IOP 17 Compulsory Portrait

Scene Setup

I chose this subject because her traditional clothing, posture, and confident expression naturally tell a story about culture, identity, and pride. She was dressed beautifully in traditional Thai attire, and I wanted to capture both her personality and the sense of place around her.

I placed her in the centre of the street with the temple structure in the distance behind her. This setting helped create a natural leading line straight toward her, while still showing a little of the busy life around her. I shot with a fairly wide aperture to softly blur the background so she stays the main focus, while still keeping enough detail to show the cultural setting. Her relaxed posture and eye contact help make the portrait feel open and inviting.

Observations

What works well

The portrait feels lively and full of character. Her outfit is beautifully detailed, and the soft blue stands out strongly against the neutral tones of the street. The background adds context without taking attention away from her, and the temple centred behind her helps anchor the scene. The leading lines along the road draw the viewer’s eye straight towards her, making the composition feel natural and balanced. Her expression adds a sense of personality and movement, which makes the image engaging.

What I’d like to improve

If I were to shoot this again, I would adjust the angle slightly so the temple lines up even more symmetrically behind her. I might also step back a little to avoid clipping her hand on the left side of the frame. Bringing in a reflector or soft fill light could help brighten her face just a touch, especially since the overhead light creates some uneven shadows.

EQUIPMENT USED

Canon EOS R5
Canon RF 24-70 F2.8 L IS USM

CAMERA SET UP

Set the Camera Mode to Manual
Set the focus length to 42mm
Set the shutter speed to 1/250s
Set the aperture to F2.8
Set the ISO to 100

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