I know! He said he would find it extremely difficult to photograph someone he knew well, which would be so hard for photographers who are just starting out. I hardly ever photograph someone I don't know at all, and if I do I at least start with chatting to them to build a rapport. It is so interesting to hear different portrait strategies.
I find it a lot easier to photograph someone i dont know. I may not be really capturing them, as close family knows them but i think i get something true when i shoot someone i dont know. However trying to shoot someone i really really know like my mother i find very difficult. It could be more than she is really uncomfortable in front of the camera, but also i have never taken a portrait of my dad, which id love to as i have many other portraits of men in my life and i want to make a series, and my brother wont really let me shoot him. I shot my grandfather which was easy once i was shooting but approaching him i found very difficult as he is such an old school stern old man, doesn't really deal with peoples emotions very well etc, but im so glad i did it.
Great interview. Interesting comparison of digital vs film. Makes me want to shoot on film more..
ReplyDeleteInteresting how he doesn't communicate with the sitter at all before they get in front of the camera!
ReplyDeleteI know! He said he would find it extremely difficult to photograph someone he knew well, which would be so hard for photographers who are just starting out. I hardly ever photograph someone I don't know at all, and if I do I at least start with chatting to them to build a rapport. It is so interesting to hear different portrait strategies.
ReplyDeleteI find it a lot easier to photograph someone i dont know. I may not be really capturing them, as close family knows them but i think i get something true when i shoot someone i dont know. However trying to shoot someone i really really know like my mother i find very difficult. It could be more than she is really uncomfortable in front of the camera, but also i have never taken a portrait of my dad, which id love to as i have many other portraits of men in my life and i want to make a series, and my brother wont really let me shoot him. I shot my grandfather which was easy once i was shooting but approaching him i found very difficult as he is such an old school stern old man, doesn't really deal with peoples emotions very well etc, but im so glad i did it.
ReplyDelete