I do not shoot people, but I use many subjects as Models...they are Animals, and I capture them with human-like expressions. My ongoing Series: "Of The Wild" features close-up intimate Portraits of Animals that were once wild but now live in some form of captivity. I ensure the facilities are accredited so that I know the Animals are treated well. My subjects are beautiful specimens of their respective species and I capture them extremely close-up and personal using a 100 to 400 mm Canon L lens at 400mm. I can spend hours or the better part of a day getting what I am looking for. I set up my tripod with my camera and long lens and watch and wait for my subjects to be in a position wherein the light falls favorably on them. I use only natural light and very little editing afterward. For these, as with any other distance image, the camera must remain absolutely steady to avoid the least amount of blur, so I also use a remote to click the shutter. As with my sea, land, and cityscapes....composition, lighting, and absolute sharpness is crucial. Rather than snow in the trees or white caps off a wave, in my Animal Portraits, the viewer can see every line on the subject's face, whether it be fur or feathers, the detail is crucial. Some Animals might have a bead of sweat or water droplets from a recent rain, the Animals' face is my landscape and every aspect of it must be worthy of inclusion in the image. Of the Wild has been the subject of many magazine stories, including a Cover and 12-page spread. One of my images, of a Flamingo Preening, was chosen by the Editors of National Geographic for exhibition on the Nat Geo website. After many Galleries displaying them as framed, Fine Art Prints...they are currently the featured Work in a huge Gallery in Colorado Springs as 30" x 50" Canvas Gallery Wraps, and they are magnificent, if I do say so myself. At that size the detail holds up beautifully and at my Artist's Reception, all I heard was "WOW." This submission features one of my favorites in the Series: "King of Beasts" was captured in a facility in Denver, CO many years ago while several lionesses' were surrounding my subject. His look indicates his prowess and interest in me at the same time. A scar on his nose makes the image unique, telling a story of at least one previous battle.
I photograph Animals rather than Humans, because, while it does take longer to capture each image, my subjects don't talk back to me!
King of Beasts, (c) Barry Steven Greff from the Series: Of the Wild