This
week we looked at photographing people. This is an area that I probably
feel the least comfortable with, but there are times when we are at an
event and we need to be able to step up to the mark and deliver a
photograph that will commemorate the occasion.
If you're indoors I
would discourage the use of “on-camera” flash whenever you can get away
with it. The problem with “on-camera” flash is that the light is
harsh, direct and always comes from the direction of the camera so you
will not get any shadow and you will most likely create red-eye. It is
also impossible to remain discreet when using a flash.
If you're indoors I would recommend disabling the flash, setting the aperture as wide as possible, the shutter speed as slow as possible and the ISO as high as necessary. Don’t forget the white balance.
Portraits
You will need as much light as possible so get close to your light source. A window during the day is a great light source, but preferably not in direct sunlight. A reflector can be used to fill in the shadows if necessary. You do not need to go out and buy a fancy reflector a piece of white card, paper or cloth will do the job. One tip someone mentioned was to use a fold-up windscreen heat reflector.
We want people to relax when having their photograph taken, so we need to be relaxed and confident ourselves. It will be difficult to relax if we are getting stressed about which setting the camera should be on , so take time to know your equipment. Practice changing settings while you have time to yourself, but also practice taking photos of people in everyday situations. When the time comes at that special occasion, you will know the settings to use for an outstanding photo.
It may sound clichéd, but talking to and interacting with your subject will help them relax, take some time to get to know the person. This is a really important point when taking photos of children. It doesn’t have to be a half hour in-depth discussion, just ask two or three questions in a relaxed manner that allows them to talk a little about themselves.
If you're indoors I would recommend disabling the flash, setting the aperture as wide as possible, the shutter speed as slow as possible and the ISO as high as necessary. Don’t forget the white balance.
Portraits
You will need as much light as possible so get close to your light source. A window during the day is a great light source, but preferably not in direct sunlight. A reflector can be used to fill in the shadows if necessary. You do not need to go out and buy a fancy reflector a piece of white card, paper or cloth will do the job. One tip someone mentioned was to use a fold-up windscreen heat reflector.
We want people to relax when having their photograph taken, so we need to be relaxed and confident ourselves. It will be difficult to relax if we are getting stressed about which setting the camera should be on , so take time to know your equipment. Practice changing settings while you have time to yourself, but also practice taking photos of people in everyday situations. When the time comes at that special occasion, you will know the settings to use for an outstanding photo.
It may sound clichéd, but talking to and interacting with your subject will help them relax, take some time to get to know the person. This is a really important point when taking photos of children. It doesn’t have to be a half hour in-depth discussion, just ask two or three questions in a relaxed manner that allows them to talk a little about themselves.
Context
One particular aspect of portrait work is to place your subject in a situation where they are doing something or obviously in a situation where they have been taking part in an activity. To this end we spent a little time visiting some of the other classes and managed to get some interesting shots of cake makers, guitarists, artists, ICTers and spanish learners.
Here's a link to my efforts .... http://flickr.com/gp/
One particular aspect of portrait work is to place your subject in a situation where they are doing something or obviously in a situation where they have been taking part in an activity. To this end we spent a little time visiting some of the other classes and managed to get some interesting shots of cake makers, guitarists, artists, ICTers and spanish learners.
Here's a link to my efforts .... http://flickr.com/gp/
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