Whilst in Tripoli in the North of Lebanon I took some nice street portraits and head shots of the local people. I found the people of Tripoli to be very friendly and open to having their picture taken. In fact, several people approached me in the City and asked me to take their photo. I would always show them the photo after I took it on the back of the camera, and send their photo on to them later via WhatsApp if they had it. Click through the slideshow below to view some of the portraits I took in Tripoli, Lebanon:
For me, street portraits are one of the most important parts of travel photography and the best way to describe a country photographically. Taking street portraits requires patience, skill & knowledge of your camera settings, and a love for people. It's the perfect way to capture the essence of a place and its inhabitants, and it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Portraits for me bring back instant memories of a place, and I always regret not taking more. In Tripoli it was very easy to approach the locals for a photo, and I look forward to returning one day for some more portraits. Here is a blog with some more photos from my time exploring Tripoli in Lebanon.
I find out of the way places are far easier when taking people photographs. Tripoli reminded me of my first big travels in the West of Africa fifteen years ago with the people being both curious of the camera and unused to tourism. It is of course important to be respectful when taking street portraits. Always ask for permission before taking someone's photo, and be prepared to explain what you're doing and why.
Before taking the portraits be sure to know your camera settings and if possible set up before hand to ensure you are ready to go when necessary. Always focus on the closest eye when taking portraits or focus on either if taking forward facing head shots. I use select point focus when taking portraits to prevent the focus point from jumping around the face. To ensure a good focus throughout I tend to use f/6.3 to begin with and then widen the aperture when I am happy with the focus. As with all photography I enjoy a wide aperture and the background bokeh it produces, just bear in mind the wider the aperture the harder it is to get a good focus to begin with. I tend to take several different shots with a variety of settings and with different angles to aim for the best shot. I find conversing with the person and adding a little humour helps them relax and bring out their personality bringing the portrait to life. Take a look through the slideshow below for some more of my street portraits and head shots I have taken on my travels:
Street portraits and head shots of strangers taken on my travels have become some of my favourite personal images. They tell a story and instantly remind me of the person, the place and the trip itself. On my next adventure I am going to make it a priority to take more street portraits and by doing some make some further friends on the way. Many of my travel portraits are available for license via Getty Images here. More of my travel photography can be found on my website, my Instagram, my Facebook Page and my Flickr account. Much love and safe travels.