I think as photographer’s and perhaps more so, portrait photographers, the decision on who to photograph and where, is usually our choice. Obviously, I have limited experience with this particular style of photography, but would assume that the subjects’ usually have very little say, or understanding, regarding the photographic process they are involved with. It would be interesting to know how many photography projects take into consideration a collaborative effort between both the photographer and their subject, where discussions are made pre-shoot, to determine such things as a location of significant importance and possible themes. This is why this exercise excited me, as the portrait’s I have created in the past disregarded all of that. I was curious to find out, having already discussed with my subjects’ what they wanted included in their portraits and why, whether or not, the process would be easier and ultimately, would the portraits’ offer something different in regards to how the subjects’ appear in the image. What I mean by this is, would there be a noticeable difference in how an individual presents themselves if they were photographed in a location that meant something to them personally.
The theme that I chose to represent my three portraits was ‘happiness’, and asked each of my subjects’, “Where brings you the most happiness and why?” It was interesting to see the reaction when I asked them this and I was surprised each gave me an answer so quickly, as I believe most people can instantaneously tell you what their happiest moment is and when it happened, but rarely consider which place gives them such contentment.
We discussed in length a particular location where they would like to be photographed and why this was their ‘happy’ place. A couple of my subjects’ were very specific about this, which was fantastic, as I felt they were really getting involved with the process. We talked about how we could incorporate the surroundings into their portraits’, to make them more meaningful and correspondent to their feelings of ‘happiness’. Once we arrived at the location, it was my job as the photographer to choose the best composition, whilst trying to include my subject’s requirements in regards to what they wanted to be included in their image. I actually gave them very little direction, as I wanted the process, and fundamentally, their captured expressions, to be as natural as possible. I did ask them before I started photographing them, “to think about why we are here and the happiness it brings you”. I found this helped my subjects’ to relax and I could see after a few seconds of deep thought that their expressions had changed, as they allowed the feeling on contentment to consume their bodies. As I believed this feeling could only truly be felt briefly, I purposely chose to take a few images and no more.
This is a portrait of my mother. The place which makes her happiest is our family home. She specifically chose the sitting room, as this is the room she has the fondest memories of ‘family life’.
This is a portrait of my good friend, George. He loves nothing more than being outside in the wilderness. The location he chose was the Pentland Hills. He specifically chose this spot, to depict the two things that make him happiest – fishing and hill walking. Loganlea Reservoir – seen to his right – is where he caught his first fish.
This is a portrait of Jade. The location she chose were the ruins of Saint Anthony’s Chapel. This is the place she comes to write music, specifically about Edinburgh, and feels happiest doing that here, as the magnificent views across the city inspire her to write her best material.
Iain Barbour - BA (Hons) Photography 