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Photo tips / / Take Great Travel Portraits

Take Great Travel Portraits

We ask the popular Manny Librodo his secret to great portraiture
In the recently concluded Photoworld 2010, photographer Manny Librodo gave a standing roomonly seminar on travel portraiture. The tips he shared with his audience were straight out of our 8th issue when we rst featured his works. While his style has evolved, his secrets for capturing great travel portraits have not. Here we revive the piece we published three years ago, on how to capture the essence of a place through the people who inhabit it
Manny Librodo

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Manny emphasizes the importance of communication and people skills in travel portraiture. Communicate with them, verbally or otherwise, he says. This does not require that you and your subject know the same language. In his travels, Manny says he has met many people with whom he couldnt communicate verbally, so he uses facial expressions and gestures instead. Also, be gentle and persuasive, and smile a lot. If they smile back at you, youre one step toward getting their co-operation, he says.

Interact with your subjects

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Manny was with this boat man on one of his travels. He was initially wearing a shirt, but Manny noticed his tattoos which made for an interesting portrait.

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Manny Librodo

Manny Librodo

This child would not pose for Manny until he was given a parasol which he quickly posed with. Not only did the props put the child at ease, it also further told a story.

Photo tips / / Take Great Travel Portraits

One could tell from the outfit that this photo was taken in Vietnam. A low camera angle makes this shot more interesting.

Get close to them, physically and emotionally

Another way to connect with your subjects is to get close to them, physically and emotionally. Show them their picture; ask them yes, get their input!how you could make their picture better, says Manny. This also means doing your part in the process, such as making your own observations of what the person is like. In travel photography, I stage shots to a certain extent. I make my subjects do something they might have done before or will do in the future. If I see my subjects yellow ngernails, I know he smokes so I let him smoke. Allowing his subjects to inject something of themselves into the shot is one of the things that make a Librodo portrait a Librodo portrait. While he would give them a scenario and ask them to show their interpretation of it, the rest that comes out on the photo is their own. I coach them with the angle and physical projection but apart from that, its their ballgame. I empower them because their unique expressions are an important part of the nished product.

Manny was following this group when he took a shot right over one of the monks shoulder. The curving of the line draws the viewers eyes to a destination.
Manny Librodo

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Manny Librodo

Sometimes being at the right place at the right time gives you a powerful image that can never be recreated.
Manny Librodo

This is where the ironic twist in Librodos images comes in. Although he stages his shots to a certain extent, most of his masterpieces are a result of spontaneity. Librodo advises not to get too caught up with technicalities during the shoot, as it can stagnate your creativity and enthusiasm, which can also ruin the mood of your subject. He added that as soon as he is done shooting in a particular location or with a subject, he moves on to another one, excited that his next dening photograph may just be around the corner.

Set the stage, then be spontaneous

Kids will always pose for a camera. The interesting patterns and textures in the scene, and the spontaneity of their expressions all tell a story.
Manny Librodo

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Photo tips / / Take Great Travel Portraits

Needless to say, in portraiture it is important to look for a face with character. A portrait is a landscape of emotions, and you can only let people enjoy the wide range of emotions if you have chosen the right subject. In the crowd, pick out the old lady with well-dened wrinkles, or the child on the street with dimples and deep-set eyebrows, for example, as such dening features can magnify an expression. This may entail spending time on the streets before shooting, searching for potential subjects. Find out what times of the day do shermen go to the shore, vendors set up their stalls, or children come out to play. While doing this you can also determine when the light is best to shoot in, and where.

The long white beard, expressive face and elements of the place further enhances a strong portrait.

Look for a face with character

Manny noticed this young lady due to her large expressive eyes. To further enhance them, he asked the subject to lower her chin to make her eyes even fuller.
Manny Librodo

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Manny Librodo

Watch out for light and shadow plays

Train your eyes to spot shafts of light and determine good lighting conditions. Over the years Librodo has become quick to do this, explaining that hes learned to become extra observant. A street vendor, for example, might have a shaft of illumination coming from an alley somewhere, outlining her prole, or a bystander under the shade of the tree might have eeting ripples of light and shadow across his well-worn face. Such light and shadows are useful in creating drama in your photographs.

Manny Librodo

Look for patches of light that form shapes and add depth to the image.

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Manny Librodo

Beautiful light wrapped around your subjects face will create drama and dimension.

Photo tips / / Take Great Travel Portraits

Manny Librodo

Train your eyes to see interesting colors

Similarly, train your eyes too to see interesting colors, be it the eyes or clothes of a subject, and in contrast to his surroundings. The more colors there are, the better. Then frame them to create an interesting rhythm of patterns and shapes. One of the things Librodo likes making use of to accentuate the eyes of his subjects, for example, are colorful veils. I have some of them in my bag whenever I travel. I also make it a point to buy a veil from the country I visit. Pay attention to the presence of local color as well. You dont need to be in a landmark place to take a good travel portrait, so long as the location has details invoking the local culture: streets, markets, and peoples workplaces. Librodo said, In terms of locations, I get as much detail as I can into the picture. I want my viewers to smell, feel and hear the environment.
Strong, saturated colors of clothing against a single-toned background make the subject pop out of the background.

Manny Librodo

Draw viewers in by placing your subject between patterns.

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Manny Librodo

On a misty morning with very low visibility, Manny saw this vendor crossing the street. He waited for the right moment and clicked his camera.
Manny Librodo

Tell a story

Other objects such as local props could also help tell a story, like broken toys, colorful balloons, and old boats. Moreover, these also help put your subjects at ease. A cigarette can make your subject feel more at ease. Toys provide kids with company. If you want your subjects to show more candid expressions, let them interact with the props they are most familiar with. With the mix of his inputs, that of his subjects and the spur of the moment, its not a wonder Librodo is so good at capturing that which makes a person most captivating: their sincere, inner selves and genuine aura. That given, what more could be said about a place whose richness can be captured through its inhabitants? So pack these invaluable tips along with your gear for your next trip. You just may watch your travel portraits improve and come to life.

With this child gazing out the window, and not at the photographer, it makes one wonder what he is looking at or thinking of. His surroundings, though, might give viewers a clue.
Manny Librodo

DPP

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