positive engagement with the subject makes the difference.
I like to use available light whenever possible and try to photograph the person in their natural environment. I also try to pose or direct the person as little as possible to achieve a portrait that reflects their personality.
Personal projects are keeping my photography approach fresh – I think it’s very important to keep inspired.
Practice is the best way to learn so find yourself a topic you are interested in and keep on taking photos.
Tobias Titz is a Melbourne-based freelance photographer. He won first prize at the international Polaroid Award in 2000 and the Head On Photography Prize in 2008. To see more of his images go to www.tobiastitz.de
Martumili: Kumpaya Girgiba, 2009. Photo by Tobias Titz, illustration by subject. (For the Scratch project, Tobias Titz collaborated with Martumili Artists from Western Australia. Tobias travelled to the remote community of Parngurr in the Great Sandy Desert. There, Martumili Artists shared the image-making process by scratching images of their country in the wet emulsion of the Polaroid film.)
Martumili: Yunkurra Billy Atkins, 2009. Photo by Tobias Titz, illustration by subject.
Right to be Counted: Alum Cheedy, 2008. Photo by Tobias Titz, writing by subject.
Martumili: Muuki Taylor, 2009. Photo by Tobias Titz.