Cropping and Composition

Bracketing adds drama by 1-2-3 stops on the meter.  To either add or take away exposure.

On Manual, you can decide what is most important to you by making your settings on either f/stop or shutter then adjust bracketing to center.  Add drama by clicking +/- a stop or two.

Side Lighting might slim some people, but not in harsh lighting.

 

 Reflective lighting can be either silver that will cast a little harsh light or white soft board to make the lighting more soft.  As seasons change the light changes color.  Fall has a harsh lighting because the sun is small.  You may need flash or a reflector.  The best time of year for perfect lighting is the month between June - September.  Use reflector during the Fall and Winter months.  Early Spring and Early Winter are very harsh and difficult.  Digital cameras love soft shade.

Composition is the art of essences - what moves you.  Simple is the best.  Most have one main subject.  Set it up and before you take the picture, step up and take something you don't need.  Don't make it look busy.

 

For a group of people try to get people to wear solid outfits based on the time of season too.  If the outfits are busy then it will make the picture too busy; thus, distracting.  Get closer to the subject and cut out a lot of the background (busy) and focus on the main subject.

Portrait Shots 

• Bust Up - Head and shoulders
• Waist up - Waist 
• Knees - Just above the knees 
• Full Length - Full length 

"Don't crop at a joint!" 

Vertical or Horizontal 

 

If the subject is taller than wider, go vertical.  If the subject is wider than taller, go horizontal.

Composition 
Simplify 
Whatever your going to take, make it simple.  The more simple, the more impact.

 Rule of Thirds

Getting the subject out of center.  Be careful with your focusing.  Have the subject facing towards the open area.  Make some room.  An exception would be, if you have something to fill in the void.  Use those lines.  Diagonal lines are especially dynamics.  Make lines interesting because the eyes will follow.  Use trees, streams, building structures, roads, paths, etc.

Perspective
High and low.  You don't want everything at a  high or low angle.  Mix it up.  Short people, take photos either dropped down onto the person or low aiming up will make the person appear tall.  Heavy people, shoot from high looking down, makes them slim.  Don't do this all the time, just every now and then.

Framing
Will add to your picture.  Shoot through something like leaves to the subject.  Pick a few to do this, not all of them.

 

 Take about 30 pictures using everything I've learned to use.

1. Aperture
2. Shutter speed
3. Front lighting
4. Back lighting
5. Side lighting
6. Reflective lighting
7. Silhouette
8. Vertical 
9. Horizontal
10. Simple
11. Perspective
12. Framing

Types of Lighting

There are 5 types of lighting:

• Front Light
• Side Light
• Back Light
• Silhouette
• Reflective Light 

All light is good.  Every light has a quality.  The smaller the light source, the hard it appears.  

Soft and diffused light - The larger the light source, the softer the light appears.  Including less contrast, which is good for babies and older people.  The morning gives you contrast and shadows.  The evening will be softer.  Light always comes at a direction because every light has the quality and direction, it will have contrast.  

Contrast is harsh light or even all over the photo. It will show up all wrinkles and skin damage.  Not good for older people.  

Best time to take photographs based on the best quality lighting is summer time because it is closest to the earth.  Autumn and winter times are the most harsh lightings.  In the afternoon the sun will be small or small light source and farthest from the earth.  You will see more shadows and the color is different, harsh and golden.  

If you take photos in the Autumn.  The best lighting is early in the morning or late afternoon preferably in the shade.  Direct sunlight will cast a harsh light source, especially in the afternoon.  It's best to use the light source by having your subjects 5 steps into the tree line, in front of the sun.  This way, you will have enough light and they won't have sun grins or harsh lighting interfering with the photo.  You can also turn the subject from side to side, but turn the face towards the light.  

For the best evening shots, in the summer start at 6PM.  As days get shorter, fall back because light gets more harsh.  

Sources of lighting: 

• Ambient 
• Daylight
• Artificial - flash

Side lighting 

Side lighting has shadows on one side, which creates modeling (shape) and detail.  Works well for building or object not people, except for young people because the lighting will be harsh.  It is the most harsh in the late afternoon.  It brings out the roundness and depth.  

Watch for the triangle lighting on the face.  Using side light but turn face just enough light to make a triangle on the side where the shadow side.  It will model the cheeks and chin.  

You can make photos during overcast or rain clouds up to a point, right before the bottom falls out.  The clouds take the harshness and light is soft and easy.  

Back Lighting 

Use a little of it, but not a lot of light.  Back light will make a halo around the subject, but have something to reflect the light on the face (reflector, sidewalk, etc.)  When you are facing the sun, move over just a hair or you can place hand just over the lens or you will have a glare.  

Remember the meter read will reflect light, it will read the light in the back as well.  Give equal background lighting to your subject.   That is because if your subject were in the shade, but your background is bright, your subject will be dark or black (silhouette).  

Moods of the lighting that it sets - Dusk is dark enough for street lights, but before the sky is black. 

Capturing Light- overcast

Low lighting in contrast - muted shadows, but good details.  

Front Lighting 

Direct sun in a large area.  

Contrast - shadows are soft.  Subject needs to be in the shade.  If the subject is in the direct light it would make their faces look too harsh.  You can have the subject in the harsh light, but don't let them look at the camera because the harsh light would look terrible on their face.  Bright light is great with children because you want the shutter speed to be fast for a child that is busy.  

For family portrait - it is best in the evening.  You must have a large light source and a big enough tree line in order to fit everyone.  If you have a family reunion photo, where you have too many people to fit in the shade, it might be best to have all of them in the direct sunlight.  Make sure to have them close their eyes until you are about to take the picture.  

Reflective Lighting

Reflective lighting is back lighting with a reflective object in the front of the subject.  The reflective object can be something white, a cardboard that is white or wrapped in tin foil, rocks, grass, concrete, water, etc.  It is best to get close to white objects so it will help make a soft and beautiful light source.

Silhouette

Subject will be completely defined by shape alone.  You must have light on one side only.  When all the light is on one side of the earth.  You will have 2-3 minutes to do this.  Use the manual and adjust the exposure +/- (1-2-3 stops) could help create silhouette. 

Flash or Artificial Lighting 

It eliminates harsh shadows or dark lighting.  Might be used especially with family and the background is lighter than the subject.  Flash will over expose, if your too close or flash is bigger than the light source (5-6 ft).  Button on the side of the camera will force the flash, if you are using Manual, Shutter, Aperture or Program.  

Note: With a reflector, always meter to read the lighting. 

Key Point Notes to remember: 

• Shade in late afternoon - ISO 400 and up (start) for portraits and group photo
• In bright sun - ISO 100-200
• Dusk - building or night time ISO 800 and work way up. 
• Keep building in side light for the best detail
• Group Photo - most source of light and huge tree line. Put group in full (40+ people) before putting in tree line because you will have harsh shadow.  Just have people close their eyes right before the picture is taken.