I've been playing a little game with myself recently, inspired by this dgrin forum. Suppose I had to pick just one photograph in a particular category to represent myself. The best single shot of that sort that I ever took. It's an interesting excercise (though of course ultimately pointless) to figure out what makes for your best work. It's hard and cruel, like having to pick your favorite child. But unlike that excercise, this one does enforce a certain discipline. It's also very fun for me to dig though my shots. I've found lots of good ones that I didn't love at the time for some reason or another.

As a first step, I made a smugmug gallery for my all time best portraits. Then I forced myself to pick just one.... Well, I couldn't quite do that, so I changed the rules a little. Here is my all time best adult portrait. I'll start another thread for all time best children.

Anyway, I thought this was a fun game. Hope others will play.

Originally Posted by rutt I've been playing a little game with myself recently, inspired by this dgrin forum. Suppose I had to pick just one photograph in a particular category to represent myself. The best single shot of that sort that I ever took. It's an interesting excercise (though of course ultimately pointless) to figure out what makes for your best work. It's hard and cruel, like having to pick your favorite child. But unlike that excercise, this one does enforce a certain discipline. It's also very fun for me to dig though my shots. I've found lots of good ones that I didn't love at the time for some reason or another. As a first step, I made a smugmug gallery for my all time best portraits. Then I forced myself to pick just one.... Well, I couldn't quite do that, so I changed the rules a little. Here is my all time best adult portrait. I'll start another thread for all time best children. Anyway, I thought this was a fun game. Hope others will play.

God thats great... I have access to many old and wise people to photograph (my work is caring for them) I need to get over there and take some (means being in the work place tho...:(
I'm inspired, great face, great shot.
Lynn

Here's mine. 80+ years

kinda like my submission to best child portrait, this pushes the definition of portrait, but I love it anyway. I guess I'm kinda biased based on the subject, but still, of the hundreds of shots I have of her, this is the best:

I've shot a ton of pictures over the years but I've never done much portrait work. I guess this one is as close to a favorite as I have:

...My daughter, right after soccer practice.



...Ten years earlier, when I thought she'd be into pink dresses:

Originally Posted by Baldy ...My daughter, right after soccer practice. ...Ten years earlier, when I thought she'd be into pink dresses:

The picture of your daughter as an adult is wonderful. I never do as good a job with family members as I can do with others. It's like the difference between being at bat when it doesn't mean anthing vs when the whole season turns on it.\

And for some reason I recognize the face in the second portrait..

So this was ATB in both portrait categories? Very very nice.

Can't decide, really. But if we read "best" as "most happy with the result from a dismal situation", this would probably be it. We had nothing to work with here - no light, no background, no props, no time, no nothing - and he kept pulling nervous faces despite our best efforts. We had to do the math (literally!) in postpro, but saved the day.

Originally Posted by cletus I've shot a ton of pictures over the years but I've never done much portrait work. I guess this one is as close to a favorite as I have:

great shot... looks like Willy

and if we define "best" as "portrait I'm most fond of, irrespective of picture quality", once we sift through all the family stuff, it would probably be this one. Probably because I really like Iturralde's music. Shot T-max 3200 pushed to 12000 using a handheld 200 2.8 (no supports, flash or lighting allowed). Were shooting 1/30 to 1/60, even with the iso boost (it was a badly lit café, not a real stage). Ah, the good old days...

I have only had my Camera a short time so I dont have much to contribute.

Cletus Awesome shot dude!!

Originally Posted by DoctorIt kinda like my submission to best child portrait, this pushes the definition of portrait, but I love it anyway. I guess I'm kinda biased based on the subject, but still, of the hundreds of shots I have of her, this is the best:

I really like this picture!

Originally Posted by zero-zero Shot T-max 3200 pushed to 12000 using a handheld 200 2.8 (no supports, flash or lighting allowed). Were shooting 1/30 to 1/60, even with the iso boost (it was a badly lit café, not a real stage). Ah, the good old days...

Great shot! Excellent tone and a great composition.

T-max 3200... I used to love that stuff. It's amazing how good it was for people pictures.

Originally Posted by rutt Suppose I had to pick just one photograph in a particular category to represent myself. The best single shot of that sort that I ever took. It's an interesting excercise (though of course ultimately pointless) to figure out what makes for your best work.

This is certainly one of my favorites:



although this one:



does a better job of putting character in his face.

Originally Posted by cletus I really like this picture!

Thanks, its funny, it was a very spur of the moment shot that just popped in bw with a little help.

Although, my tinting job looks much better in photoshop. I started a thread on this with minimal reply, but this is actually the picture that prompted it - when in photoshop, my tones look much better, when saved to jpg, it looks duller and darker. So on the same monitor, I can simulatneously look at 2 different pictures, PS and IE browser. Weird stuff.

I have 2 all time favorites -

The first is a picture I took of one of my good friend's mother 3 weeks before she passed away. I knew Dottie for the last 20 years and thought the world of her. She always had a smile and had no enemies in this life. This photo captured the essence of her personality. The family liked it so much they chose it for display during her funeral.




The second is a self portrait of the Hutchison Clan. It was my first effort at a "formal" portrait and the whole family liked it.




Hutch

Portrait attempt... my first. One of my residents.. critiques very welcome.. I'm just starting out on this...

Originally Posted by lynnma Portrait attempt... my first. One of my residents.. critiques very welcome.. I'm just starting out on this...

Fill the frame! Seriously, this would look better if there were less space around her. Tight shots tend to make better looking portraits.

jim

Originally Posted by jimf Fill the frame! Seriously, this would look better if there were less space around her. Tight shots tend to make better looking portraits. jim

Thanks Jim,,, I'm cropping away as we speak.. and you are right... it's better.

Originally Posted by cletus I really like this picture!

Nicely done! Very nice! I love B&W, and the touch of color is a catcher.
ginette