If you read my blog regularly, you know that one of my favorite photographic subject areas is environmental portraiture.  Always different, always stimulating, and sometimes challenging, this kind of "people photography" leaves a lot more to chance then studio portraiture.  The photographer has to be strong and firm with her or his own vision, but friendly and open, and use equipment as well as conditions to best advantage.   No fill flash was used in any of the images in today's blog.

Once again, it must be said that light is everything.  Isolating light and/or using shade and fill light is one way of making an on-site or environmental portraiture work.  Such is the case in this exterior shot of Jesse Ortiz at Tierra Wools in Los Ojos.

Jesse Ortiz

Clouds and sun were playing games when I shot an image of Julia while she was visiting the United States in conjunction with the film From Zimbabwe to Santa Fe, by doc filmmaker Cristina McCandless.

Julia From Zim

Weaver Joe Bacon seated at his home in Arroyo Seco.  Light from two different windows filled the scene, and white walls acted as diffusers and reflectors.

Joe Bacon at home

Although this is obviously a seriously posed shot of Ashley, I took a number of photographs of her on the Taos Territorial House stairway before capturing the image below. The walls are white, and a west window filled the small space. Some eastern light was also scooting down the first set of stairs at her.

Ashley the bride glamour shot b&W

I am quite envious of photographers who not only make amazing portraits of other people, but are so comfortable with their own beings that they mug and play with the camera when in front of it rather than behind it.  Although I am getting better about having my photograph taken, I am much more comfortable behind the camera, capturing interesting and beautiful faces of the world.  And I do my very best to make those I photograph feel comfortable and make the experience fun.  Being camera comrades, Steve and I have fun shooting.  He, unlike me, is one of those examples of people who are almost as comfortable in front of the camera lens as behind.

Steve holding up wall

And finally, a shot of Fred in Cossack hat and sunglasses.  Lots of reflected light from the surrounding snow.

Fred in Cossack hat-2KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

There are so many images I would love to share with you, but out of respect for either minors or people in private events, I don't feel I can do that in this blog setting.  As photographers, you may struggle with this as well.  So I suppose those are for the pleasure and memory of the people involved and us as photographers.

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image@