Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Importance of Hand Posing
Good Morning! Yesterday I was visiting with a friend who is a model and photographer and she directed me to a link that I have to share with you! My last post was about hands and how they tend to go unnoticed. Well, this link goes.. and pardon the pun.. hand in hand with my post!
http://www.prophotoresource.com/home/item/653-how-to-handle-hands-part-ii.html
This is great for photographers and models alike. It doesn't matter if you are taking a family portrait at a studio or just trying to get a decent one at home, this article is a must read! I also think that the other articles that are listed at the bottom could be quite helpful also. I haven't read them all, but will be when I am done here. The posing one is fantastic, I did get to read that and the one about the positioning of the eyes. Both of those were very informative as well!
Have you ever had your picture taken with friends, just goofing around? Of course you have! What do you do with your hands? Bunny ears, flipping the bird or some other hand gesture? I have been on a shoot with a teenage girl and two of her friends and that is exactly what they did. However, you put those same girls in with a photographer they don't know, and what will you get? Hands down at the sides, possibly in pockets. Hands can make or break a photo just as easily as a body part being cropped out of the shot. Never just hide your hands to avoid the posing problem. There are at least a hundred things you can do with them to enhance the shot, the mood and your experience. Here are a couple tips.
1. Crossing arms LOOSELY across (under) chest with BOTH hands visible and LIGHTLY resting on arms. (this is in that article)
2. Holding an object, or "embracing" one with your hands.
3. The photo above, although was listed on google for DRAWING hands, I still feel it can be lent to photography. If you look at this, you will feel strongly for certain images and therefore could incorporate them into your posing.
4. Women are, (please do not take this in a sexist way, because it isn't meant that way) a "fragile" creature, and I say it this way because we are supposed to appear that way. Appear "dainty". Therefore, our hands should be posed daintily.
5. Men, however, are supposed to be masculine, strong and all that jazz. So, we pose their hands with that in mind. Broader poses, showing more knuckles than a woman.
These are just a couple of points to keep in mind. You can google search HAND POSING and find quite a bit of images and articles on this topic. I am telling you this, you will NOT look at hands the same way again through the lens of your camera.
What are some poses you have used in the past that accentuate the model's features? Or made the photo pop?
I would love to hear from you! KEEP SNAPPIN'!!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
There are things in this life that tend to go unnoticed by so many of us. One of these things are hands. We use our hands how many times a day? Have you ever stopped and looked at someone's hands?
The above picture was taken at the diner where I waitress. The gentleman about to sip his fresh, hot coffee has been around for somewhere near 80 years. His parents met, married and reproduced in the little town that I live in. Jim was a dishwasher for a short period of time at the diner in which this photo was taken. He was also a pressman at the local newspaper. Purple is his favorite color, and happened to be the favorite color of his late wife. Now Jim occupies his time helping at the Wayne County Historical Society, contributing items, stories and ideas to bring local history to everyone willing to listen.
That is just a quick minute read of the many amazing years this man has been through. His hands are still strong, his voice is gruff and raspy from years of smoking. He has a laugh that brings a smile to my face every time I hear it. He has so many stories to tell, that I threaten him with a tape recorder often. Perhaps I should just pick one up, and go bug him. :)
Take a few minutes next time you are at a restaurant... or some other gathering place, and look at people's hands.. notice them.. and try to decide for yourself.. what those hands been through. :)
The above picture was taken at the diner where I waitress. The gentleman about to sip his fresh, hot coffee has been around for somewhere near 80 years. His parents met, married and reproduced in the little town that I live in. Jim was a dishwasher for a short period of time at the diner in which this photo was taken. He was also a pressman at the local newspaper. Purple is his favorite color, and happened to be the favorite color of his late wife. Now Jim occupies his time helping at the Wayne County Historical Society, contributing items, stories and ideas to bring local history to everyone willing to listen.
That is just a quick minute read of the many amazing years this man has been through. His hands are still strong, his voice is gruff and raspy from years of smoking. He has a laugh that brings a smile to my face every time I hear it. He has so many stories to tell, that I threaten him with a tape recorder often. Perhaps I should just pick one up, and go bug him. :)
Take a few minutes next time you are at a restaurant... or some other gathering place, and look at people's hands.. notice them.. and try to decide for yourself.. what those hands been through. :)
Greetings! However you found this blog, thank you for visiting! My purpose for creating a blog is not only to have a creative outlet, but hopefully to share my experiences in the photography world. Opinions matter, as do ideas and feedback. All of it is welcome. We learn from our mistakes, and those made by others.
I am going to finish setting up this blog now. I will be back with some sites and photos as soon as I can. :) Don't forget to find my website at www.wix.com/nikisnaps/ntsphotography
I am going to finish setting up this blog now. I will be back with some sites and photos as soon as I can. :) Don't forget to find my website at www.wix.com/nikisnaps/ntsphotography
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