Week Eight

Something that we discussed in class this week that I found very interesting is environmental portraiture. It refers to when a photographer photographs his subject in their natural environment or a place where they feel comfortable. It's amazing how easy it is to tell when someone is being photographed in their home versus when they've been photographed in a studio. People look so much less posed when they've been shot at home. I think in most cases photographers try to make their subjects as comfortable as possible when they are being shot. The whole profession of modeling is about one's ability to look at ease in front of the camera. On America's Next Top model the contestants are constantly be scolded for not looking comfortable enough. The models will often times be told that their arm looks awkward or that they have a strained look on their face. I wonder we are so concerned with looking happy and comfortable? I can understand that when someone has their portrait taken or has a family portrait taken they want to be remember as they really were which is generally not posed. My favorite pictures of myself were caught in the moment when I was in the middle of laughing or talking. I think they look more like me and capture more of my personality. Last year, my mom made my sister and I get our pictures taken at a studio for Christmas cards and we looked so stiff in them. My boyfriend made the comment that we didn't look like ourselves.