Portrait for Avatar DPS. Copyright 2013 Leon Winkowski Photography LLC
Although I love fine ales, this is about a different kind of mug. It's your mug, my mug... I'm talking portraiture! My thoughts of what portraiture embodies has always been evolving in my mind. Back in elementary school, when we had our portraits taken, we walked into a little room, the photographer told us to stand with our feet on the bunny ears and smile. I don't know if anyone can corroborate this, but I remember a rabbit ears sticker on the floor that we placed our feet on. Smile, snap... next! This was my initial understanding of what a portrait was. My excuse for not putting a second grade portrait of myself here is that I need to save room for my intended people shots. Yeah, that's the ticket. Not because of my little dumbo ears.
Over the years, I appeared in many bad and goofy portraits during the awkward stages of childhood, like many of us. Then magically, one day you get a good one taken of you. It's a moment of confidence that can be transforming. Some people are naturals, some are shy and need a little coaxing, while others are downright camera-phobic. We have a photo album of my wifes Aunt holding books, birthday presents, and other handy objects in front of her face. I have made it a life long goal to catch her off guard and get a great photo of her.
When going to school for Photography, we had portrait classes where we were taught lighting and posing. We all photographed each other profusely but sometimes models were brought in. Whoa! What a moment of discovery when you first work with someone whose job is to be in front of the camera. They tend to make it easier than making your roommates and classmates look like models. That being said, most of us had great memorable images taken of us by our peers in school.
Once I embarked on my own photographic career, it was in the corporate world, and portraits were initially needed for ID badges, or articles and newsletters requiring a simple head shot. Later, I started taking themed portraits of our CEO for Boxey, the Black Box Monthly newsletter which was basically a small magazine. We propped and posed him as iconic historical figures like Thomas Edison and General Douglas MacArthur . It was a lot of fun and it stretched portraiture beyond it's basic essence. We would also take executive portraits in board rooms and offices.
Having been involved in more product oriented photography than anything for many years, I photographed people with less frequency and turned down many opportunities to take portraits of people. I thought it would be boring and unrewarding. We went on a mission trip to Guatemala in 2007 and I had the distinct opportunity to meet and photograph the people of that poor country as we provided medical and spiritual assistance. Aside from the deep meaningful nature of that trip, it ignited something in me... passion for making images of people. Images that had meaning, or captured their personalities, or showed their plight, or thankfulness, or conveyed something else to the viewer. I will cover that amazing journey in an upcoming article.
Over the years, I appeared in many bad and goofy portraits during the awkward stages of childhood, like many of us. Then magically, one day you get a good one taken of you. It's a moment of confidence that can be transforming. Some people are naturals, some are shy and need a little coaxing, while others are downright camera-phobic. We have a photo album of my wifes Aunt holding books, birthday presents, and other handy objects in front of her face. I have made it a life long goal to catch her off guard and get a great photo of her.
When going to school for Photography, we had portrait classes where we were taught lighting and posing. We all photographed each other profusely but sometimes models were brought in. Whoa! What a moment of discovery when you first work with someone whose job is to be in front of the camera. They tend to make it easier than making your roommates and classmates look like models. That being said, most of us had great memorable images taken of us by our peers in school.
Once I embarked on my own photographic career, it was in the corporate world, and portraits were initially needed for ID badges, or articles and newsletters requiring a simple head shot. Later, I started taking themed portraits of our CEO for Boxey, the Black Box Monthly newsletter which was basically a small magazine. We propped and posed him as iconic historical figures like Thomas Edison and General Douglas MacArthur . It was a lot of fun and it stretched portraiture beyond it's basic essence. We would also take executive portraits in board rooms and offices.
Having been involved in more product oriented photography than anything for many years, I photographed people with less frequency and turned down many opportunities to take portraits of people. I thought it would be boring and unrewarding. We went on a mission trip to Guatemala in 2007 and I had the distinct opportunity to meet and photograph the people of that poor country as we provided medical and spiritual assistance. Aside from the deep meaningful nature of that trip, it ignited something in me... passion for making images of people. Images that had meaning, or captured their personalities, or showed their plight, or thankfulness, or conveyed something else to the viewer. I will cover that amazing journey in an upcoming article.
A photo from the Art Institute days of a great friend and his future wife. We all have binders of negatives of shots of our friends and classmates.
Mentally challenged man in assisted living home, Guatemala. Many of the people here were farmers and had leathery skin from working in the sun. Copyright 2012 Leon Winkowski Photography LLC
In regards to portraiture, the biggest honor I can think of is to take an image of someone that they consider the best photo they have ever had made of them. I have one such photo from my wedding day my good friend Ken took as my new bride Kim and I posed in the back of the car. It was a moment in time that captured the happiness of a young couple beginning their lives together. I have become very fond of outdoor environmental portraits where natural light is judiciously augmented with flash. Thirty some odd years ago my father, who also was a photographer, was telling me to use flash outdoors and that some people will think it's strange. What would he think now, while I hold an odd looking beauty dish reflector out toward the side of someones face on a bright sunny day? He would love it. Remote wireless, infrared, and radio slaved flash units and collapsible reflectors are all tools of the trade now. I still know shooters that never use flash. There's a time and a place for that, but nothing beats the balanced approach of natural and artificial light used in harmony.
This gentleman restores old fire engines. I love the sky and the lighting in this shot where I wanted to capture the pride he has in his work. As the clouds rolled in, I under exposed the sky to look dramatic, which gives the feeling of smoke, adding to the overall theme.
My favorite subject of all time. My wife sits in for lighting and location test shots, so she is never lacking photos. I'm always pointing a camera at her! A line she hears from me often is "Can you stand here for a second?" Click!
Personal portraiture commission. Yes, those are live Monarchs from the butterfly house where she works. She was a great subject and we got excellent shots in many locations.
From Senior and Engagement sessions to Executive Corporate portraits, I can be flexible and creative in getting the images that will capture the essence of whatever it is you are trying to convey. Whether you just want nicely rendered photos of yourselves or you wish to capture a part of your personality, or a hobby, I will work with you to make sure we come up with exactly what you want, and don't be too surprised if we come up with something unexpected together.
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