Correct me if I'm wrong; Portrait - vs - Candid

When I see a thread titled "Portrait" or a title that includes the word "portrait", I'm given an immediate expectation. I'm expecting to see a portrait.

Now, I define a portrait as an intentionally posed subject where the face is the focal point or dominant part of the image. If you take out a dollar bill, of any denomination, you will see an example of what I call a textbook portrait. The portrait can also convey some sort of emotion or feeling as a secondary objective, or added bonus, if you will.

A candid, on the other hand, in my estimation, is an impromptu photo that is unplanned, un-posed, and can be fleeting. By all means, a face can be the dominating subject of the candid photo and it can also convey feelings/emotions. But it is the unplanned, un-posed aspect of the photo that separates it from a portrait.

That being said, I see quite often, images on DPS titled "portrait", when I open the thread, what I end up with, is a candid. My expectations have already been let down.

Am I being too sensitive or nit-picky? Am I totally off-based in my assessment?

[gturner]

No, you are quite right, but I think it is a case of "suck it up" on this one.
I have almost given up viewing them for this reason, most are happy snaps

[Biomech]

I'd agree with those ideologies. But I do have some "candid" shots that heavily fall into the "portrait" arena. :P

[phaither]

i'm no expert, but that's what i thought too. portrait= studio or other purposeful setting with people posing for the camera. right?

[Biomech]

How about this. This is a homeless woman, dancing in a street, shot from the hip (no cropping :O I know!) as I walked past - she actually had no teeth. Candid or Portrait?

[Jim Poor]

Candid Portrait.


-or-

Lifestyle Portrait,

How about this. This is a homeless woman, dancing in a street, shot from the hip (no cropping :O I know!) as I walked past - she actually had no teeth. Candid or Portrait?

Technically, based on your preamble describing her as "dancing in the street" and "shot from the hip" makes it a candid.

Now, if your preamble indicated that you had intentionally posed this beautiful woman, it would be a portrait, as it clearly embodies the fundamental definition of a portrait - whereas the face is the dominant subject and this also conveys a feeling.

So, your preamble betrays it as a candid. But you could have presented it as a portrait.

Nice reply by the way!

[harish sutar]

For this reason, in photography a portrait is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still position. A portrait often shows a person looking directly at the painter or photographer, in order to most successfully engage the subject with the viewer.

Copied from wikipedia..!!

But what I think..its like macro vs. close up.
So I don't want to start "portrait vs. candid"
To me what matters is the PHOTO!

[wulf]

It is only a label and usage shows a wide range of variance, however much you would like each word to have a neat line around its meaning. For example, I would agree that a portrait involves a certain degree of preparation but I view what it conveys about who the subject is as more important than necessarily providing a clear shot of their face. Or where would you place a shot where you have carefully selected a location, angle and lighting but then wait for someone to wander into the right location to take the shot (example)?

Wulf

[cherrygirl]

I use the term environmental portrait....I use this term everyday in my job as a newspaper photographer. Basically is means a portrait of a person in their environment...which my paper uses for feature type stories. So it is a posed, planned set shot...totally different than a candid or snapshot.


I believe there is a HUGE different in portrait and candid.