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Guide for portrait photograph photographyy
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Composition Compositi on of portrait photogra photography phy
Portrait photos account for more than 80% of the photos that we take. Portrait shots are everywhere including daily photos, advertisements, fashion photography and documentary lms. Most photographers consider portrait shooting to be both the easiest and the hardest ha rdest part of their job. You You have to be able to bring out the emotions of the models, which is dierent than photos of landscape or stationary subjects. This may sound dicult, but a few points are all it takes to be able to take a much bet ter photo. Let’s take a look at portrait photo shooting tips that beginners easily miss.
Guide for portrait photography
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Composition Compositi on of portrait photograph photographyy
Lean closer Most people shoot portrait photos too far away from their subject. Unless you are shooting at a travel destination, keep the subject as close as possible.
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Composition Compositi on of portrait photogra photography phy
Placing the portrait in the peripheral parts of the screen Placing the portrait in the center of the screen makes it look stuy. Let's compose the spaces dierently by placing the portrait to the slight left or right of the center.
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Guide for portrait photography
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Composition Compositi on of portrait photography
Placing spaces to the direction that the portrait is looking towards If a subject is placed slightly o-center, it is good to leave spaces in the direction the subject is looking. Sometimes creating a portrait in an unexpected way can create a refreshing look.
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Composition Compositi on of portrait photogra photography phy
Help the portrait to relax and adopt a natural pose and expression Allow the portrait to relax and pose naturally. Anyone can be awkward and sti when being photographed, so it is important import ant to learn to talk to the portrait to help them relax and look natural.
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Portrait photos and using light Using light during outdoor shots Articial lighting may be used in studio or indoor shots, but outout door shots require dependence on the sun's light. The state of light is important because it determines the mood of the photo. A basic important point in using light is to select the direction of the light based on the subject. Depending on the direction of the light, light , the shadows over the face become dierent. Therefore, a comcompletely dierent mood can be shot, even with the same portrait. Backlight
Cross light
Cross light
Side light
Side light
Plain light
Plain light
Front light
Direction of light
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Portrait photos and using light
Direction of light Often, the most unfavorable conditions for photographers are in sunlight from 11AM to 3PM. At this time the sun is directly overhead, creating heavy shadows on the subject and makes landscape photos at and expressionless. When the subject is being exposed to a high sun, this kind of situation produces a bad photo with strong shadows. A strong shadow appears under the sub ject's eyes due due to the sun's sun's position position abov above e the subject's head. ⇠
It is better to take a photo in backlit conditions or in shadow. ⇢
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Portrait photos and using light
Using backlight Backlight is the favorite lighting of photographers. The user looks towards the sun with the subject placing the sun behind his/her back. The portrait is in a natural state of shadow, and a highlight is formed around the head due to the backlight that provides a sense of dimension to the photo.
A photo taken in backlit conditions where the exposure is set to the shadows. Unwanted shadows are prevented and a highlight is formed around the head area.
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Portrait photos and using light
Exposure compensation in backlight shooting One problem when shooting with backlight is that the subject may appear darker. Exposure compensation is essential to avoid a dark appearance when taking this type of shot. To adjust the exposure, shoot the photo 1-2 steps brighter. Alternatively select a spot for the exposure measurement, then measure the exposure on the subject's face only, and then shoot.
F1.8 1/2000s ISO100 45mm
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Portrait photos and using light Using diused light The most comfortable light for portrait shots is diused light. Dif fused light refers to a state where there are barely any shadows because the sun is covered by clouds during cloudy or rainy days. Soft light brings the portrait's expressions to life.
F1.8 1/250s ISO100 45mm
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Portrait photos and using light
Fascinating eects with diused light Practical use of light from a window Light coming through a window can have attractive eects and be used to enhance photographs. When indoor lighting is at a low level, sunlight coming through a window creates a strong contrast. If the light is less contrasting, sunlight can still create a warm and gentle atmosphere. Windows that face north and rarely receive direct sunlight can be useful for taking light-balanced photos that result in a 3D look.
F2 1/13s ISO100 30mm
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Selecting and using a lens
Out-focus photos using aperture depth In magazines, there are many photos where the subject is vivid and the background blurry. These are called out-focus photos and are dicult to create with compact camcameras. Most photographers prefer this type of portrait photo. It is very simple to take an out-focus photo. Choose a telephoto lens with a long focal distance and preferably open the aperture to shoot the photo. Also, lean close to the portrait, if possible, and place the background far away for good results. A wide angle lens is not suitable for reproducing an out-of-focus eect. If you have a zoom lens, use it to zoom in on the subject's torso and face. The following lenses are appropriate for capturing portraits: 30mm f2, 60mm Macro, 85mm f1.4, 18-200mm and 18-250mm.
F1.4 1/1250s ISO100 85mm
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Selecting and using a lens Indoor portrait photos Shooting portraits indoors is very dicult. In everyday life, more than half of all photos captured in a dark room fail. This is because indoor light levels are signicantly lower than outdoor light levels. Low light levels need a fully open aperture and a slower shutter speed. But a slow shutter speed results in blurred photos. Using a bright, large-caliber lens is important indoors. Another alternative is to raise the ISO sensitivity. Check the EV and raise it until the shutter speed becomes 1/60 of a second. Take into consideration that the quality of the photo decreases due to noise as the ISO increases.
F1.8 1/125s ISO100 45mm
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Selecting and using a lens
Using a wide-angle lens for portrait photos Although a wide-angle lens in not typically used for out-focus photos, using a wide-angle lens for portrait photos can provide an interesting perspective. You can capture both the full body of the subject and the beautiful landscape in one photo. 16mm, 20mm, and 18-200mm lenses are suitable. F4 1/125s ISO800 12mm
F4 1/200s ISO100 12mm
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Using a ash
SEF580A
SEF220A
SEF8A
The NX30 has a built in pop-up ash, and this ash can handle near distance portrait photos of around guide number 11. For other NX cameras, you can use the external ash. The electronic ash is synchronized with the exposure system of the camera. You can use it without specialist knowledge if you set both the camera and the ash in auto mode before you shoot. The ash is very useful for low light conditions, indoor areas or night shots. You can also use it as needed while outdoors and the light level is low. Also use the ash when there is a risk of camera shake, such as in very shaded places, early in the morning or during late afternoon. SEF580A is a new external ash. Its high capacity guide number 58 allows you to use the ash for a distant and wider area. Especially in High-speed sync mode, you can capture a photo even when the shutter speed is faster than 1/200s. Therefore, when you use the ash as an assist light outdoors, open the aperture to adjust the depth of eld. Or, use the high speed shutter to capture fast moving subjects. Moreover, Moreover, when you use wireless sync function, several ashes re at the same time while enjoying a broader range of creativity.
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Using a ash Flash A-TTL mode
tions. However, there is a limit to the
A-TTL mode provides automatic out-
amount of light that the ash emits.
put of optimum exposure by synchro-
Therefore, it is important to know the
nizing with the ISO, exposure, focal
appropriate distances to use it.
length of the lens, and range nder dial. It calculates the ideal amount of
Manual mode
light by ashing a preliminary light, and
Output can be manually adjusted in six
is quick to recharge because it only
levels (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32).
emits the precise amount of lighted
The ash emits light based on its own
needed for the correct exposure. By
settings without regard to the camera
using A-TTL mode, normal amounts of
settings, and it calculates the aperture
light can be calculated without sepa-
each time based on the shooting dis-
rate exposure compensation adjust-
tance. Because of this, beginners may
ment in the bounce ash.
need more experience in using manu-
Because A-TTL mode works on SMART
al mode.
Auto, P, A, and S modes, even begin-
When using 1/1, all of the charged light
ners to the ash can easily shoot phopho-
becomes discharged. In other words, it
tos without having to master its func-
has the highest amount of light.
Camera mode
Smart Auto Program(P)
Aperture Priority(A)
Shutter Priority(S)
Manual(M)
Aperture value
Auto
Manual
Auto
Manual
Shutter speed
Auto
Auto
Manual
Manual
Flash light output
Auto
Auto
Auto
Auto
Setting the fash light output, aperture value and shutter speed in A-TTL mode.
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Using a ash
Flash compensation in backlight Use of a ash does not have to be limited to indoor or night use. It can also be used outdoors for backlight shooting to compensate for exposure problems. Another option using backlight is to attach att ach a ash and shoot in A-TTL mode to compensate when dark areas appear on the subject's face.
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Using a ash
Using ash in night shooting When shooting a photo at night in front of a beautiful background, the background barely shows. The reason behind this is the shutter speed. If you use program mode among the camera's shooting modes, the shutter speed is at least 1/30 of a second when the ash emits light. Although enough light is delivered to the subject, the backbackground is too far from the ash and the shutter speed is too fast. Therefore, the backbackground barely registers. In these situations, you can shoot a ash photo after setting the shutter speed to 1/2 seconds to one second in shutter priority or manual mode instead of using program mode. One thing to watch out for at this time is to use a tripod because the shutter speed is very slow. The subject must also not move during this time.
Even when using flash, the background appears dark because of the shutter speed.
A photo where the subject and background have become merged because the portrait moved during the two seconds of exposure.
