Portrait of Humanity vol.6
One & Done // Maya Graham // Aged 5 at the time
I was thrilled to receive an email from the British Journal of Photography informing me that my photograph of my daughter has been chosen for publication in Portrait of Humanity Volume 6. The book is scheduled for release later this year. Below, I have included the written piece that accompanied my image.
“My daughter is accustomed to having a camera pointed at her, even at the tender age of five; she understands that it accompanies me wherever I go. I have conflicting emotions about photographing her, not due to others’ opinions, but because of how she might feel when she looks back on the photographs in the future. It is a matter of consideration. I always make sure to ask her permission before capturing a photo, and she typically agrees. I could not be prouder of my delightful little model. I selected this particular image of her because it exudes confidence and independence. I wish for her to retain this level of self-assurance in the years to come. Confidence yes, but I frequently discuss the importance of showing empathy towards individuals with her. Having been raised with similar values, I can observe her empathy shining through in the small gestures and words she expresses.”
I have recommended below my favourite affordable lens I used to create the image above.
I highly recommend the Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM lens to beginner photographers who want to capture images with a striking, three-dimensional quality. This lens, known as a "prime" lens due to its fixed focal length, features a wide f/1.8 aperture. This aperture offers two significant advantages over the standard "kit" lens that typically comes with an entry-level DSLR camera. Firstly, it allows in significantly more light, enabling vibrant photos even in low-light conditions. Secondly, the wide aperture creates a beautiful, blurry background that makes the subject stand out, giving the images a captivating, three-dimensional effect. The lower the aperture number, the more light the lens can capture, resulting in an even blurrier background. For users of iPhones, the Portrait Mode feature is inspired by this characteristic, adding an extra "pop" to your phone's photos.
In comparison to professional-grade lenses, when the Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM is used at f/1.8, its images may appear somewhat soft. However, the sharpness in the centre of the frame is adequate and the resulting image is certainly usable. Towards the edges of the frame, the image may appear softer and less sharp. Therefore, photographers are advised to compose their images with the subject in the centre of the frame to achieve maximum sharpness. Additionally, stopping the lens down to f/2.2 or f/2.8 will significantly improve the sharpness of the image. While the background blur produced by this lens may not be as smooth or blurred as that of professional lenses, it represents a significant improvement over kit lenses and will undoubtedly enhance the quality of your photos.
