This week I propose a challenge that although it may seem easy, it is not. I mean the portrait in black and white. By the way, if it were easy... it wouldn't be a challenge ?
HOW DOES IT WORK? (REMINDER)
Every week I will propose a new challenge , it is a topic that you will have to capture in a photograph and upload it to the Facebook page of the blog, putting in the description the keyword that I will indicate for each topic. The themes will be varied, from portraits to Macro photography, going through landscapes, black and white photography, or babies. The topics will be proposed on Saturdays, so that you have the whole weekend to work on them. You will have one week to upload your photograph (one photo per participant), until Friday of the following week. On Friday or Saturday I will update the article with the photo that has captivated me the most and I will propose a new topic, and so…
WEEKLY CHALLENGE 104: BLACK AND WHITE PORTRAIT
A portrait may seem easy. You may think that you find someone who wants to pose, period. But this is not so. A good portrait should speak of the person portrayed, of his dreams, of his fears, of what is hidden behind his gaze. A true portrait does not stay on the surface of the skin, it goes one step further and transmits everything that the sitter feels and experiences. And when it comes to black and white, it gets even more complicated, since there are no colors that help convey feelings or emotions.
It is clear that it is important to learn the photographic technique, but it is useless if you do not also learn to shoot with your heart, to see beyond what anyone can see, to show the essence of places or people. The photographer is not a mere copyist of reality, he is an artist and as such he must excite. This week's challenge is to train you in this aspect, so that you show who is behind your camera talking about who is in front.
As usual, to participate in this week's challenge upload your photo to the Facebook wallfrom the Photographer's Blog: In the photo description please mention the keyword “Black and White Portrait Challenge” followed by a title of your choice.
ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO PARTICIPATE
For those of you who are not from Facebook, I have enabled new social networks to participate.
- Flickr: Accessing the Photographer's Blog Group Wall and uploading the photo directly. Give your photo a title and be sure to mention “Black and White Portrait Challenge” in it.
- Twitter: uploading the photo directly to Twitter with the hashtag #RetoRetratoEnBlancoYNegroBdF
Happy photography.
UPDATE
The portraits that you have sent on this occasion are wonderful. Every day you are more camera artists! Thank you for your involvement ?
The other day, by chance, I saw in the gallery the portrait sent by Carmen Portilla Crespo. Since then I have been haunted by the "Glance" of the girl portrayed. When making the selection I have seen other portraits that have amazed me, however, I cannot get this one out of my head. I look at the gallery and «Mirada» jumps out at me above the rest, as if it were a white rose among a large bouquet of red roses, like a strawberry among a bunch of grapes. There is something that catches in that look and that Carmen has managed to capture. A serene, calm look that is alive and penetrating at the same time, which speaks to me of a shy girl who, despite this, defies the camera, who poses with a natural elegance without actually posing, who does not like to be done photos but accepts it patiently. It is also a great portrait on a technical level. It does not matter in this case that the eyes are not at the points of interest of which the rule of three thirds speaks, since they also capture all the attention and are perfectly focused. He has made an excellent handling of the light that comes from the side, the contrast is perfect and it is an image that is not pasty at all, since it includes all the tones of the gray scale, from the lowest to the highest. Congratulations, Carmen, for this beautiful portrait! from the lowest to the highest. Congratulations, Carmen, for this beautiful portrait! from the lowest to the highest. Congratulations, Carmen, for this beautiful portrait!
