A Look at Urban Portraiture
In this post portrait photographer Christina Dickson tackles the topic of Urban Portraiture.
Within the photography world it is commonly expressed that the camera may be used to bridge the gap between people. In my own experience, I never fully realized this truth until this month.
This March, I have had the experience of becoming a street portraitist. Over a span of five weeks, I took to the streets of Portland for 3-5 hours every day, taking portraits of the homeless street community. I was not out to practice my portrait photography in a journalistic setting: my mission was personal.
I went out to answer a question that every portraitist must face:
Is it truly possible to capture the beauty of humanity even when one’s subject is a hardened, drug-addicted prostitute? Can I capture a portrait and cause my audience to see past the evidences of meth addiction, the multiple face piercings, and the glazed over eyes of drunkenness?
If I discovered genuine beauty in these individuals, I could prove that no one is “not photogenic” or, on the other side of the spectrum, “beautiful”.
Going into this project, I was warned that the camera would scare people away. So I went into Pioneer Square for a few days, camera on shoulder, and simply sat to talk with the people. I found out who they really were. I saw them shoot up on drugs. I carried on conversations with them as they were recovering from hangovers and highs. Very gradually, my camera became a part of my identity. Because of my relationships with them, the street people were honored that I would share with them such a part of myself.
To successfully shoot these portraits, I had to pull out every technique I learned in school. The surroundings were always different, whether inside a building or outside on the street. I took portraits in the morning, at noon, and at dusk. The weather was always unpredictable: I shot in the rain, in the snow, in the hail, and in the sun.
Here are some of the things that worked for me in this urban setting:
When in the rain:
An umbrella or awnings blocked the water droplets. My reflector mirrored the diffused light of the sky back into my subject’s faces. My camera’s white balance was always set to cloudy for warming skin tones.
When in the sun:
I found shade or used my reflector as a gobo to block the light. If the light was too bright for an even exposure, I deliberately shot for high contrast to achieve an emotional black and white portrait.
When outside:
In just a few short moments I had to analyze the type of individual I was taking portraits of. Were they quiet and reflective, or boisterous and outgoing? Then I would try to match my subject to a fitting environment in the immediate surrounding area. A quiet person may be better suited for a portrait taken alone on a street corner. Someone outgoing could be posed in the middle of a crowd by using a small depth of field. Because of the nature of the environment, I had to always watch for distractions. Vehicles, the MAX line, other pedestrians, and even wildlife could make or break an otherwise stellar portrait.
When inside:
Low light was always an issue. Slow shutter speeds and still subjects were a must for adding more light, but special attention was required for sharp focus. One technique that helped slow shutter speeds and sharp images was shot bursts – taking 3 shots in a row. Generally, my second shot was in focus. Custom white balances were also a necessary evil.
Through this project I have seen that acquiring technical skills is critical to artistic success, but that’s not the end. Master your camera, your techniques, your style, and on a deep level you can show people that they have worth and are beautiful - even when they don’t believe it themselves.
I now have 50 beautiful new portraits of the street culture of Portland. I have acquired deeper photographic skills. I also have a hundred new friends. From this time I am able to pass on this amazing experience to you:
You are able to bring out beauty in anyone who steps in front of your camera.
Anyone.
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I really like this article. There use to be a gallery on Pbase where this guy took photos or different people on benches…he talked about coming out of his comfort zone and hearing the people he took photos of, their stories. It was very interesting. Me, being a girl from the suburbs, get intimidated by homeless people hanging out in the parks…but they are all just people, trying to get by, like the rest of us…lesson learned.
One more thing, here is the link to that pbase gallery…
http://www.pbase.com/thewizardrod/bench_warmers
Great article… do you have the rest of the collection online anywhere? Would really like to see more shots from this set.
wow, these portraits are truly amazing. i agree with lori — i am intimidated by homeless people and try to avoid them at all cost. but these portraits and your article make me view them in a different light. thank you for this article!
For me, this is what photography is all about. It’s as if we create photographs that are visual report cards that record the current status of mankind. Each image makes a statement that we are unique human beings and that we all count for something…
A timely article as I just posted an article on taking portraiture shots of street people.
http://niels-henriksen.blogspot.com/2008/04/do-you-love-your-subjects-man-on-bench.html
From the article it is important to spend time getting to know your subjects and the recommendation to always try a take photos of people on the street in their best light or human quality.
Niels Henriksen
Wow, this was a great post. Thanks for the inspiration.
When I’m outside, I prefer candid portraits. Check out some of my stuff at
http://flickr.com/photos/trentreznor/sets/72157603956492303/
I really like non-staged photos and don’t actually walk up to people to ask them permission.
This is just what i needed!
I m currently working on 100strangers project, just like this one for some similar reason! And of course i love meeting new ppl, and having a laught!
Best article so far, my images will be posted on my blogg
http://blackerphotography.blogspot.com/
Thanks alot!
Great article. I was actually shooting in Portland on Saturday, when we were going from Eugene to Pullman for college visits. I didn’t get too many shots, but it was fun none the less.
You were shooting street-esque shots. It’s not necessarily street just because of technicalities, but the advice given to street photogs by street photogs should be the same for “urban portraiture.” Anyways, here is a great book that was written by Chris Weeks, probably one of the *best* street photographers alive today. He brought Street Photography out of the dark on deviantART and continues to be the best at it.
Here is his online book, which is a compimation of some great street photos, (not every one is his, actually most are others), some forwards by other great photographers, and basically a user’s manual for street. Definantly required reading for any street photographer:
Street Photography for the Purist:
http://cweeks.deviantart.com/art/Street-Photography-38038974
Chris Weeks’ deviantART page:
http://cweeks.deviantart.com
He’s a great photographer, and definantly someone that everyone who likes photography, street or not, should see.
A moving and inspirational article; the best I’ve ever read on this site. You have so motivated me to examine my own photography and how I go about shooting. Excellent! Thank you!
I needed this, because this is my worst subject.
Congratulations! Not many would venture into such an experience, humanity really IS worth it. Any plans on publishing your photos and experiences over those 5 weeks (if not online, maybe a blurb book or the like)? I’d be one of those interested in that. Thank you for the great post.
Nice post Darren. It is welcome to see that you are challenging different aspects of blogging and digital media.
I have always found myself fascinated with urban photography. Especially the poor and the homeless. Because it amazes me to bring out the beauty of people who are feeling like they are at the lowest points of their lives. Shots like these inspire me to be a photographer not for money, but for artistry.
nice shot. i love it. beautiful indeed
great post and informative. i really need to increase my skill in photographing people!
OMG - this is so awesome. It’s like when someone invents something, I always think - I thought of that a long time ago - why didnt I do something about it. This is something I’ve always wanted to do but didnt have the courage to. Thank you so much for sharing.
Did you shoot the images in Portland or Seattle? I noticed you mentioned Pioneer Square and I didn’t know if you were talking about the one in Seattle or if there was one in Portland also.
I only ask because I wonder if safety was ever an issue?
Minolta Maxxum 7D and 7 w/ Vertical grips
lenses:
Sigma 28-80 Aspherical Macro HF
Sigma 70-300 DL Macro Super
Minolta AF 20…personal fav.
Kenko MC7 Teleconverter x2 (only for those hard to reach places.)
Minolta 5600hs (D)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahlston/
Bravo Christina…fresh, dynamic work…love your site. Keep going girl, you’ve got talent…Cheers..Rob
Did you have someone to help you manage the reflector? Or if not, how do you manage that by yourself?
great article. l hesitate to speak to the homeless because l sometimes feel l should respect their dignity but since reading this article l will diffinitely give it a try.
Thank you so much for sharing this article and photos.These have to be my favourite types of photos and I always admire those who have what it takes to create thme. I would love just a tiny portion of your courage because I can’t imagine meeting strangers in this way. You’ve inspired me to move closer to doing it, though! I’d love to see more, pleeeeeese!
Cheers Marg
I love these!
Thank you all for the encouragement! You can go to this site and see a gallery full of portraits just like these! I hope they both challenge and inspire you!
Please please please think of what you’re doing before grabbing your camera with the idea of capturing the urban homeless on film. I live in Chicago, and the number of times the homeless are asked to pose for a student or tourist who wants to see “humanity” and all that is absolutely appalling. Rather than respecting their humanity, it sometimes is little more than glorified objectification of The Other.
Obviously, individuals can speak for themselves about whether they are okay with having their picture taken. I just think people should stop and THINK about what they are trying to accomplish before raising the viewfinder to their eye.
I believe you have brought attention to people who have been dealt something, without choice and without control, that most of us don’t know or care to understand. This could be any of us in a split second from a bad choice or bad luck, God forbid. Photography is meant, to me anyway, to catch and show someone else that there is another realm of us as a whole, as human beings. Obviously I am most touched by faces and people and with these particular faces are experiences that need to be studied, respected and mostly understood for the good of everyone on the planet. Bless you for putting yourself out there and catching what you caught.
Amazing, as always. Your article is well-written and concise. thanks for sharing!
re cmment by Jen April 29th.
As a world traveler I empathize with Jen’s comments. I do not know the answer but one thing for sure is photographing the homeless or those less fortunate than ourselves for the sake of taking a photograph is surely immoral.
My approach to this is by contacting groups who help support either the homeless or indigenous people and get their advice. NO means NO, but on the other hand I have a series of photographs from a remote Peruvian village which are not for publication but were given to all the village families who had no photographic history whatsoever. My best work ever, but for private viewing rather than exploitation.
douglas nelson