I think you can plausibly argue that a headshot has no "formal" nature to it. Its got no background, no "pose" its just a shot to show what a person looks like without any extraneous factors. (not that this is the *only* perspective on the matter, but its one).
head shots are of course portraits. it is all about lighting, expression, mood. look at the eyes in the portrait above, and notice I call it a portrait.
head shots are of course portraits. it is all about lighting, expression, mood. look at the eyes in the portrait above, and notice I call it a portrait.
and I wouldn't call that a head shot, I'd call it a portrait too. A head shot is a fairly specific style of actor type casting image or those found in a passport.
Portraits at least to me are much much broader and more revealing than just a picture of someone's head.
If it's a head shot like that for a passport, then I would agree, it's not a portrait. Seems to me, that if a headshot is revealing character or insight about the person, then we can call it a portrait.
If it's a head shot like that for a passport, then I would agree, it's not a portrait. Seems to me, that if a headshot is revealing character or insight about the person, then we can call it a portrait.
If it's a head shot like that for a passport, then I would agree, it's not a portrait. Seems to me, that if a headshot is revealing character or insight about the person, then we can call it a portrait.
If it's a head shot like that for a passport, then I would agree, it's not a portrait. Seems to me, that if a headshot is revealing character or insight about the person, then we can call it a portrait.
So passport photos are supposed to conceal some insight about the person's character? How counter-productive ...
Whether a "headshot" "qualifies" as a "portrait" is a completely subjective judgement, for which there can never be an objective scale on which we all agree.
So what is the exact ratio of head to body that we should shoot in order to meet the challenge? I wanna make sure I get it right so that the pixel-counting 'has to meet the exact wording of the challenge' voters have nothing to complain about.
If it's a head shot like that for a passport, then I would agree, it's not a portrait. Seems to me, that if a headshot is revealing character or insight about the person, then we can call it a portrait.
So passport photos are supposed to conceal some insight about the person's character? How counter-productive ...
Whether a "headshot" "qualifies" as a "portrait" is a completely subjective judgement, for which there can never be an objective scale on which we all agree.
and.. shortly after my agreement post, the voice of reason speaks. Thanks GeneralE, you have a way of showing me the "other side of things" when I am making snap decisions. :)
there is no exact ratio... it could include only part of the face or all of the body with a background. and anything in between/.
Originally posted by bod:
So what is the exact ratio of head to body that we should shoot in order to meet the challenge? I wanna make sure I get it right so that the pixel-counting 'has to meet the exact wording of the challenge' voters have nothing to complain about.
So what is the exact ratio of head to body that we should shoot in order to meet the challenge? I wanna make sure I get it right so that the pixel-counting 'has to meet the exact wording of the challenge' voters have nothing to complain about.
This website found through a quick search on Yahoo! has examples of various portrait shots. Not all are formal in the aspect that they aren't in a studio enviornment.
So what is the exact ratio of head to body that we should shoot in order to meet the challenge? I wanna make sure I get it right so that the pixel-counting 'has to meet the exact wording of the challenge' voters have nothing to complain about.
I have to do some of these this week for some forms.
Might as well just enter them - they are bound to be wonderful portraits and really fit the challenge then. Must be an automatic 10 I assume.
Point is - just because it 'meets the challenge' doesn't mean that it is really to the essence of what a good portrait actually is about - which is showing the character of a person, perhaps capturing and sharing a bit of their personality.
Some of the best portraits I've seen would certainly never be allowed on a passport.
So passport photos are supposed to conceal some insight about the person's character? How counter-productive ...
A passport photo is absolutely not meant to show anything about a person's character. In fact, they have fairly strict guidelines to minimise any attempt at showing your character. Same with an actor's head shot. They are both supposed to be a very literal represenation of what a person looks like. Which is why I would still say that a head shot is not a (good) portrait. Sure it would technically meet the challenge. But technically meeting the challenge is the lowest common denomintor for entering, not what makes a picture good.
