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ACCESS TO CVU |
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Enhance Digital Photographs |
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Duncan Wardwell (duncan@cvuhs.org) |
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Picture all the possibilities |
THE POWERS THAT BE
This slide show demonstrates some useful tips for capturing portraits.
TRADE TECHNICAL TIPS
| Lenses Short telephoto lenses give more room to operate without losing the close-up of the subject. Beware of limited depth of field. |
| Flash-dance Observe camera settings such as auto, manual, fill-flash & red-eye. Utilize the inverse square law, bounce effects, and filters to modify the photographic results. |
| I have seen the (other) light Direct sunlight can be diffused with thin curtains, paper, or by shooting at dawn or dusk. Use secondary lights at a 45o from above the subject. Reflect light with clothing and parabolic structures. |
| Vroom-Zoom Utilize optical zoom features to quickly compose your subject without changing lenses. Experiment with different angles as you compose with the Rule of Thirds. If you want a small subject to be life-size or larger then review macro- options. |
| Beg, borrow, and reveal View professional photographs and copy styles you like. Keep the karma rolling and share some secrets with a friend or peer. |
ALL HANDS ON DECK
Take the time to choose a setting and composition. Aim & Shoot. Again. Got it? Now try out a technical tip (above) with a classmate and compare results.
THE SPIRIT OF PORTRAITS & CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHY
Capture the soul of your subject and setting as you utilize these different composition tips.
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TYPE |
DESCRIPTION |
TIPS |
| Formal Portraits | Pictures of a person willing to cooperate. | Scout out your setting and set up secondary lights and reflectors beforehand. Get your subject comfortable then test flash & exposure settings. Highlight a section of the face for focus. Take at least two photographs from different angles. |
| Group Portraits | We the people. . . | Let someone else arrange the group as you determine the best light angles. Ask yourself if there is a center of attention or a pattern to highlight. Take pictures before & after the actual "say cheese!" Shutter delays allow you to become a part of the picture. |
| Environmental | Put a person in their place. | Be a chameleon and don't hesitate to shoot with an unorthodox approach. Try to be sneaky & quick. Is there such a thing as a landscape portrait? |
| Candid | A blend of subject & setting. | Use the setting to dictate angles, depth of field, lighting. Increase the depth of field. Experiment with panning and a slow shutter speed. Be candid yourself. |
| Close-up | Capture a small subject with specific and life-size detail. | Utilize the Tulip icon on most digital cameras. Use a tripod, shutter delays, or other steadying techniques. Use light reflectors and wind barriers to optimize results. |
EYE SPY
Your eyes and brain quickly stitch together many images that often don't translate to a specific picture. In order to maximize your ability to capture what you see then you must become familiar with your camera's buttons, icons, and menus.
Pay special attention to the quality of the sample photographs in class. Practice taking pictures in auto mode with shutter auto-exposure lock and view the results. Then adjust aperture or shutter speed settings for desired results.
Enhance your photos by test driving the Image>Adjustments menu on the Toolbar. How can you modify the brightness and contrast of some not so perfect photos?
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ALL HANDS ON DECK
What you see is what you get. There's always room to learn just a bit more.
The best way to understand your camera, subject, and environmental factors is to experiment with different buttons, settings, and times of day.