Challenges

From time to time, the group is set a challenge and the photographer is required to produce a set of photographs that demonstrates their perception of the task.

Portrait Challenge

See all the portraits here

Shelley Mackereth reports on the latest group portrait challenge...

Our latest challenge was set to give us some practice at shooting portraits for our forthcoming exhibition in June. We were partnered up with another group member to photograph and had to bring our favourite portrait of the other person to a group meeting in two months.

Brig and I had arranged to take each others photos one Saturday morning but as I arrived looking forward to the shoot I started feeling a little nervous... the little experience I've had in the past of specifically taking portraits has mainly with my friends children, but these seemed easy the children either just did whatever they wanted or took great pleasure in showing off in front of the camera. Directing an adult is a completely different kettle of fish.

I had put a some thought before hand into what I thought I wanted to try, having seen some striking images of Kevin Spacey promoting the play 'Inherit the Wind' at the Old Vic at the beginning of the year - I wanted to try to copy this style and create a pin-sharp, close up shots really highlighting the subjects features. But I hadn't thought at all about how I was going to achieve this and worse still, if it was actually the right approach for photographing Brig.

We had a cup of tea and chatted a bit about what we wanted to do and Brig told me that she wanted to include one of her favourite photography books, The Unretouched Woman by Eve Arnold in her portrait. So realising I had been a bit ambitious with my ideas and needed to adapt my approach, I had a flick through to see what had inspired Brig so much. Eve Arnold is a great photographer and really has an eye to capture the very essence of women and her work is touching and has a great honesty.

So with the new 'brief' in mind I started shooting, and focused on some new objectives. Firstly obviously to incorporate the book into the photo in a way which made it seem special to Brig and I also tried to make Brig's eyes imitate those of the lady on the front cover. Secondly, I wanted to a positive outlook and determination like some of the portraits.

Brig is not a big fan of being on the other side of the lens, so I knew I had to make her feel as comfortable as possible by trying to make it fun and encourage her as I have done with the children in the past, but I also think it helped having the book there for her to hold on to, almost for support.

I took about 50 shots before I felt I had enough to work with before swapping places so she could take my portrait.

Even from such a short exercise I learnt a lot. About the need to be well prepared and how I should have studied at other images which would have matched my subject, rather than trying to replicate an inappropriate style. About keeping it light hearted and not too staged really helped, and finding the most flattering angle to shoot from was also important. And also about being more prepared for the environment. But the main thing was that it was great fun and has really inspired me to give it a go again.