Thursday, March 13, 2014

Tips on Photographing People

Tips on Photographing People

The advent of digital photography has turned many people into budding photographers. You don't have to be a professional photographer with tons of expensive gear to spend a fun afternoon taking portraits--just grab a friend and start snapping away. By learning a few easy tips and techniques, you'll be taking stunning pictures in no time.

The Rule of Thirds

    The rule of thirds is a common technique employed by photographers. It's a simple way to immediately improve the overall composition of your picture by giving it balance and a natural flow. To use the rule of thirds, look through the viewfinder of your camera and imagine cutting the image into equally spaced thirds. Do this both horizontally and vertically, creating an imaginary grid that looks like a tic-tac-toe board. The imaginary lines will intersect at four points. Center your subject directly over these points or in the middle of the intersecting lines. Beginning photographers may think that it's better to position their subject right in the middle of the frame, however photographing your subject off-center by using the rule of thirds is actually more pleasing to the eye.

Angles and Light

    When photographing a person or group of people, make sure your camera isn't too low. Photographing people from below can create unflattering angles, forcing people to look down and causing a visible double chin. Similarly, if you're too low and your subject doesn't look down, you'll be photographing straight up their nose, which can also make for an awkward picture. The best portraits are shot straight on, even with a person's eyes, or slightly higher. Shooting a picture slightly higher can result in pleasing angles, making a person's eyes seem wider. Photographing higher can also give the appearance of a slimmer face.

    Try not to photograph people with the sun directly in front of them. This will make them squint, and their skin may appear washed out. If you have to shoot in a bright and sunny location, position your subject with the sun either to the side or behind them, and use a fill flash if necessary to even out the lighting. If possible, shoot outdoor shots either early in the morning or right before dusk. The light is especially pleasing during these times of day, a perfect combination of not too bright and not too dark.

More Tips

    Don't be afraid to zoom in when photographing people. Fill the frame with what you want to capture and try to avoid too much dead space. Using a special filter, such as a soft focus or a spot filter, can give a portrait more impact. It's also important to think about how you'd like to capture a person's personality. Choosing the correct background can help tell the story of the photo's subject. Maybe your subject is a thoughtful, poetic type. In this case, photograph them at the beach or in nature, surrounded by trees. If your subject is a more boisterous person, try a busy street scene as a background. Finally, don't forget that some of the best photographs are of random, unstaged moments, so be sure to snap a few photos when your subject isn't paying attention.


Tips on Photographing People

The advent of digital photography has turned many people into budding photographers. You don't have to be a professional photographer with tons of expensive gear to spend a fun afternoon taking portraits--just grab a friend and start snapping away. By learning a few easy tips and techniques, you'll be taking stunning pictures in no time.

The Rule of Thirds

    The rule of thirds is a common technique employed by photographers. It's a simple way to immediately improve the overall composition of your picture by giving it balance and a natural flow. To use the rule of thirds, look through the viewfinder of your camera and imagine cutting the image into equally spaced thirds. Do this both horizontally and vertically, creating an imaginary grid that looks like a tic-tac-toe board. The imaginary lines will intersect at four points. Center your subject directly over these points or in the middle of the intersecting lines. Beginning photographers may think that it's better to position their subject right in the middle of the frame, however photographing your subject off-center by using the rule of thirds is actually more pleasing to the eye.

Angles and Light

    When photographing a person or group of people, make sure your camera isn't too low. Photographing people from below can create unflattering angles, forcing people to look down and causing a visible double chin. Similarly, if you're too low and your subject doesn't look down, you'll be photographing straight up their nose, which can also make for an awkward picture. The best portraits are shot straight on, even with a person's eyes, or slightly higher. Shooting a picture slightly higher can result in pleasing angles, making a person's eyes seem wider. Photographing higher can also give the appearance of a slimmer face.

    Try not to photograph people with the sun directly in front of them. This will make them squint, and their skin may appear washed out. If you have to shoot in a bright and sunny location, position your subject with the sun either to the side or behind them, and use a fill flash if necessary to even out the lighting. If possible, shoot outdoor shots either early in the morning or right before dusk. The light is especially pleasing during these times of day, a perfect combination of not too bright and not too dark.

More Tips

    Don't be afraid to zoom in when photographing people. Fill the frame with what you want to capture and try to avoid too much dead space. Using a special filter, such as a soft focus or a spot filter, can give a portrait more impact. It's also important to think about how you'd like to capture a person's personality. Choosing the correct background can help tell the story of the photo's subject.

    Enhance your photography skill,The Top Secret Photography Techniques

    . Maybe your subject is a thoughtful, poetic type. In this case, photograph them at the beach or in nature, surrounded by trees. If your subject is a more boisterous person, try a busy street scene as a background. Finally, don't forget that some of the best photographs are of random, unstaged moments, so be sure to snap a few photos when your subject isn't paying attention.



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