Would this be considered a portrait photograph?

Question

Here's the picture: http://i.imgur.com/bVMzH.jpg

I would like to enter it into a competition as it is one of the best photos I've taken in my opinion, but I am not sure that it is a portrait. What do you define a portrait as?

Answer 1

Yes that could be considered an "environmental portrait" rather than a traditional portrait (i.e. standard studio shot of individual).



I would not however enter that shot as it won't win.

For a start it needs cleaning up to get rid of the dust marks

The subjects are not sharp enough, especially the girl.

Answer 2

I don't know if it qualifies. When I think of a portrait, I think of some kind of close-up on a single person's face.



Wiki says: "A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. For this reason, in photography a portrait is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still position. A portrait often shows a person looking directly at the painter or photographer, in order to most successfully engage the subject with the viewer."

Answer 3

I tend to define portrait photography the same the dictionary (and what wikipedia says):



Merriam-Webster: a pictorial representation of a person usually showing the face



Wki: Portrait photography or portraiture is the capture by means of photography of the likeness of a person or a small group of people (a group portrait), in which the face and expression is predominant. The objective is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the subject.





So, comparing those to your photo, I would not call it a portrait. Also, the space in between the people is distracting..

Answer 4

No, not really. There are two people in the shot; they are far enough apart to make it difficult to decide which one is the subject; they aren't visually a couple because there is a huge gap between them and they aren't relating to each other in any way. In fact, they seem unaware of each other's prescence. This doesn't work as a portrait on any level.

Answer 5

It depends on who is judging. I doubt that traditional portrait photographers will think so. I think so. There's some dust in the right upper part of your frame that you should clean up.

Answer 6

No, that is closer to a candid snapshot.



steve