Comments on: D66: I’m a People Person

By: Karen R.

Karen R. — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 01:03:33 +0000

Hi Tasra! I like your pic today, AND what you have to say! I actually consider myself a people-person in every sense of both of your definitions… I love getting to know people, I love spending time with all sorts of people, AND, I love taking pictures of all sorts of people. I've been thinking that I need to do a post on the portraits I've taken over the years of people “on the street” — especially old men. I LOVE their faces!

Also… interesting about the hue/saturation adjustment comment. I took a class once, and I don't remember who said it, but studies show that people who live on the West Coast tend to prefer cooler-toned images, whereas people who live on the East Coast tend to prefer warmer-toned images. It may be an influence of where we live — we get SO much sun and golden light on the West Coast, that we like to see something a little different in our images, and vice-versa for those on the East Coast. Interesting, isn't it?

Have a wonderful time with Scott and your photowalk. Enjoy!

By: tasra

tasra — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:39:21 +0000

Brian – you're a people person by the conventional definition and my revised definition. That's a gift!

By: tasra

tasra — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:38:49 +0000

Shoot from the hip. Read about lomography. The two combined will give you a new perspective on what you can do. Don't pigeon hole yourself by saying you suck at portraits. Redefine what portraits are to you… they don't have to be stiff pictures in a studio or people on the street. Figure out what it means for you, what you want to capture, then go out and practice until your output matches your vision. You are more than able to do that. I know it!

By: tasra

tasra — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:37:17 +0000

Post processing in Lightroom. For the main image, I used a preset called Hardrocker. It's free from Presets Heaven. But I pull back the intensity and use Recovery so that the colors are more true.

By: tasra

tasra — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:35:38 +0000

Thanks Chase! Hope you're keeping yourself encouraged along your own journey. Let me know how I can help!

By: tasra

tasra — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:35:12 +0000

Me too! How about next year? Same place, same month.

By: tasra

tasra — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:34:56 +0000

Photographers, artists, musicians, creatives in general seem to most frequently struggle with that issue. Who knows why that is? I certainly don't. But the way you describe it as an ache to capture what we really see is an apt description. I'm learning to shoot from the hip literally so people are less aware of me. It's a strategy Joe Buissink mentioned in his talk at the conference I attended. I used that strategy when necessary during this shoot.

By: tasra

tasra — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:33:03 +0000

You are so right Steve. It's like venturing into the unknown wielding an instrument that allows us to stop time and capture the essence of a human. Then we return to a place where we can process what we saw. One cannot exist without the other.

By: Josh Nelson

Josh Nelson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:00:43 +0000

The timing of this photo is so cool. I really love the expressions on each person's face; they're each so unique and full of life.
Keep up the great work on your 365 day challenge. I'm loving the results I see on your blog.

By: steveinskeep

steveinskeep — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:18:12 +0000

Great perspective on what it means to be a people person, Tasra. I think the more we get out there and capture people in their natural environment, the more extroverted we become. This may be since we temporarily become a part of their environment. Then it is back to some alone time reading a book.

Great image with lots of emotion!