Instagram Winners - Portraits

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People were the topic of the week with portraits. At some point having a camera, portraits are going to come up that you have to shoot. With the challenge this week it was up to you to put your skills to the challenge with a little help from Toby’s videos and lightroom editing tutorial. Some excellent photos this week, you guys really had some great entries that showed off your skills. For next week, as they say, it’s all in the details and with that your new challenge. We want you to focus on a detail of another subject. An interesting subject has a lot of elements that comprise your photo to tell a story. Focusing on only one plays on that strength as the weight of your photo has now shifted to one aspect of the subject which can tell a story by itself. In the case of Toby's previous work as a wedding photographer, detail photos in weddings show the elements that make the day (like the ring shot) and help add to the big moment. To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_details.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – @Photorectoby Roy – @RoyMcKeeIII Rose -  @Randomcreativeart

Toby’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRSZH8hhmwm/It tells a story and includes a strong portrait - from corner to corner this is a thoughtful photo and that makes it a powerful photo.

Toby’s Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRTJR3Chj3d/That backlit glow so nicely separates the subject from the background and yes she is still exposed wonderfully and the gaze off to the side - wonderful!https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ7thmJAMh6/Nice catchlights, soft lighting wonderful depth of field but I do wish that pineapple wasn’t there.

Roy’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRTJR3Chj3d/This is a great job of balancing the soft golden light with another source yet still getting that nice backlit glow.

Roy’s Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ1ZBExAQ3C/A big part of portraits is that your subject doesn’t have to be looking at the camera. That disconnect can sometimes cause confusion but can be a powerful tool to focus and give context to a photo like this great shot. https://www.instagram.com/p/BRUzbUVB4Im/A nice hiking shot with light almost reaching the point of Rembrandt lighting as you can just start to see the triangle forming on the opposite cheek. I would point out, as Toby normally does, even with trees watch out for odd intersecting lines with your subject as Toby’s going Uncle Martin.

Instagram Winners - Rule of Thirds

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Hitting the fundamentals this week, your goal for composition had you looking to shoot with the rule of thirds. A learning point for some while a bit of practice for others always is great for brushing up on your skills. While mainly landscapes we had some nicely done portraits and other shots that fit the challenge well! For next week’s challenge, you’ll be tackling portraits for a change of pace. Portraits, or a self-portrait, can be tricky as we’re dealing with people. Compared to some of the other subjects we can pick up errors in shooting people quite easily. It’s a harder subject but one you have to get down as eventually, you’ll have to take a photo of a person at some point. Also sorry, introverts, you can do a self-portrait. Watch our helpful videos on this and how to get picture-perfect lighting:

As a reminder, the Lightroom Tutorial Pack has a great tutorial on basic portrait retouching when it comes to doing your editing for this week’s challenge. Also one of the perks for becoming a PRTV member as well. To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_portraits.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – @Photorectoby Roy – @RoyMcKeeIII Rose -  @Randomcreativeart

Toby’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRDp3N7FYhi/Hits all the points of interest and leads the eye nicely following the rule of thirds.

Toby’s Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BREMr6GDNbm/ Love the use of negative space to balance.https://www.instagram.com/p/BRFKtLUj40A/Similar to the last one, the eyes hit those power points and the cat creates negative space to balance.

Roy’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ6u2VyjTIW/You're roughly breaking the foreground into ⅔’s while nicely leading up to the bridge making the last third of your frame. It’s a nice shot.

Roy’s Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRCXnpsjHV3/A nicely lit portrait and it follows the rule of thirds well. Usually holding arms like that detracts but keeping them a bit open makes for a nice friendly pose. https://www.instagram.com/p/BRDp3N7FYhi/A great composition with a lot leading to the mountains focal point but putting that focus on the right third of your photo balances the weight nicely.