Close-up Portrait Photography Of Boys: Children Travel Photography

Close up travel portrait photography, especially of boys, is a rewarding experience but can be more challenging than photographing girls. Boys usually are more animated and active subjects so the travel photographer needs to be ready to handle the ensuing mayhem that often is part of kids photography while traveling.

Close-up children photography by its very nature lacks backgrounds which can be a good thing, especially when otherwise the travel photographer is unable to eliminate distracting elements from the backdrop. During candid or impromptu travel portrait photography, it is often not an option to ask the subject to turn or move, without risking to loose spontaneity or a natural expression.

Black and white versions of the images below are overlaid with either the Fibonacci spiral or the Rule Of Thirds grid. Not all compositions are perfect but I want to show examples when ignoring these rules of photography is OK, but also when ignoring them was a mistake, resulting in less balanced photographs.

Close-up portrait photography of Cambodian boy with smiling face

Joy and innocence shines through this close up portrait – even though this boy, who just finished swimming in the mighty Mekong river – lives in poverty, in a very poor neighborhood.

Fibonacci spiral over Cambodian boy with smiling face photograph

Overlaying the Fibonacci spiral, we can see that the curve of the spiral almost perfectly follows the round face of the boy. The spiral ends over the eye of the subject, which is almost always a place of attention as the viewer looks at a portrait. This photo is definitely is in accordance with The Golden Ratio.

Rule Of Thirds grid over Cambodian boy with smiling face picture

Overlaying the Rule Of Thirds grid, we can see once again that the boy’s left eye is at the optimal spot: the cross-hair of the grid. the left corner of the boy’s mouth is also in a cross-hair and his right eye is under the left vertical grid line. The camera tilt adds a dynamic look to the photo.

Close-up portrait photography of blonde Cambodian child in poverty

A special, personal, quiet moment captured via this close-up portrait of a Cambodian child that lives in poverty, in Kampong Cham. The close crop eliminates all extra elements that surround the face, so the eyes and features dominate the composition.

Fibonacci spiral over blonde Cambodian child in poverty photo

Overlaying the Fibonacci spiral, it touches the right ear, and curves under the cheeks and chin of the boy, ending over his left eye. The vertical grid line of the spiral perfectly halves the boy’s face as can be seen over the nose and the mouth. These geometric features of the composition make this photograph in harmony with The Golden Ratio.

Rule Of Thirds grid over blonde Cambodian child in poverty image

Overlaying the Rule Of Thirds grid, we can see that the boy’s left eye and left corner of his mouth are at the crosshairs of the grid. The composition is only slightly off center but off centered enough not to be a static – passport like – composition.

Close-up portrait photography of Vietnamese boy with symmetric face

A symmetric face is the perfect close up portrait photography subject as many – at least in the west – equate symmetry with beauty and (genetic) health. What can differentiate a head-on, straight travel portrait from a boring passport headshot? Side lighting to achieve a more three dimensional effect, photographing from above to alter the perspective of the face, and a close crop to draw the viewer into the facial features of the subject.

Rule Of Thirds grid over Vietnamese boy with symmetric face photograph

Overlaying the Rule Of Thirds grid, we can see that a centered, close-up portrait will by its very composition put the eyes in the cross hairs of the grid. Both centered and off-center closeup portraits can have the the eyes/one eye in the cross hair(s) so both ways to compose can be in accordance with The Golden Ratio.

Close-up portrait photography of Cambodian boy with face in hand

It always amazes me how personal and introspective portraits can be taken – while traveling – of children or adults, that I just met seconds ago. A great example is this Cambodian boy with face in hand, whom I met just a few seconds before I took a series of amazing portraits.

Besides the very friendly pre-disposition of people in Buddhist countries, the travel photographer can also ensure the creation of instant chemistry. Some methods: smiles when approaching, simple clothes without loud colors, not showing too much skin, not carrying huge telephoto lenses (like a 70-200mm f2.8), not using flash.

Fibonacci spiral over Cambodian boy with face in hand picture

Overlaying the Fibonacci spiral, we can see – even though the end of the spiral is not over the right eye of the boy – that the subject’s natural face in hand pose creates a curving outline which guides the eyes of the viewer on a visually pleasant journey through the composition.

Close-up portrait of Vietnamese Hmong boy with eyes rolled back into head

The silliness of some young male portrait photography subjects demonstrated here: as a flower Hmong boy is making a scary face with his eyes rolled back into his head. These moments last just for a few seconds so in these instances it is useful to have compositional ideas already pre-programmed into the subconscious of the travel photographer.

Rule Of Thirds grid over boy with eyes rolled back into head photo

Overlaying the Rule Of Thirds grid, we can see that a slightly off-center, straight-on close-up portrait can easily be in accordance to The Golden Ratio, if one of the eyes is in a cross-hair. Even though this was not a really thought out composition, other facial features also happen to be at the important location barked by crosshairs: the left eye corner and the right corner of the mouth.

Fibonacci spiral over Vietnamese Hmong boy making a scary face picture

Overlaying the Fibonacci spiral, we can see that the beginning of the spiral is a bit stretched out, away from the face. Still, this composition can show us how the lack of straight lines (only curved lines and oval shapes make up this portrait) can create a visually flowing viewing experience.

Close-up portrait of Vietnamese boy with sad face behind bars

This Vietnamese boy is only behind bars because of security for the family house. At his age, he may actually feel trapped though, at least that is what his sad expression may convey to some viewers.

Rule Of Thirds grid over Vietnamese boy with sad face behind bars photograph

Overlaying the Rule Of Thirds grid, we can see that the boy’s face is too centered and there are no key facial features or compositional elements at any of the cross-hairs. This image is a keeper for only one reason: to program the subconscious for a more accurate decision making in the future (about how not to compose).
But cropping this image into a different aspect ratio, the composition can regain a dynamic feel again.

Close-up street portrait photography of Vietnamese boy with attitude

Boys at different ages react differently to a strange looking traveler showing up in their neighborhood ready to take pictures. This Vietnamese boy had a great (badass) attitude that will undoubtedly get an emotional reaction from most viewers.

Rule Of Thirds grid over Vietnamese boy with attitude picture

Overlaying the Rule Of Thirds grid, we can see no key facial or compositional elements in the crosshairs or alongside the grid lines. Nevertheless the composition is dynamic and not unbalanced in my opinion. So the seemingly rigid Rule Of Thirds is not always a pre-requisite for a successful composition.

Close-up travel portrait photography of daydreaming Vietnamese boy

Catching a moment of daydreaming seems unattainable, given the strange looks and camera gear of most travel photographers from different countries than where these small children grew up. But it happens time and time again, and the telephoto lens is able to put a few extra feet between the photographer and the subject to make these photographs possible.

Fibonacci spiral over daydreaming Vietnamese boy photo

Overlaying the Fibonacci spiral, we can see again how curved lines of the round faces of infants and toddlers can be placed off-center to achieve a balanced composition, which will be according to The Golden Ratio.

Close-up portrait photography of serious Vietnamese boy getting a haircut

The series of photos I call “Vietnamese boy getting a haircut while wrapped in Vietnamese flag” were the product of being at the right place at the right time. More precisely: as I was riding my bicycle in the countryside, outside Ninh Binh, I spotted a father giving an outdoor haircut to his son.

No kid loves getting a haircut so the serious look on the boy’s face is universal and pretty funny. The rusty door provided a great uncluttered background. All I had to do was to wait for the decisive moment when the father’s hand held the scissors in the right angle, facing the camera.

Rule Of Thirds grid over Vietnamese boy getting a haircut picture

Overlaying the Rule Of Thirds grid, we can see that there are no key facial features or key elements in the cross-hairs of the grid. But these important elements (right eye, mouth, fingers in scissors) can be found alongside the grid lines. Sometimes that is enough to create a balanced composition, like this photo demonstrates it.

Close-up travel portrait photography of sad Vietnamese boy in school

A touching close-up travel portrait of a Vietnamese boy in school. This photo was not taken in a poor neighborhood as it may seem. Out of the dozens of kids, this one boy had a special connection with a camera. Once again, a memorable photo that took a few seconds to realize and capture, which is a great illustration of how rewarding travel photography can be.

Rule Of Thirds grid over sad Vietnamese boy in school photo

Overlaying the Rule Of Thirds grid, we can see that the boy’s right eye is not in a crosshair but alongside a vertical grid line, which in this close is enough to ensure a balanced composition.