I think one of the reasons I've avoided taking pictures of the human face is because sometimes people just aren't very photogenic and I've had a "slight" fear of upsetting someones feelings. I've been trying different techniques that has helped eliminate the problem of non-photogenic faces. Filters and other on camera tricks help somewhat, as do post photo computer tricks... however I'm trying to take photos that do not require "tricks" and just relying on natural lighting and expression of the person or thing being photographed. Here are some samples of some of the photos I've taken while trying to become more of a "face photographer". You'll probably be seeing more and more of these kinds of photos over the next months (along with my usual landscape, and nature scenes). .
Footnote: Here is a quote I read recently by Roald Dahl, The Twits.....“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose... but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” Maybe that is a reason I've avoided portrait of people.... I might have been looking at what the World considers a perfect exterior and not remembering that the true value (beauty) of a person lies within their good character. Trying to keep up with what others would consider beauty really was difficult as we're bombarded so much in the photography world with perfection and not enough character in a face. You can look at a beautiful face and feel emptiness... or see kindness and compassion in an old withered face that has experienced much. Over the next few months I'm going to be working on rediscovering that beauty in faces I photograph. One can only try....
