Part 3B: RELATIONAL PORTRAIT -- "Strangers and Family”

Goal: Your goal for this project is to explore the idea of identity and portraiture. Can you photograph another person in a way that reveals something about them to the viewer? Can you capture the essence of those close to you or do you need the objectivity of distance to see them as they truly are? You will do this by creating photographs of other people—both strangers and family. 
Your final images should be well exposed with sharp focus, and processed in Photoshop as PSD files. Pay attention to your composition and quality of light!
For this project, you will be making portraits of both strangers (people you do not know) and family. You will divide your shooting up into 2 weeks: 1 weekend for strangers and the week of Thanksgiving break for family.

See below for examples of photographers who make portraits of both strangers and family.

The photograph of someone you know (family) should reveal a private moment they would not share with just anyone. The photograph should demonstrate the photographer knows the subject and has privileged access to their life that a stranger or acquaintance would not. 

The portrait of someone you do not know will push you to be outgoing and win the trust of strangers. These are skills you will have to learn if you ever hope to be a documentary photographer, photojournalist or commercial photographer. People have to feel comfortable opening up to you. 
Consider location and props along with the technical aspects of lighting and composition when making these images. How can time of day, something the subject is wearing, or their location tell us something about the person? For this portion of the project, it will be helpful to try and create ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS. Think how the background/room/store/street/etc., tells the viewer who your subject is. This will make it easier for you to approach your subjects ("Excuse me, Starbucks barista, would you mind letting me photograph you for my photography class? Yes? Great! Please stand here next to ..... in this light..... looking this direction...tell me about yourself.") 

When you are photographing strangers, please make sure that you are doing so under adult supervision. Have your parents drive you to Starbucks, a park, The Pearl, etc. Choose a location where many people will be out and about. Have your parents or an adult be nearby while you work.

IMPORTANT! Read these Guidelines: 

What counts as a stranger?
  • No one, absolutely no one, who goes to TMI, works at TMI, has gone to TMI, or has siblings that go to TMI.
  • No friend of a friend or brother of a friend who you've never met. If you know they exist in the world, they are not stranger enough for this project.
  • Someone above the age of 14.
  • Human (in other words, no animals or inanimate objects) 
Other guidelines:
  • Direct your subjects. Don't just say, "do something." "Be yourself." This often makes your subject feel even more nervous.
  • Get shots of your subject where they are not smiling. Smiling is a defense mechanism, and usually people smile when they are uncomfortable and being photographed. Remember, your goal is authenticity and truth in your subjects.
  • Try stores, coffee shops, and restaurants—generally customer service workers are friendly and willing.
  • Tell them you are a student and need help for a project—this will soften their defenses.
  • Be kind, smile, and ask before shooting. Be approachable.
  • Respect them if they say no, say thank you anyway, and move on to the next person. You WILL receive lots of no's, and that's ok!
  • Do NOT go anywhere alone—be safe. But, SHOOT alone. In other words, do not have a friend or classmate standing with you as you are shooting. You can/should go to a location together, but then spread out and find your subjects and ways of portraying them that are unique to you.
  • The subject does not have to be looking at you, but it is better if they are looking at you (your photograph will likely be much more powerful). Looking away, looking down, hiding their face— these are all defense mechanisms. Urge them to look at you without their default smile or pose.
  • Aim for at least 10-12 separate strangers. Take multiple photos of each (one smiling first, then one natural, then one goofy, whatever establishes their trust so that they will reveal themselves to you).
  •  Find a location with good light FIRST, and then direct your subjects into that space. 
  • Unless they are intentionally environmental portraits, backgrounds can be distracting (random people or cars or phone poles photobombing will NOT get you a good grade). 

BE CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN!
DUE DATES:
Monday, 12/2/1819: 100 images (minimum) shot of family (close friends count too).
  1. Create a Project 3B folder on your flash drive or external drive.
  2. Import your images to your flash or external drive and batch rename them lastname_firstname_P3B_family_1, 2, 3, etc.
  3. Create a contact sheet in class and upload it to Google Drive under your Project 3B folder. Label your contact sheet lastname_firstname_p3B_cs_family. Due by MIDNIGHT on Monday, 12/2/19.

​Monday, 12/9/19: 50 images (minimum) shot of strangers (people you do not know).
  1. Create a Project 3B folder on your flash drive or external drive.
  2. Import your images to your flash or external drive and batch rename them lastname_firstname_P3B_stranger_1, 2, 3, etc.
  3. Create a contact sheet in class and upload it to Google Drive under your Project 3B folder. Label your contact sheet lastname_firstname_p3B_cs_stranger. Due by MIDNIGHT on Monday, 12/9/19.

 Friday , 12/13/19:  You will turn in 6 final PSD files, processed in Photoshop. Upload these to Google Drive under your Project 3B folder.
  • 3 edited final Stranger portraits labeled lastname_firstname_P3B_final_stranger_1, etc.
  • 3 edited final Family portraits labeled lastname_firstname_P3B_final_family_1, etc.

STRANGERS

AUGUST SANDER

RICHARD RENALDI

ALEC SOTH

VIVIAN MAIER

FAMILY

JESSICA TODD HARPER

NICHOLAS NIXON

SIAN DAVEY