Articles and tutorials about portraiture and people photography
Window Light Portrait Photography Competition
We are thrilled to announce the winners of our DPC Window Light Portrait Photography Competition!
Creating Art in a F’d up World
Evl Jon is one of those interesting characters you will meet in Johannesburg. I shot a few character portraits of him and learned of his philosophy about art...
Wedding Photography Workshop | May 2017
DPC's 5-day Wedding Photography Workshop provides the perfect platform for two of South Africa’s foremost wedding photographers to share their insights into this competitive and fast-paced field of photography.
Yousuf Karsh | Perhaps the most iconic portrait photographer of all time?
We show off 32 iconic portraits by the Master Photographer, Yousef Karsh. Which one is your favourite?
Photo Critic Photo of the Month: December 2015
The Photo Critic Photo of the Month competition for December goes to Danie Coetzee with his black and white photo, titled "Young Dreams". His honest image tells such an intimate story, which bagged him the coveted SOTM award. Well done Danie! Danie gets a R600 discount for any of DPC's photography courses and stand in contention for the Photo of the Year competition.
Photo Critic Photo of the Month: November 2015
TThe Photo Critic Photo of the Month competition for November is shared by two photographers, Nadia de Lange with "Walking to the Light", and Coenraad Albertyn with "Barbed Wire of Death". Both images are high impact, black and white "travel photographs" and both images have great compositional impact. Nadia's image is a good example of how contrast and scale can be used. What we liked about Coenraad's very simple, yet emotive photo is a suitable title and the use of shallow depth of field, texture, line, shape and form. Both, Nadia and Coenraad, each receives a R600 discount for any of DPC's photography courses and stand in contention for the Photo of the Year competition. Congratulations!
Photo Critic Photo of the Month: October 2015
The Photo Critic Photo of the Month competition for September 2015 goes to Jenay Jordaan with her portrait "Offering". Jenay's unconventional portrait is a good example of how dynamic tension and negative space can be used to create interesting and striking images. Jenay receives a R600 discount on any DPC Photography Course. Congratulations Jenay!
Photo Critic Photo of the Month: August 2015
The Photo Critic Photo of the Month competition winner for a second time in a row, is Koos Fourie with his landscape photo "The backroads of the Overberg". Koos receives a discount of R600 for any photography course with DPC for his winning image. Congratulations Koos. Let's see if you can do it again next month!
Photo Critic Photo of the Month: June 2015
The Photo Critic Photo of the Month competition winner for June 2015 is shared by two photographers, Luke Brouwers with his photo "Trees in the Mist" (Nature) and Marethe Grobler with her portrait "Old Soul Young Girl" (People). Both Luke and Marethe receives a discount of R600 for any photography courses with DPC. They were not the only winners though! Ken Jennings impressionist landscape, "Gansbaai" will also be included for the Photo of the Year competition as a wildcard entry.
Photo Critic Photo of the Month: May 2015
The Photo Critic Photo of the Month competition winner for May 2015 is: Izak Van Heerden with his portrait "Keep Clean". Izak receives a discount of R600 for any photography course with DPC for his winning image. Congratulations Izak!
Express your vision using Flash!
In the On-Location Lighting workshop I teach our students that one of the 7 reasons to use flash is to express your vision. As photographers, light is the notes we use to compose a song. If you only know half the notes the song you create will be pretty limited in tone and originality. If you however know the full range of notes you can create a masterpiece! If we are able to recognize and make use of natural light as well as incorporate artificial light where needed we can truly express our vision and create our own masterpieces!
Photographer and Photo of the Year 2014
This is the big day, we all waited for! The Photo Critic Photo of the Year and the Photographer of the Year Competitions for 2014 has finally been decided by our panel of 6 judges. Here they are
Photo of the Year 2013
Photo Critic's 2013 Photo of the Year Coveted Photo Competition Winner is Matthew Copham with his image "Struggle for Life"
Photo Critic Photo of the Month: December 2013
December's Photo Critic Photo of the Month goes to Michael Krige for his portrait "Heroin".
Photo Critic Photo of the Month: March 2013
March 2013 Photo of the Month goes to Warren James Krige. His photograph "Morning Sun"
The Portrait as Fine Art. Learning from painters like Nelson Shanks
I've come across this beautiful video by world renowned, realist painter and artist, Nelson Shanks. Nelson Shanks created paintings of some of the most important people in the world. I know this is not a painting website, but after all, the definition of photography is "to paint with light". I often teach that we learn to shoot better portraits by looking at the paintings of old and contemporary masters. Through their paintings, they often teach us how to capture light, emotion, drama, mood and atmosphere. As photographers, we should not shy away from finding inspiration by studying the work of other artists and see how we can mimic it by using our cameras creatively.
Photo of the Year 2012
Photo Critic's 2012 Photo of the Year Photo Competition Winner is... Matthew Copham !!! Congratulations on capturing this outstanding photograph! This one-in-a-million moment you've photographed surely deserves the honor of being named Photo of the Year...
Steve McCurry Shoots Pirelli 2013 Calendar
Steve McCurry has been appointed to shoot the 2013 Pirelli Calendar in Rio de Janeiro. Steve describes Rio as the best cityscape in the world. Traditionally, the Pirelli Calendar consists of nude photographs. He decided to bring something "new" and fresh to the franchise. This time shooting the gorgeous women in the normal hustle and bustle of Rio, with their clothes on! Check out the YouTube video below...
Joey L – Extraordinary Portraits
Joey L is an extraordinary Portrait Photographer who has made it as a top Commercial Photographer, Director and Published Author. Joey, a Canadian born photographer, is currently based in New York where he shoots for a number of international companies like Coca-Cola, National Geographic, JWT Doner, History Channel, FX Channel, Smirnoff, Pennzoil, Kawasaki and the list goes on... His style is cinematic and contemporary with a Fine Art finish. His photojournalistic style is unique and can be called his own as he brings a totally new and exquisite feel to the Portrait Photography genre. His subjects come from all walks of life, ranging from tribesmen in Ethiopia to superstars from Hollywood. Below, a few of his images...
Tom Hoops: Top Portrait Photographer
We have decided to feature top Portrait Photographer, Tom Hoops a.k.a The Dark Knight Of Photography. We have included 25 of his breathtaking portraits and an extract about him.
Tribute to Master Photographer, August Sander
Here's an impressive collection of some of Old Master Photographer, August Sander's lifelong photography project - The People In The Twentieth Century... "By sight and observation and thought, with the help of the camera, and the addition of the date of the year, we can hold fast the history of the world" August Sander