from the series: Wish You Were Here
—
—
Tag: <span>documentary</span>
We can learn a lot about people by looking at their hands. Close-up photos of them are often taken when the subjects are newborns or elderly people, but probably relatively few are taken during other phases of life. Hands can say a lot about our interaction with each other and with the world. UK photographer Tim Booth believes the hands tell a more honest story about what a person has been through than faces.
American portrait artist John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) paid particular attention to hands in order to reveal his sitters’ temperament. Stephanie Herdrich, in an article on the Metropolitan Museum website, writes, “Sargent’s accentuation of hand gestures reveals details about his sitters’ personalities or moods and, in some cases, the sitters’ relationship with the artist.”
Another thing you might take note of when photographing is how your own hands are changing over time. For me, it’s one way I see my own age. In the past few years I’ve developed vitiligo (loss of skin pigmentation, resulting in white patches) on my hands; they look quite different from the way they did a few years ago. It doesn’t bother me and I don’t try to cover it up—it’s mostly a cosmetic thing, not a real health concern—but it is a part of me that has changed, and changed quickly. Since I respond to so much of my daily life from my perspective as a photographer, one way I can notice physical changes over time is through photographs.
You’ve no doubt had the familiar sinking feeling that comes from looking through photos from a few years earlier and thinking, Wow, I’m getting old. I looked so much younger then. (When it hasn’t even been that long, sometimes.) This is something my wife and I talk about often. Age is always at our heels; youth is always receding in the mirror.
Nothing keeps reminding us of that like ordinary snapshots. In that sense, the snapshots that document our most everyday moments become the ones that most accurately chart our passage through time.
—
Photo tip: It’s a worthwhile endeavor to document the hands of family members over time to see the effects of time and age.
“Hands” appears on Photo Vogue–Vogue Italia website.
Don’t you feel inspired whenever you travel? Seeing the world with “fresh eyes” provides wonderful photo opportunities, and you may get some of your best photos when visiting a new place. A little research and preparation in advance can make for a more trouble-free experience when photographing.
Photographer Jim Richardson relates, “Philosophically, photographers seem to divide along that fault line. On one side are those who desire only to be in the moment. For them, forethought only distorts perception. On the other side are the planners. Most National Geographic photographers I know do both: research extensively to prepare their schedule (and their minds) and then become existentially in-the-moment once on site.”
Some of the preparations may involve looking through websites, photo or guide books, or Google Maps to get a sense of what the place looks like and to learn good shooting locations. You can also research seasonal events in the destination, so you don’t miss an important festival or event. Also, with social media, you can meet up with other photographers who are native to the area. It’s a great way to learn the ins and outs of a place, and connect with like-minded people.
—
Photo tip: Connect with other photographers on Flickr or Facebook to join a photo walk. It’s a great way to socialize and learn new things.
You have probably been in a street environment where there’s an opportunity to take a candid portrait and you know that calling attention to the camera will spoil the moment. What to do? Many factors come into it; the country you’re in, the purpose of your photograph, whether you think the person objects to having their photo taken. It depends very much on the circumstances–but the bottom line is to have respect for the subject.
Magnum photographer Carolyn Drake relates, “It depends on the circumstances. There is a pleasure in disappearing behind the camera on a crowded city street, and sometimes making the picture before the conversation makes for a more surprising picture. But if there’s someone I want to pose or spend time with, or who for some other reason it seems to make sense to ask, then I will. It’s a judgement call.”
In my experience, I have had success in engaging with the person, and asking, “May I take your photo?” Then I may look for more candid moments as I take some photos. Spending a little time with people and engaging with them may lead to more authentic portraits.
—
Photo tip: Try making the subject’s environment part of the portrait. These details can help form a narrative about the person.
It seems that good photos have just the right amount of content—not too busy, not too sparse. One famous quote from National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson, advises, “If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.” And if you happen to be standing in front of some interesting stuff, there is always the question of how much to include in the frame.
American photographer Lee Friedlander, famous for his pioneering photos of the urban social landscape, has a talent for filling his photos with visual content without making them seem overly crowded. Eric Kim (whom I also cited last week) writes on his blog, ”Friedlander was very conscious of how he framed his scenes, and wanted to add more complexity to his shots through adding content of interest.”
Lee Friedlander accomplished this by using a wide-angle lens—usually a 35mm. That way objects in the foreground can remain in focus along with background elements. Though complexity is not always the answer, it certainly adds interest.
—
Photo tip: If you have a wide-angle lens, try shooting with only that lens for a week or two. Make note of how this perspective changes the content in your photos.