Three-character sutra of natural portrait photography

Portrait photography in outdoor natural light is different from that in a studio. The light can't be controlled at will, but there are still ways to solve it.

The following content is translated and arranged by korbel, a photographer who has made great achievements in the use of light. In order to make it easier for everyone to understand and master, I also translated the translation into vernacular and compiled a jingle. Although the proverb is a bit vulgar, I think it is also a good choice if it is easy to remember.

I. Basic controls

Key words:

1, shooting is not the main body, but the light falling on the main body, and the sunlight is difficult to control.

2. Use "relative supplementary light" to change the light to control the natural light on site.

Explanation:

1, shooting is not the main body, but the light falling on the main body, and the sunlight is difficult to control.

Photography is a sense of light, which is the most important and changeable thing in photography. Good natural light is stronger than the imitation in the studio, but it is hard to find, use and control. Even if the weather is good and the view is good, the intensity of light is still a problem. Of course, there are excellent lights after sunrise and before sunset, but you can't wait until the moment of shooting every day.

2. Use "relative supplementary light" to change the light to control the natural light on site.

Even in strong sunlight, we can change the light by "relative light supplement" to create the best light, control the natural light on the scene and extend the shooting time without waiting for the perfect moment of the day.

Three-character classics:

1, bright background, flash

2. Main body and baffle.

3, reflector, clear position

4, less light beam, plastic top

Explanation:

1, bright background, flash

Plus: When the background is too bright and the subject is too dark, use flash as compensation. When the flash illuminates the subject, the shutter speed should be increased accordingly, and the area outside the flash illumination range will naturally become dark. The higher the shutter speed, the less background light the camera sensor can sense, so the background is effectively darkened, resulting in a work with balanced overall exposure.

Key points: In order to effectively add light, firstly, don't make the setting of the set-off character look too bright, and secondly, use the correct exposure parameters.

2. Main body and baffle.

Subtraction: The background is dark, and the subject is bright under direct sunlight. You can let others block the light on the subject's head with a blackboard or an opaque umbrella to brighten the background. But some people say it's not in the shadows? As long as you adjust the aperture and speed, you will get more light from the darkened subject and naturally brighten the background. If there are no tools around, you can let the subject stand under the porch, under a tree or under an object that can block direct light.

Key point: This technology is used to brighten the whole scene, including the subject and background. Simply adjusting the exposure can brighten the picture.

3, reflector, clear position

Multiplication: If you want to reflect natural light to a dark area in the composition through a mirror, the mirror is located in the shadow of the ground not far from the subject. If you fill your face with light, you should use white fabric, and a white T-shirt is also a good choice. Silver metal is used to fill the edges of hair or arms.

Key points: when you don't want to use flash, master the direction and material of reflective lighting.

4, less light beam, plastic top

Except that the translucent material filters the sunlight shining on the main body and changes the light quality (intensity and color). If the picture you take is perfect, then a beam of light can't be hidden. You can use a translucent hood or umbrella or even a plastic sheet to change the beam intensity.

Key point: take a portrait with telephoto, so you don't have to worry all day.

Second, the specific control

Key words:

1, digital camera shooting, so that the light ratio of the picture becomes smaller and the contrast is not too strong.

2. Don't regret that there is no good scenery, don't let the background bind you, and the background can't usurp the role of the master.

Explanation:

1, digital camera shooting, so that the light ratio of the picture becomes smaller and the contrast is not too strong.

If overexposed, the camera sensor will think that there is no image information in many areas of the picture, so it will not use PS to come back, and strive to get a picture with uniform illumination range.

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2, don't spend too much time looking for the perfect shooting point, don't let the background be bound, and the background can't pretend to be the host.

With a little change of telephoto, there may be a beautiful place behind your home. Just blur it, there are all kinds of backgrounds everywhere. Don't be reluctant to throw away some backgrounds when shooting some scenes. You should know what the theme is.

Three-character classics:

1, smooth face, and then choose the scene.

2, the lights at the intersection, see the situation clearly.

3, reflection area, bright shadow

4, accurate exposure, clean light

5, looking for opportunities, stable control

6, the light is good, turn the scene.

7. Clear outline and positive direction

Explanation:

1, smooth face, and then choose the scene.

First of all, you should choose the place where the light shines on your face to make people look radiant and radiant and beautify your face, and then choose whether the surrounding scenery can meet the requirements of taking good photos.

2, the lights at the intersection, see the situation clearly.

Wonderful photos can be taken by using the "boundary light" between sunlight and shadow. First, although shooting in pure shadow will not encounter the problem of light, the light in the shadow is cold and dull, with no sense of direction, which can not illuminate the eyes of the characters and express their personality. Second, it is easy to get the light that shines on the hair and outline of the characters at the junction of the sun and the shadow, which increases the depth of field and makes the characters more stereoscopic and energetic.

3, reflection area, bright shadow

In outdoor portrait photography, looking for reflective areas such as sunlight reflected from the wall as the main light source can provide beautiful light for the subject. Ways to get reflected light: 1. Look around the illuminated building during the day, where there is a huge soft box, and the reflected light has distinct properties: very full and mellow. The second is a truth, everything will reflect light, it depends on whether you can be creative.

4, accurate exposure, clean light

Strictly use the light, there is no messy light, ensure that the face is clean, correctly expose, and control the same color temperature of the face.

5, looking for opportunities, stable control

Not only to find a place to run out, but more importantly, to find a chance to run out. We don't object to going to the window, under the branches, under the eaves, or at the happiest time of the day, we should also go to more places to shoot. These different locations will expand your outdoor photography. If the ground reflection of the parking lot can shine on your face, you can shoot there. The building across the street can reflect a lot of light, and you can create it right away.

6, the light is good, turn the scene.

If you are in the best light of the day, rotate 360 degrees in place, find the most suitable position for taking portraits around, and then start. In this way, portraits can be varied.

7. Clear outline and positive direction

When looking for a shooting location, in addition to the light shining on people's faces, it is better to have light shining on people's hair, background and the edge of the picture, not just to satisfy the good light perception of people's faces. Find a place that can provide your subject with beautiful silhouette light and backlight, and let this light draw a beautiful picture for you.

At the same time, the most common mistake in portrait photography under natural light is that the light is used in the wrong direction. If you see the beautiful light around the trunk, you can immediately set up a camera on the opposite side to take pictures. But you should know that the light surrounding the trunk also surrounds the subject's face, and it may shine from the back of his head, which is the wrong direction of light.

Attachment: a popular and easy-to-remember formula for running out of light.

Basic control:

1, plus: the background is bright and the main body is dark, and the flash is used as compensation.

2. subtraction: the subject is bright and the background is dark. Find something to block the light.

3. multiplication: the reflector should be used skillfully and placed properly.

4, except: single beam according to the face, plastic pockets come in handy.

Specific control:

1, looking for light before choosing scenery, facial beautification is the most important.

2. At the intersection of sunshine and shadow, you can see a good scene in the edge light.

3, the reflection area should be commonly used, and the light sense is beautiful and vivid.

4, lighting can't just stare at the face, hair background should be clear.

5, messy light is not available, facial lighting should be clean.

6. Although the lighting position is important, the opportunity to use light needs to be controlled.

7. Under the best light, turn around and choose beautiful scenery.

8. You didn't feel wrong, and the light direction was not selected correctly.