I’ve never tried portrait photography, though I’ve admired many photographic portraits over the years.  I especially love those of older people, whose faces show some of their history, whose eyes have become wise with time.  But I’m a shy photographer and asking someone to sit for me is difficult.  And of course I’m shooting with a point and shoot and never figured I had the right equipment for “real” art.

So when Kathy over at her blog Lake Superior Spirit mentioned that she had an photographic assignment from Scott at his blog Views Infinitum that required her to try portrait photography I was intrigued.  And I instantly knew who I wanted to photograph.

My husband has an Aunt who just celebrated her 95th birthday, though you wouldn’t know it to look at her.  She’s beautiful.  But she also, like most people, doesn’t feel she takes a good picture.  And I’m still shy.  So the photo I’m going to share with you was taken while she sat in her chair in her apartment looking at an ancient photo album filled with family pictures, some over 100 years old.  She was entranced enough that she didn’t notice me taking pictures.  I understand from reading that a real portrait would have her engaged with me.  We’ll work on that!

She’s sitting in her favorite chair, sunlight coming in from her left, wearing her reading glasses and telling us the names of family members in the photos.  I like that the shot includes her hand which has a character all its own.  This was taken with a point & shoot camera, on the automatic setting.  I darkened it up slightly in “post production.”

I think she might let me try again if I ask.  Now that I know there’s a “portrait” setting on my camera!