Monday, May 20, 2013

Winner's tips for entrants in 1233's Portrait Prize - ABC Online


The photographer is one of the judges for this year's 1233 Portrait Prize and is generously sharing some tips with our entrants on how to take a fine portrait shot.


For her it's more about timing and trusting your instincts than fancy equipment, lighting or set-ups.


Janelle won the prestigious competition with her photograph of her friend Yhonnie with her elderly cat, Indiana, who was an impressive 19 years old.


The cat, described by Yhonnie as her furry soul mate, died only a couple of days after the photo was taken.


Janelle explained to 1233 ABC Newcastle's Paul Bevan just how naturally the shot came about.


She decided to photograph the pair at Yhonnie's request, in the knowledge the cat might not have long to live.


Janelle likes to brainstorm every shoot and on this occasion her careful preparation involved examining what times of day the cat was most active, and even asking her friend not to wear dark clothing that would show up cat hair!


But once Janelle arrived to do the shoot she knew she only had around 15 minutes before Indiana would get tired, so there wasn't time for a fussy, detailed set-up.


And she admits that as anticipated, Indiana turned out to be a "total diva".


As luck would have it the cat was most active during the middle of the day, so light was streaming in through the window with no need for any lights to be set up.


The bowl and tablecloth, with their striking colour and patterns, were just what happened to be there.


"It's actually not set up at all, and there wasn't any lighting," Janelle says.


"I barely touched it afterwards.


"So if you're out there, you don't need a fancy set of lights at all, it's just picking the right time of day.


"Everything came together naturally, I just sort of waited for the right moment and I took a snap."


Janelle says it's better to follow your instincts than over-think a photo.


"I think a gut photograph a lot of the time is often the best one, I find," she says.


"A photo can look very forced if you spend too much time."


Nor does Janelle believe a photo needs to have immediate, striking impact.


"Some photos have a really beautiful subtlety and quietness to them," she says.


And Janelle says a short explanation with the shot, as required in both the National Photographic Portrait Prize and the 1233 Portrait Prize, can "strengthen an image so much".


You can find full details on how to enter the 1233 Portrait Prize, as well as Terms and Conditions, here.


Finalists will have their work publicly exhibited at Lake Macquarie Art Gallery, and will attend a workshop with a professional photographer.


The ultimate winner will score a trip to Canberra and an exclusive tour of the National Portrait Gallery.



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