Lighting skills of low-light street portrait photography

Lead: I believe that every photographer will want to have his own flash. When the flash leaves the top of the camera, the gameplay changes even more. In the early stage of shooting, flash was an essential item for me, but after shooting for a period of time, I began to feel more and more equipment, so I brought more tripods with flash, and more reflective umbrellas, reflectors and other equipment props, which was always better for me when needed. However, it took a lot of time in the process of disassembly, not to mention moving to other venues with big bags of equipment, so I began to contact low-light photography. This work is the first time that I have created it in low light, and I will share it with you in three paragraphs.

Lighting skills of street portrait photography in low light The first step of low light photography, where does the light source come from?

After getting used to the light source control of the off-board flash, it is really uncomfortable to eat only the light source at the scene, but as long as you carefully observe where the main light source comes from, the principle is the same as that of the flash fill light, it will come more naturally.

▲ It really takes a little courage to shoot in a crowded and bustling downtown, so I chose to shoot from the alley first. There are many street lamps in the alley. I find one lamp as the main light source, and other street lamps avoid from the lens angle. The same is true for street lamps with flashing lights, and the light source is softer. (F 1.4, ISO800 focal length 50 mm)

▲ Encountering two street lamps is like two off-site flashing lights. One of them must be the main light, and that main light is the main light source that complements the model. (F 1.4, ISO800 focal length 50 mm)

▲ Use the light source projected by the store to illuminate the model. After the light diffuses, it gives people a natural and soft feeling. (F 1.4, ISO 1000, focal length 50 mm)

▲ There is only one main light source in the parking lot, which is the same as the backlight generated by flashing lights, but it is quite soft because of the diffusivity of the on-site light source. (F 1.4, ISO 1000, focal length 50 mm)

▲ It is also a street lamp in the alley, but this scene uses the light source of the store's signboard to fill the light. If this light source is composed of flashing lights, I believe most people will believe it. (F 1.4, ISO 1000, focal length 50 mm)

Allen's warm reminder: Because shooting at night will produce more noise, ISO will be adjusted according to the environment and light source. This theme is more dominant in large aperture lenses. In addition to easy focusing, it can also improve the shutter speed. Try to keep the safety shutter at1/60s to avoid shaking.

Take a easy shot with the spirit of exploration.

For street shooting, because there is enough time, I like to shoot through exploration, that is to say, walking in the city, unexpected beauty will always make people excited, and such a happy mood will help the shooting process to be more relaxed and interesting.

▲ Crossing the road is a very common scene of walking on the street, which seems ordinary, but if street shooting can integrate Model into it, the whole work will be revitalized. (F 1.4, ISO800, focal length 50 mm)

▲ The lights at night are almost never white. It is no problem to shoot yellow or other colors, so that the street atmosphere at night can have more levels of changes. (F 1.4, ISO640, focal length 50 mm)

▲ The department store is a striking large-scale building in downtown area. If it can be used as a background, readers will feel more intimate when watching and reading. (F 1.4, ISO400, focal length 50 mm)

▲ A dazzling array of goods and people watching and buying on both sides of the store. This kind of life scene is natural, and I usually take this kind of picture. (F 1.4, ISO320, focal length 85 mm)

▲ In the process of street shooting, you won't stop shooting because of shooting outside. Many times, I will talk and play while walking. Only when you are very relaxed can you capture the natural expressions and movements at that moment. (F 1.4, ISO320, focal length 50 mm)

▲ For food stalls and the seemingly messy environment around them, there are all kinds of items that are closely related to people's lives, and individuals especially like them. Therefore, as long as the Model stands in the same place and drinks, it can still show the natural features of the street. (F 1.4, ISO500, focal length 85 mm)

Make good use of the natural environment and shape the present atmosphere.

There are surprises everywhere, which is also a fun place for street shooting, because every time you shuttle through a street, you will see different scenes, including buildings, landmarks, crowds and light sources. If the Model can be integrated into it, the atmosphere of the whole photo will definitely improve a lot.

▲ Some shops will be decorated in a fashionable or playful way. You can put the model in the picture along this arrangement. At this time, you only need to read a book and look up to become a scene in life. (F 1.4, ISO800, focal length 50 mm)