Low-key portrait shooting strategy is open

Lead: In portrait photography, photos with strong tone and three-dimensional sense are called low-key photos. This kind of photo can show the stable, calm, reserved and dignified character of the characters. Come and have a look!

How to choose high-profile or low-profile

High-profile photos, concise and clear. It uses a large area of white to set off a small area of black, improving the visual value of black tone. Low-key photos and high-profile photos are just the opposite in tone configuration. It should be noted that it is necessary to judge whether to use high-profile or low-key according to the theme and expression intention.

Compared with high-profile performance, low-profile performance in portrait photography is easier to highlight the characters in the picture, and the characters are often in the bright area of the whole picture, so the visual effect is more prominent. The visual meaning of a low-key picture is deeper, more melancholy and heavier than that of a high-key picture, which can focus the viewer's attention on the characters in the picture well. In low-key portrait photos, dark tones account for the vast majority of the picture, and a small number of bright areas are often the skin color and clothing of the characters.

Low-key portrait light distribution method

Sidelights or semi-backlights are often used to take low-key photos. On the one hand, it can outline the model, on the other hand, it can cast a large shadow between the model and the camera, creating a strong low-key effect. In practice, how to set the lighting to achieve the effect of low-key portrait? There are several ways to arrange the light in the shed for you.

Lighting example 1

This is a typical low-key portrait light distribution method. Pay attention to the parameters given in the figure. This is the usage of studio lighting. If we don't have studio lights, it's ok to use an external flashlight, but the power of the external flashlight is relatively small. At this time, we can improve ISO and increase the aperture, and achieve similar results.

Lighting example 2

Move the main light source forward in parallel and move the eyepiece lamp to the right of the camera.

Lighting example 3

Try the top light source and try a more different lighting effect.

After talking about the light distribution in the shed, how to use the light source outdoors?

When shooting in natural light, we can take advantage of the strong contrast between the characters and the background, and with the limited tolerance of the camera and the accurate exposure of the characters, we can often darken the background in the shadow and create a low-key picture atmosphere. When metering, low-key portrait photography should adopt spot metering mode to measure people's faces.

In addition, light-colored ornaments can be used to enrich the picture composition. For example, when shooting, you can pin a light-colored hairpin on the model's head, so that the picture is neither dull nor beautified. But it should be concise, in the right place, and not distracting.

Artistic expression of low-key portrait

Keep a low profile. Portrait is to create a low and dim visual effect, which is often used to express a feeling of depression or decadence. Of course, it can also create some mysterious or tasteful temperament. In the regional light environment, putting the characters in the position of light irradiation and using the sensitivity of the camera to increase the contrast between the characters and the dark background can achieve a charming low-key effect.

In short, if you plan to shoot a low-key portrait, please pay attention.

The soft and low-key image is reduced, but the contrast between tones is very small. It shows the level and texture of the subject with close tones and shadows of details. The soft and low-key light ratio is controlled between 1: 4. The contrast between light and shade is strong, and the light ratio is controlled between 1: 8.

When taking low-key photos, we often use side light or semi-backlight. We should choose a dark background, and the color of people's clothes should be dark.

Exposure should be sufficient to ensure that there are enough layers in the shadow part.

The whole picture has a strong tone, but it is best to have a white tone. Even if the area is small, this white tone can make the whole picture full of vitality.

Low-key portrait photos have a great contrast, and the face and body of the model often have uneven illumination. It is necessary to carefully control the light to avoid the deviation of the angle and position of the person's light, otherwise it will affect the overall effect of the photo.

Background selection of low-key portraits

When you are new to low-key portrait shooting, you can choose a pure black background first, so that the subject can be completely set off on the black tone. Under the background of small white tone, light tone and large black tone, the outline and facial features of the main characters in the picture will be separated from the background under the action of light, so that the spiritual temperament of the characters in the picture can be fully expressed.

Background materials should generally be selected with good light absorption, such as black flannel, black cotton cloth, no imitation cloth, rough dark walls and so on. Some photo studios use a dark paper background. The disadvantage of this paper is its high reflectivity, which will make the background gloomy. Of course, it is possible if the light is well controlled.

Background color: After shooting practice, in addition to black with high saturation, you can also use a series of dark blacks such as general blue, dark green, black red, black purple and black brown according to the shooting theme.

Background pattern: Monochrome background is the majority. Because low-key works use little but fine, it is difficult to show hierarchy with patterned background.

Models make low-key portraits more brilliant.

The pose of the model should be on the side, which will make the nose, eyes, mouth and face of the character get better performance and form highlights in these parts. The rest is the shade tone, which makes a wonderful low-key portrait photo.