Dale Laboratories Newsletter Archive - Tip For Better Portraits: Try Using Obstruction

Do You Want Better Portraits?
Try A Little Obstruction!

Hi ,

The word "obstruction" doesn't have a lot of pleasant connotations.

An obstruction on a road means getting stuck in a traffic jam. Politics? Let's not even go there.

But, obstruction in photography is a positive, tried & true technique that professional portrait & event photographers have been using for years.

"Obstruction" means that you block parts of a composition that you'd rather not show in your final picture.

The fact is that just getting a good facial expression isn't enough when you want a really outstanding portrait or casual picture of people. Your goal is to make people look attractive, avoiding unflattering photographs. So, you need to "see" and minimize picture elements that show people...

Looking heavy or overweight
Emphasize baldness
Apppearing disproportionately too large or small compared to others in the picture

By properly posing your subjects and "obstructing" unflattering parts of their bodies by using objects, props or other people you can get better portraits without ever being obvious to your subjects as you take their pictures.

Here are some examples of how "obstruction" works...or doesn't:

Poor: An Example of How Not To Use Obstruction

This picture is typical of a pose many photographers use.

Crossed hands certainly can be used effectively to block or cover a stomach area. In theory, the pose should work. But, here the couple's hands accentuated the man's stomach. Worse yet, the viewer's eye goes to the hands; not the faces.

Better: A More Effective Use of Obstruction

Crossing the husband's hands and placing the wife's hand on his shoulder give a nice balanced portrait. The clothing of both subjects still work against a superior portrait. But, the photographer did the best he could on a quick shoot.

Best: Obstruction Used 100% Correctly

This candid portrait tells a story and makes both subjects look good.

- The woman is posed so that her body and her husband's are in proper proportion.
- Hats frame their faces.
- The foreground prop obscures the subjects from the waist down, while it tells the story behind the photograph.

Our thanks to The Image Group for these pictures.

Our Goal Is To Help You Improve Your Photography - We believe that photography should be fun. How you get your pictures is up to you...and we see nothing wrong in using a few pro tricks & techniques to get your prize-winners.

When you want to make beautiful prints visit our new iPrints.com site to order online from your Mac, PC, cell phone or tablet. ROES is a is computer-based design & ordering program for pros, power users and advanced amateurs.
If you're a beginner try our easy-to-use iPrints Classic consumer site.

If You Need Any Help...
Please call us. Do you live in South Florida? Visit our laboratory store.
We'll work one-on-one with you. We enjoy photography as much as you do!

2960 Simms St., Hollywood, FL 33020
(800) 327-1776 • (954) 925-0105
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info@dalelabs.com
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