Photographing Faces

 Faces of Africa

Our faces are the most expressive parts of our bodies, and for me a favorite photography subject. There are a few technical options to consider when shooting faces:

(i) Using a telephoto lens (so you don't have to go close to your subject) or

(ii) Using a macro or portrait lens (24-70mm) where you are much closer to the subject.

Naturally the lens of choice will depend on your situation. For instance, when I shoot faces when traveling, I will not always have time to sit, chat and make someone comfortable for them to let me shoot them using a portrait or macro lens, where I would be standing close up to them. In this case, I would use a telephoto lens, allowing me to take close up faces without intruding. In a different scenario, such as shooting friends and family, using a portrait or macro lens works wonders as there is much more facial detail and expression caught in the final picture.

*Tips 

- Try to focus on the eyes

- Have the face cover as much of the frame as possible

- Using a shallow depth of field (i.e. a low f stop number) will allow you to blur background so the focus lies on the face. 

Here are some faces I enjoyed shooting using a 24-70mm lens...