Seven skill to improve portrait photography

Lead: How to improve portrait photography skills? Here are a few examples to tell you. Get up and have a look!

I. Classification of portraits

In my mind, there is a general classification of portraits: descriptive portraits, narrative portraits and creative portraits.

The so-called descriptive portrait, the main purpose is to depict the appearance of the characters, which is more common in portraits, art photos, wedding photos and other portraits that mainly show the posture of the characters themselves.

The so-called narrative portrait is common in news photography, which shows people an event through the eyes, body, movements and scenes of the characters. There are two main differences between it and portrait description: first, it does not simply describe the character form, but expresses things other than the character through the character form. Secondly, the subject of this portrait didn't realize that he was being photographed or didn't communicate with the photographer to achieve a specific form.

The so-called creative portrait is easy to understand, so I won't explain it.

Of course, some descriptive portraits are also narrative, such as this group of portraits that I admire very much (although the colors are strange):

Narrative portrait

But because of its posing nature, I still don't classify it as a narrative portrait.

Second, the criteria for judging excellent portraits

1. Eye

Eyes are the windows of the soul, and their importance in portrait photography is self-evident. If a person's eyes are burned like a photographer, generally speaking (note: generally speaking, don't go into a dead end, there are thousands of cases of photography, and my level can't be enumerated exhaustively), it is not an excellent portrait photography. List two pictures to prove the importance of eyes:

I believe you will feel dizzy when you look at the first picture, but not when you look at the second picture. Why?

First, because generally speaking, when a person looks at a portrait, the first point of gaze is the eyes, and when the number of eyes does not match your visual experience, your brain tries to balance the positioning, but it can't find the balance point, so it will feel dizzy. Secondly, the position of the eyes is very prominent and important, belonging to the golden position of the face, and other facial organs can not play such a role.

The influence of eyes on human visual system

For another example, the difference between the two images after vertical rotation is due to the influence of eyes on human visual system.

From the above, I believe you can understand why the eyes in a portrait are so important. A good portrait, not only the eyes focus accurately, but also the eyes are full of emotion and light. Why do other people's heads shine, but mine don't? The reason lies in the use of fairing and the use of reflector in backlight. Generally speaking, when the eyes are smooth, the eyes can be filled with light, but the hair at this time lacks high-gloss texture. When the light is backlit, the hair has texture, but the eyes don't? Bright? At this time, it will be much better if a reflector is added.

These details are all details that affect the quality of portraits.

Let's look at two pictures, just like crying. Which one do you prefer?

Eyes are the key.

Let's assume that in the first picture, if we focus on the corners of the mouth instead of the eyes, can you imagine this effect?

The first picture was shot from above, and the second picture was shot from the side. The first one should sharpen the details through some later means to increase the expressive force of light and shadow. The second one is closer to reality and closer to the effect seen by human eyes. Individuals (or several of us, because we agree) prefer the second one. The first one gave me the feeling that a child didn't get the toy he wanted, so he looked up and asked an adult for it. But the eyes in the second part really reveal the hardships and helplessness of life, and the details are extremely well handled. The sweat at the tip of the nose, the sweat at the corners of the mouth, the brightness of the eyes, the texture of the skin and the falling tears, we can even feel the layer above the skin.

For example, which of these two pictures do you prefer?

Eyes convey emotions.

I prefer the second one. The first one is sharp, and the film is not close to the human eye. This is no problem, because sharpening can sometimes enhance the appeal (such as the sense of time in the beard), but the flaw of this portrait lies in the eyes, and the whites of the eyes are too prominent, which makes the whole eyes look empty and lack expression, but there is no corresponding facial expression as support. Over-sharpening in the later period may have a tendency of dead fish eyes (well, it may be a misnomer). The second picture, from eyes to expressions, shows consistency and conveys the emotions of the characters well.

Through these examples, I hope everyone can understand the king of portraits? The importance of eyes.

Second, the light is used up.

There are many kinds of light, such as side light, backlight, front light and borrowing light. Making good use of light can set off a good atmosphere, such as:

Good use of light can set off the atmosphere.

This is a photo that I personally like very much. It's not strange to use, but it's very comfortable, especially the clothes of the characters are all black and white, which is very contrasting.

This is not much to expand, but it can explain a person's basic skills, whether it is natural light or artificial light. As for how to look at the basic skills, shoot more. Only by taking more pictures can we know what light is the most difficult to grasp. If you don't let go of artificial light, you will never know the beauty of other people's lights.

Third, expression

If this is not easy to unfold, we won't unfold it. We are all Jianghu people, so we should know how to read a person's emotions.

Pay attention to her eyes, her facial expression! Hey, you! Where to find it! This is a successful+excellent portrait.

Fourth, composition

This question is too broad, so I will simply talk about several composition methods (note: it does not mean that works without these methods are not good, nor does it mean that works with this method are good, let alone that you will definitely get extra points with this method).

1. Foreground composition

Portrait photography is often more important to explain the environment. If you make good use of the prospect, it will make the picture vivid. Some scenes, if you don't borrow the foreground, are like a person being photographed on a vague background, which is very dull. For example:

Highlight the layering of the picture.

The layering of the picture came out at once, the overall environment was rendered clearly, and the photographer's position was also explained clearly. As for the negative examples, you can go to some large aperture lens forums to see.

The picture is dynamic and static, and the environment is rendered in place.

For another example, don't underestimate the white dots in the picture, it's just the finishing touch! The feeling of cherry blossoms falling suddenly came out, the picture was dynamic and static, and the environment was rendered in place. At the same time, this picture also shows that people don't have to be discerning.

2. Dynamic and static combination

This composition has a sense of contrast and impact. A common picture is a person standing in the middle of the street, and the pedestrians around him are blurred because of long exposure, so as to reflect the passage of time.

Because long exposure is blurred.

For another example, you see some people taking pictures of cherry blossoms, and some people always shake the cherry trees hard, just to create a combination of static and dynamic, but I don't advocate this method. Taking pictures when a gust of wind blows is very poetic and quality.

Directing composition

Guiding composition is to let the photographer hold the hand of the viewer to appreciate his work, and the photographer has certain initiative. MM, which is often seen sitting on the rails and taking pictures, is an application in this respect.

Guiding composition

This picture, guided by a ladder, stands out.

Guided by the ladder, it attracts people's eyes to move.

The above three composition methods can really add points to your portrait if used properly, but there are too many composition methods, so I won't list them one by one. Good composition will give you a good sense of beauty.

V. Story

I can't explain this clearly in a few words. Everyone's experience is different and what they read is different.

Sixth, innovation.

This is especially important for creative portraits. It's really creative and beautiful!

Creative portrait

Seven, posture

Don't have such a misunderstanding about the posture of a portrait. A good portrait is equal to a beautiful posture.

The posture is combined with human characteristics. For example, women wearing cheongsam should be gentle and restrained (of course, it is not excluded that some women wearing cheongsam smoke and cross their legs for special effects). At this time, her posture should be gentle and restrained. But it is obviously unrealistic and out of character for a coal miner to force him to pose under the wet ground. For example:

Attitude is combined with human characteristics.

Everyone should look at this kind of picture more, which is in line with the temperament of sunshine beauty.

The posture of the characters is stiff and uncoordinated, but it fits the characteristics of the characters very well.

Does this figure and posture look good? It's obviously stiff and uncoordinated, but it fits the characteristics of the role. If you insist that he pose beautifully, then I think the quality of this portrait should be degraded.