This week, Ritva asks us to focus on portrait photography. Her post is an excellent lesson in portrait photography for people like me who are especially uncomfortable with the genre. She writes, “Emotions are at the heart of great portraits. Rather than just photographing faces, try to capture genuine emotions that tell a story.” You can read her entire challenge post here.
I’m uncomfortable with portraiture, but I’ve tried candid and posed portraits over the years. In 2019, before the COVID shutdown, we went on a Mexican Riviera cruise. On our stop in Cabo San Lucas, I saw this busker playing and singing, yet his eyes seemed to concentrate on something else.
On a 2007 cruise, we stopped at Tabuaeran Island in the Republic of Kiribati, about 1,200 miles (2,000 km) south of the Hawaiian Islands. The locals on the island always put on a show for our excursion. I wandered behind the stage and found one of the performers caring for his little brother before his performance.
At a family wedding in the spring of 2012, I noticed two guests wore black-and-white print dresses. The occasion called for a black-and-white portrait. The California sun created harsh light so I set up the shot under a large shade tree and used a fill flash to illuminate their faces.
In 2006, we were in Mazatlan, Mexico, at an outdoor restaurant listening to a mariachi band. I took a few snapshots of the band, and when I got home to edit the images, I noticed this guitarist’s expression. I cropped the image to focus on his emotion of being lost in the music they were playing. I tried a black-and-white version of the image, and the treatment definitely enhanced the photo’s mood.
At a Native-American Powwow in Bismarck, North Dakota, I was struck by this young man’s haircut. I asked his permission to take a photo, and he freely gave it. This photo is one of the few examples of side portraits I found for her challenge.
On a 2020 cruise to Roatan, Honduras, I walked toward the back of a jade shop and saw a craftsman working on bases for jade jewelry. He noticed me and posed as I captured this portrait. Even though most of his face is covered, I could see the smile in his eyes.
Ritva’s suggestion of animal portraits reminded me of a trip to Costa Rica where we visited an animal rescue sanctuary. The birds and animals are caged because they cannot fend for themselves in the wild. The forlorn look on his face told me all I needed to know about how he felt about his incarceration.
I went to the zoo in Phoenix last year to test a new (to me) lens I eventually took to Africa. The series of photos I captured at the zoo told me the used lens I bought had no issues.
This cute and cuddly red panda is not nearly as friendly as it looks. It can have a temperament that is definitely not cuddly, and he is related to weasels, raccoons, and badgers. If you don’t believe me, look at those claws.
This goose was in the care of the Red River Zoo in Fargo. Though the chain-link fence in the background implies otherwise, he was wandering around the grounds freely and on the same side of the barrier as we were. They say in portraits that you should focus on the eye. I nailed this focus. You can see my reflection in his eye.
I have many portraits of animals in the zoo because close-ups are easier to manage than portraits in the wild. I did have a few portrait images from our trip to Africa. Here are two of them.
Though I recently shared this photo in a previous challenge, it is one of my best animal portraits. Good shots of leopards in the wild were hard for us to come by as they hide pretty well when they don’t want to be seen. On one of the last days of our photo safari in Kruger National Park, I finally got a good view of two leopard cubs.
That’s all for my portraits of people and animals. Last week, Anne challenged us to share life’s changes, and I enjoyed reading about how so many people’s lives have been changed by photography or other personal discoveries. Next week, Tina hosts the challenge. Follow her here so you don’t miss her challenge post on Saturday at noon Eastern time. If you’ve thought about joining in the challenge responses but aren’t sure how to get started, check here.
John Steiner
Journeys with Johnbo 
Some great examples here, John. I especially like the two brothers- the expressions are very ‘real’ to me. And marmoset and tiger cub are outright winners xx
Thanks, Jo!
John your portraits are wonderful thoughtful and they capture an emotion, which is so important. Your animal shots are so wonderful you certainly have captured them beautifully – with the focus on the eyes.
Thanks, Ritva! You taught me something. I looked with trepidation on this challenge because I thought I didn’t have many portrait photos to choose from.
I found a lot more than I thought I would. I even started posting some on Instagram for this week.
I have noticed that, happy to have inspired you 😀
Wow! Great collection of portraits!
All are wonderful but the first photo of the busker is my favorite — instant classic.
Thanks, Nes! I found that I really like black-and-white conversions for portraiture.
Lots of excellent portraits here John 🙂 I think my favourites are the first two, plus the craftsman in Honduras, the baboon, red panda and leopard cub!
Thanks, Sarah! The two boys is one of my personal favorites, completely candid.
Great photos John. The mariachi monochrome worked well. 👏
Thanks, John! Black and white can really improve the mood of a photo.
Wonderful portraits John! My favorites are the two brothers, the busker, and the zoo photos.
Thanks, Anne.
You seem to do just fine with portraits John. The first image is fantastic and the two brothers.
Thank you! I appreciate the compliment!
It’s a wonderful collection, John. I like the musicians you captured – even though their focus seems to be elsewhere. But my favourite is the Honduran craftsman. The look he gives you (or the camera?) is so inquisitive but also kind of cautious.
Thanks! Both of those musicians were on autopilot with their hands while their minds were elsewhere. 🙂
A wonderful series of portraits John and the monochromes work especially well ☺️
Thanks, Xenia!
Wonderful human portraits. I think I like the leopard best of the animals!
Thanks, Nora!
Lovely portraits. Like many of the people who played along this week, you have striking portraits even though its not a form you work on.
Thanks, I. J.!
John, these are great. The guy with the skilled craftsman shot is superb 👏
Thanks, Steve!
Dear John
We especially like your first picture and the native American haircut. But all your pictures are great. Thanks for showing.
Wishing you a happy weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you!
Great portraits, John. The kids, workers, and wildlife were expertly captured with your eye. I gotta say, though, that the two musicians photos are fantastic I loved those.
Thanks, Egidio! I enjoyed finding and sharing these portraits for the challenge.
Wow, you should have been a portrait photographer. These are beyond fabulous. They all have so much personality. I can’t even name a favorite – animal or human, they are all strikingly different. Well done, Johnbo.
Thank you, Marsha!
Well deserved, my friend. I thought they couldn’t get any better than the human subjects, then you started in on the animals. They are so telling.
Love these, especially the first one – such a character, perfectly captured
Great variety John – I love your family image and the two little island boys. Of course your leopard is gorgeous!
Thanks, Tina!
Wide range of portraits from many different places. They are fantastic John. The animals and birds are great too.
Thanks, Leanne!
Excellent and intriguing portraits, John! Both humans and animals. Well done.
Thanks, Ann-Christine!
I agree with Ann-Christine. I also found both sets, human and animals, equally wonderful.
Thanks, Sofia!