- Settings and Features to Make Great Portraits
- Poring Over the Picture
- Automatic Portrait Mode
- Aperture Priority Mode
- Metering Modes for Portraits
- The AE-L (Auto Exposure Lock) Feature
- Focusing: The Eyes Have It
- Classic Black and White Portraits
- The Portrait Picture Control for Better Skin Tones
- Face Detection with Live View
- Portraits on the Move
- Tips for Shooting Better Portraits
- Frame the scene
- Chapter 6 Assignments
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Frame the scene
Using elements in the scene to create a frame around your subject is a great way to draw the viewer in. You don’t have to use a window frame to do this. Just look for elements in the foreground that could be used to force the viewer’s eye toward your subject (Figure 6.20).
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Figure 6.20 The sunbeam from the window on the opposite wall created a frame around my subject.
ISO 100 • 1/500 sec. • f/3.2 • 70mm lens
Keep an eye on your background
Sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in taking a great shot that you forget about the smaller details. Try to keep an eye on what is going on behind your subject so she doesn’t end up with things popping out of her head (Figures 6.21 and 6.22).
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Figure 6.21 (left) A fence post in the background is going right into the subject’s head.
ISO 100 • 1/500 sec. • f/2.8 • 195mm lens
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Figure 6.22 (right) By moving the camera a little to the left, I was able to remove the distracting post from the photo.
ISO 100 • 1/500 sec. • f/2.8 • 195mm lens
Give them a healthy glow
Nearly everyone looks better with a warm, healthy glow. Some of the best light of the day happens just a little before sundown, so shoot at that time if you can (Figure 6.23).
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Figure 6.23 You just can’t beat the glow of the late afternoon sun for adding warmth to your portraits.
ISO 400 • 1/800 sec. • f/2.8 • 200mm lens
More than just a pretty face
Most people think of a portrait as a photo of someone’s face. Don’t ignore other aspects of your subjects that reflect their personality—hands, especially, can go a long way toward describing someone (Figure 6.24) and capturing the moment.
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Figure 6.24 There’s more to a person than just his or her face. Hands can tell a lot about what is happening in the scene.
ISO 200 • 1/320 sec. • f/2.8 • 200mm lens
Get down on their level
If you want better pictures of children, don’t shoot from an adult’s eye level. Getting the camera down to the child’s level will make your images look more personal (Figure 6.25).
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Figure 6.25 Sometimes taking photographs of children means kneeling to get the camera down on their level, but the result is a much better image.
ISO 200 • 1/320 sec. • f/5.6 • 200mm lens
Eliminate space between your subjects
One of the problems you can encounter when taking portraits of more than one person is that of personal space. What feels like a close distance to the subjects can look impersonal to the viewer. Have your subjects move close together, eliminating any open space between them (Figure 6.26).
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Figure 6.26 Getting kids to squish together will usually result in great smiles and laughter.
ISO 100 • 1/100 sec. • f/2.8 • 200mm lens
Don’t be afraid to get close
When you are taking someone’s picture, don’t be afraid of getting close and filling the frame (Figure 6.27). This doesn’t mean you have to shoot from a foot away; try zooming in and capture the details.
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Figure 6.27 Filling the frame with the subject can lead to a much more intimate portrait.
ISO 400 • 1/60 sec. • f/4 • 50mm lens