6 IDEAL WAYS TO NOT FEEL A FAILURE IN PHOTO
Perhaps every portrait painter who shoots in the open air faces a problem concerning the main points on which a good portrait depends, such as staging, lighting, composition, etc. And perhaps the biggest mistake made when shooting portraits outside the studio is the lack of attention to the background.
Photographers who do not carefully study the surrounding space in which a photo session takes place are doomed to failure. When they begin to review the footage, it is sure to find out that most of the pictures can be sent to the basket just because the background was not given due attention.
Not one customer will pay for the pictures, where a branch, some other unnecessary detail “sticks out” from a person’s head or other parts of the body. Ignoring the details of the background causes undoubted damage not only to creativity, but also to the financial component of the photographer.
Both staging and lighting play a huge role in creating a dynamic portrait. (We have already written about the most common schemes for shooting a portrait in the material “Every photographer wants to know about the 6 basic portrait lighting modes”). However, background is an equally important component that requires attention. Do not forget to spend time and think through some things that will help create decent portraits. What subtleties and nuances need to be considered, let’s look further.
A portrait is a story about a person, so do not be afraid to approach. Look at the person very closely. Remember that scaling means not only a face image on the whole card. You can include in the frame a close-up of the hand and some details of the interior.
The most natural arrangement of the model in the frame is when the eyes are on the conditional line of the upper third of the entire area (the “golden ratio” in the photo). Try not to deviate from this rule, if you do not seek to intentionally create tension. Another exception may be the situation when a person is located at the bottom of the frame completely.
Use entourage to focus all attention on the subject
To create a good portrait, it is sometimes necessary, instead of removing the environment, to use it properly. Doorways, arches, windows, arbors – everything can be applied so that the viewer can focus on the main subject of the shooting as much as possible, thus increasing the interest of the audience.
Moving the model away from the background, shoot with the aperture priority (f / 4.0), so you create a shallow depth of field and blur the background, it will turn into a great artistic addition to the portrait.
On a blurred textured background, the model will stand out and attract the viewer’s attention.
Use lines
Oddly enough, but the brickwork is the perfect background for a portrait! Lines, of course, add interest and attract attention. Keep in mind that almost any lines in the background will make the portrait in the open air more voluminous, the photographer should only ensure that the lines do not cut the body along the neck, joints, etc., and do not “stick out” from unsightly points. The main thing is that the lines look harmonious.
Change angles
Sometimes it is very easy to remove interfering objects from the background, just shifting from the camera or changing the tilt angle slightly when shooting. Move around the model, it is likely that your movement will contribute to the desired angle, and you will be able to catch the perfect position before pressing the shutter button.
Concentrate on the details of the background, make your subject of photography the main thing in the picture, invest in the portrait – then you will know for sure that you have done everything possible to create a competitive card, and photography lessons were not in vain for you.