Key Techniques of Portrait Shooting on Location

In outdoor portrait photography, light and framing are two major photography topics, and we must spend time trying to figure out and study them, to understand the change of light, to fill the light photography skills, to learn to observe the shooting scene, to conceive the picture and to choose the shooting background. These seemingly simple statements are difficult to practice! The following is the key technology of portrait photography I shared. Welcome to read!

Mastery of natural light

Shooting with natural light is the easiest way. Usually, the author mostly uses the aperture to hand over the metering work to the camera. If the light is wrong, adjust the exposure compensation to improve the picture. Natural light is directly used as the main light source, and it is customary to add a reflector to reflect sunlight to make up for the dark side of the model's face. In addition to reducing the contrast, it can also have multiple eyes in the model's eyes. This photo was taken with a wide-angle focal length of 5D and 32mm, and a reflector was added to the left front of the model to evenly fill the light from the dark side.

Only natural light with reflector is used for shooting (Canon EOS 5D+EF 70-200mm F4Lisusum's 135mm end. Aperture f/4, shutter 1/80 seconds, ISO 400, automatic white balance, RAW)

Shooting scene

Flash lamp or outdoor lamp fill light

Assuming that the natural light is weak, the effect of filling light with reflector is not good, or the contrast of the picture is too large, flash and outdoor light can be used to fill light. When using flash, it is recommended to connect the outside line, and it is best to use off-site flash to fill the light. The advantage is that it is more beautiful than the flash directly mounted on the camera, because it can adjust the direction and range of supplementary light, and reduce the situation that the facial light is too stiff and lacks three-dimensional sense.

In the case of large contrast, readers can try to control the lighting direction. In the dark part of the model, the output of manual flash can be1/32 ~116 to supplement some weak light sources, or the flash can be reflected on the reflector to fill the light range.

This is a shooting with external light to fill the light. (canon EOS 5d+ef 16-28mm end 35mm F2.8l USM). F/ 1 1, shutter1160s, ISO 100, automatic white balance, RAW, Elinchrom outdoor light)

Choose the environmental background carefully.

When choosing the shooting location, it is best to go to the scenic spot first, but if time does not allow, the photographer should train his observation ability of the scenic spot, quickly conceive the feeling, scenic spot and picture to be shot, arrange the style, color and accessories of the clothing, and complete the preliminary communication with the model. This example is located in the street of Ximending. From these examples, more creativity can be extended to help you complete your first modeling experience.

1. Murals can also be used as the background.

There are many creative graffiti walls in Ximending. You can find the right set and match the color of the model's clothes, so that the picture will not only be rich in color and add points, but also highlight the main body of the character. No matter whether the model is standing in front of or leaning against the wall, it can be presented through different postures and expressions. This time, the background color is very eye-catching. If you make good use of the background, you can easily take distinctive photos. Because the shooting time is the soft light source in the afternoon, it is only necessary to supplement the main body of the model with appropriate light with a reflector.

Canon EOS 5D+EF 70-200mm F4L is the 70mm end USM of USM. Aperture f/4, shutter 1/80 seconds, ISO400, automatic white balance, RAW.

2. Borrowing a car by the roadside as a prop

A lot of graffiti before, if you have a brightly colored car, you can also make a fuss about Model. Photographers can make good use of different lens characteristics, adopt a variety of perspectives, and then ask the model to interact with the car. You can shoot works with bright colors and sufficient contrast. It's not just cars on the side of the road. If you happen to meet some fresh scenery or eye-catching architectural furnishings, etc. , are all good elements that can be used.

Canon EOS 5d+EF16-28mm 35mm F2.8L USM bottom. Aperture f/5, shutter1/60s, ISO200, automatic white balance, RAW.

Roadside landscape selection skills

For the street view selection part, beginners often can't judge how to choose. Sometimes facing the street, at first glance there seems to be no scenery to shoot, but some people can shoot good works in such an environment. While you are surprised, the author suggests that at first, facing a background that you feel you can shoot, but you are afraid you can't shoot it, it is definitely a good opportunity to exercise yourself. As long as you know how to keep local characteristics and capture them by composition and subtraction, I believe you can gradually find your own way to find scenery. For example, in the example, in fact, the empty scene in the past was chaotic at first glance, but as long as we make good use of the lens characteristics, we can capture excellent works.

It is the most common street scene in such a messy natural open field, which can leave a complete depth of field and capture the whole body's works. (canon EOS 5d+ef70-200mm f4lisusm 70mm end. Aperture f/4, shutter 1/80 seconds, ISO 400, automatic white balance, RAW)

When shooting outside, you often encounter such a background. As long as you let Model sit by the window, you can also present a lovely picture. (canon EOS 5d+ef 24-70mmf2.8l 70musm bottom. Aperture f/4, shutter 1/320s, ISO 400, automatic white balance, RAW)

You can also use subtraction, that is, reduce other impurities that interfere with the main body, and highlight the main body through composition. (canon EOS 5d+ef 70-200mm f4lis USM144mm end. Aperture f/4, shutter1/60s, ISO 400, automatic white balance, RAW)

1. Between lanes

Shooting locations, such as Ximending, always have old alleys, or distinctive street signs, or graffiti. As long as such interesting signs are added to the picture, it will add more interest and let people know the shooting location at a glance. In this example, the same scene, the same photography, the same lens, only using horizontal composition and vertical composition, shot different creations. Readers can study and learn that different compositions can be used every time to express and press more diverse images in the same scene.

Shoot with a horizontal composition. (canon EOS 5d+ef16-23mm end of 35mm F2.8l USM). Aperture f/4, shutter1125 seconds, ISO 400, automatic white balance, RAW)

Shoot it at a high angle with a straight composition. (canon EOS 5d+ef16-23mm end of 35mm F2.8l USM). Aperture f/4, shutter1125 seconds, ISO 400, automatic white balance, RAW)

2. Parking lot

There are two parking lots in Ximending, and Luoyang parking lot is where I often take pictures. But this time, because of the obstruction of the administrator, I can't capture more wonderful creations in the parking lot, so I can only take a few simple photos on the top floor and inside. The top floor used a simple tile background, and the parking lot was dim. I couldn't make up for any light source, so I quickly took a few ISO images. Another scene is opposite the parking lot in Luoyang. The geometry and feeling of the stairs attracted the author. This is a background that has never been seen before, and it also tests everyone's response to emergencies. When there is a problem with the original shooting scene, how to switch and continue shooting your own image.

In the parking lot with low light source, if there is no flashlight, you will not want to shoot entirely by natural light. Try to improve ISO shooting. (Canon EOS 5d+ Tenglong SPAF 28-66mm 75mm f 2.8 bottom). Aperture f/2.8, shutter 1/50 seconds, ISO400, automatic white balance, RAW)

Canon EOS 5d+ Tenglong SPAF 28-75mm F2.8 75mm ends. Aperture f/4, shutter 1/640s, ISO 100, automatic white balance, RAW.

Canon EOS 5d+ Tenglong SPAF 28-75mm F2.8 75mm ends. Aperture f/3.2, shutter 1/800 seconds, ISO 400, automatic white balance, RAW.

The `11mm terminal of canon EOS 5D+EF 70-200mm F4L is USM. Aperture f/5, shutter1160s, ISO400, automatic white balance, RAW.

3. Urban streets

The bustling streets of Ximending, coupled with the appearance of mixed-race models, can create an illusion similar to that of foreign shooting. Take photos in downtown streets, because there are many distractions in the background, such as pedestrians, cars, shop signs and so on. You can use a medium telephoto lens with a large aperture to create a portrait with a compressed background and a blurred taste. In addition, the use of light is also a science. Although the shooting was smooth that day, the general facial light source was still not enough. Therefore, it is necessary to use a reflector to evenly supplement the light on the shadow of the face, or to conveniently supplement the light on the eyes to add excitement to the work.

No reflector is used to fill the light. (canon EOS 5D+EF 70-200mm F4L is USM 173mm end. Aperture f/4, shutter 1/320s, ISO 200, automatic white balance, RAW)

Whole body synthesis, with reflector to supplement light. (Canon EOS 5D+EF 70-200mm F4L is USM 97mm terminal. Aperture f/5, shutter 1/200 seconds, ISO 200, automatic white balance, RAW)

Using the telephoto end with large aperture can create an excellent scattered scene and highlight the main characters. (canon EOS 5d+ef 70-200mm f4lisum116mm end. Aperture f/5, shutter 1/200 seconds, ISO 200, automatic white balance, RAW)

4. Bamboo fence

Bamboo fence is also a common element in outdoor shooting. In fact, in addition to bamboo fences, there are similar iron railings, iron shelves and buildings ... as long as there is a sense of extension. Photographers can try to capture different pictures by choosing the focal length of the lens in situ. This kind of extended bamboo fence can be compressed with a long lens, creating a hazy and messy scene at the back. If you can add some foreground such as green plants, it is also a good way to present the composition.

Canon EOS 5D+EF 70-200mm F4L is the base of USM 200mm USM. Aperture f/4, shutter1/60s, ISO400, automatic white balance, RAW.

Canon EOS 5D+EF 70-200mm F4L is the 93mm end USM. Aperture f/4, shutter 1/250 seconds, ISO400, automatic white balance, RAW.

5. Reflection on the glass window

For location shooting, the glass window is a very useful auxiliary prop, which can fully show the interest of composition by virtue of the reflective characteristics of glass. In the whole picture, real and unreal portraits can be expressed through the photographer's ideas, and of course, they can also be used only to show the charm of this medium in the background and see everyone's ideas and creativity when shooting. However, it should be noted that when facing the glass that will reflect light, try to find a suitable angle to avoid your own shadow entering the mirror. In addition, if you want to use a flash, the point light source will be directly exposed to the image. If you deliberately create, you can make good works. If you accidentally let the light pass through, your work will be greatly deducted!

Canon EOS 5D+EF 70-200mm F4L is the 70mm end USM of USM. Aperture f/5, shutter 1/200 seconds, ISO400, automatic white balance, RAW.

conclusion

If you want to shoot a good work on your first outdoor model, besides making good use of lens characteristics, lighting and framing, how to communicate with the model, what kind of clothes to wear, what accessories to wear, the model's expression and movements, and how to combine the scenery and atmosphere to show the best side are all details that photographers should pay attention to.

Photographers should not only grasp the angle to capture the perfect curve of the model, but also pay attention to many details in the shooting process, such as constantly reminding the model of light, background, posture and expression? Wait, how to hand over beautiful transcripts is a test of readers' photographic skills.