PJClass: Portraits

Members, from left, Matt Galler, Andrew Cohen, Rory Pettinghill and Trevor Simpson of Gatsby Gets The Green Light hang out in their "green" van, which has been modified to run on grease .

To say that the most recent issue of the Towerlight had a few portrait shots in it is an understatement. We would have run more if the stories weren't rescheduled for later issues.

The shot above is probably my best portrait to date. I had to use a fisheye out of necessity because of tight shooting quarters, but I think it added to the image. It was also one of the first times I used my umbrella to reflect rather than to shoot through. I got some praise from my fellow photogs as well, which is always a good morale booster.

I enjoy the following portrait because it uses two strobes (one far camera left with a red gel shot through a fake tree, the other high camera right shot through a white umbrella at 45 degrees to Mr. Letts). The red strobe was the idea of my photo editor, Pat.



There is one more portrait of mine set to run on Monday, so I'll post that up then.

I'll have to admit, I was nervous shooting these. Two of them were on the same day along with another assignment down in Baltimore, so the pressure was on to get them done WELL with a new flair each time. I managed them professionally, IMHO. The parts I didn't do so well on, like having to rush out at the end of a portrait, probably could have been handled better. Live to learn, right?

Even though they were somewhat hectic, these assignments couldn't have come to me at a better time. With the "Portrait" assignment given to me in my MCOM 391 (photojournalism) class, I was at first uncertain of what to do for it. I don't consider it cheating to be given a photo assignment at the The Towerlight that happens to also be my homework. Just coincidence. Right?

One of these days I'm going to plan ahead and have a friend let me do a portrait of him during a sunset here at Towson. They are remarkable, particularly from the viewpoint of the window in the lounge on my floor.

I also have to mention that the passion and enthusiasm that my Photojournalism teacher, Monica Lopossay, brings to the class is extremely, might I say uber inspiring. The way she talks about watching people and their actions and expressions, and the way people interact with one another and being able to capture that all is almost enlightening. It's doing well to guide me in choosing a major. I love it.

-Later-