Taking a great portrait is more than just taking a quick snap of a face. It requires thoughtful contemplation and a variety of choices by the photographer. We'll examine a collection of photographs that illustrate various principles of portrait photography and that will help students to understand the parts of a digital artifact. 

LENS 1 | One lens to consider when looking at an artifact is its context and the impression it gives you. Using "see, think, wonder" strategies, we consider:

• What do you see?
• What do you think about it?
• What makes you say that -- what evidence is there for that - on what are you basing your opinion?
• What does it make you wonder?
• Why does something look the way it does or the way it is?

LENS 2 | Analyzing great photographs to provide inspiration for your own photography pursuits 

What makes a strong image?

• angles (eye-level, high angle, low angle, and bird's eye);
• light and shadow;
• framing;
• shot length (long-shot, medium-shot, close-up, & extreme close-up);
• mood--capturing a feeling or emotion in a photograph; 
• scale--how big or small subjects look; and
• sense of place--capturing the feeling of a place. 

Click into each photo and on the "paper clip" annotation icon to read more information (metadata!)

We will then discuss publishing guidelines and other policies that will help students make their best collections.

Tags: portrait photography, decision-making, self-determination, student empowerment, Project Zero