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People are really interesting, especially to other people. So interesting, in fact, that we can't get enough of celebrity gossip, paparazzi shots of starlets mingling with the masses without makeup, and highly unusual people in general. So, if people are such a naturally fascinating thing, why do my neighbor's people pictures make me want to take someone's life? Why Did You Kill Them? My neighbor is a portrait-taking murderer. He lines folks up, just like an assassination squad, and then shoots them. Before he shoots them, he offers them some "cheese". The result is a bunch of people that could very well be dead, having died with cheese on their lips. There is absolutely no humanity or uniqueness present. No personality, no mystery, no allure. Dead. So how do we save them? Take a Picture by Not Taking a Picture For starters, forcing people into a pose is the worst way to photograph them. By following the standard "how-to-take-a-picture" procedure, you tense up your subject and remove any impulse to show their real personality. Director Clint Eastwood never puts the microphone to his mouth and shouts "Action!". It unnecessarily tenses the actor and weakens the scene. Instead, he says to the actors to start the scene when they are ready, and quietly signals the cameraman to start filming at the appropriate moment. In practical terms, he doesn't "take pictures", he records life. And that is the secret to great people photography. Do NOT take a picture. Record life. Capture the person being a person, not a statue. Let the moment before and the moment after the picture be implied in the picture itself. Who Moved My Cheese? Sometimes, you will have to take the obligatory family and friends photo, complete with smiles. Well, there are smiles and there are smiles! Which one of the following prompts will get you a real smile? 1. "Say cheese, bees, fleas, please." 2. "Think of something funny about the person next to you." 3. "Picture someone you love very much, especially as a baby, doing something cute." 4. "Think of someone who always makes you laugh." It should be clear which prompt WON'T get you a real smile, so don't use it. If, instead, you have a group photo where every individual in it is clearly thinking of something personal, you will have a fascinating portrait of personalities. I have a school class picture where one boy was looking at the girl he liked, who was looking at another boy that she liked. Talk about fascinating! This one little picture from seventh grade was a complete soap opera! When you don't need a smiling photo, you want your subject to be focused on what makes them tick. You want them to access the most important core interests in their lives at that moment. And you want that to make it into your camera. How to do this? First of all, let them talk to you. Ask them questions, get them involved in whatever this core interests is. The passion will come out quickly, and you will know if the moment you see it. Make sure you take pictures throughout, and take enough time to sort through them later. I promise you, you will find some golden moments there. Parting Shots There are many situations where you will take people pictures. Each has its own expectations. Do your subjects a favor. Save their lives! Save them in your iPhone, your point-and-shoot, or your digital SLR. Capture the essence of their lives, if you can. Watch them before and after you shoot to see how they express feelings. Then shoot some more and capture those expressions. Tell their story in a moment of still life. That is the most fascinating thing, after all. To know another human being is something that gives great joy. When you take pictures of people well, you are introducing them to the world. You're giving the world that joy.
Seth Lutnick's Photo Zone contains guides to photographing people, scenic photography and digital cameras. He has been a featured photographer for the New York State Dept of Tourism and is the publisher of a number of scenic calendars. His "day job" is in musical theater.
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photographing people, portraits, photography, picture taking, portrait photography,
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