5 GREAT TIPS OF SHOOTING OUTDOOR PHOTO
Here are few photography basics that we most photographers tend to ignore or even do not know about.
1. Look For Shade The sunshine is the most gorgeous natural light source, but depending on the style of shot I am going for, especially in the middle of the afternoon where the sun is throwing harsh light and shadows on my subject, look for shade. Not just any shade, but shade that is close to a light source.
2. Use Your Environment As A Natural Reflector utilizing the environment to reflect beautiful light on my subject. This comes in handy, especially in situations where one does not have a friend on location to hold a reflector, when needed. As you look for the perfect location, also look for a light colored wall (usually painted white) directly across from where you would shoot. This opposite wall will then be used as a reflector! Having this extra punch of “light” the my subject automatically brightens the eyes and cast a beautiful glow to the skin.
3. Magic Hour There’s something so magical about the glowing light that the sun produces at certain hours of the day. When you have a scheduled photo shoot, always try shoot one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset, also known as the “Magic Hour”. Of course this isn’t always the case, but “Magic Hour” is a special time of day where everything is just right! During these times the sun is low in the sky, which produces a soft light which is so much more flattering than the harsh midday sun. This golden light is so fun to play and experiment with- this would be a great time to capture some pretty sun flare as the sun is setting. One thing to keep in mind while shooting during “magic hour” is how fast the light changes- you definitely want to factor in any set up time to ensure you take advantage of the this short, but sweet light.
4. Don’t Judge A Location By It’s Environment This is like the saying “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”….same concept. You can certainly find a gem of a location in the roughest looking building, if you look for it. Choosing a location with diversity is key. Choosing a location truly brings out the inner artists- it’s definitely something that can be learned if strengthened and utilized often. When you are looking for locations, keep your eyes peeled for beautiful details. The entire building may not be something you would use, but sometimes you just need a small wall, sign or doorway to create the perfect photo!
5. Back lighting- Making It Work The perfect lighting situation doesn’t always exist when we need it, but it’s a strength to be able to make any situation for work for you. When the shade cannot be found, another technique is to use your light source to back light your subject. To do this, place your subject directly in front of the sun…and by this I mean their back is to the sun! This will produce a different style of image, but having light leak through their body, especially the hair, is so pretty. The background will be bright and your subject will pop from the photo!
Modern lenses and sensors have become incredibly good. Not a single manufacturer is making a terrible camera or a terrible lens. They’re all highly capable of resolving lots of details but the only way that they can be taken even further these days is by using artificial lighting like a flash. Yes, this has always been true, but even more so now than ever. Why? Because if two photos are shot of the same exact subject (we’re not talking about charts; charts are for people who sit there in labs all day and photographers don’t do that) and scene, it would be very tough for anyone to tell the difference between the two. Further, if you add artificial lighting in the same exact way, it will become even tougher to do.So what does that mean?The only way to actually take the absolutely fullest advantage of those expensive lenses that you’re buying is to use artificial lighting. Granted, we’re not talking about landscape photographers–you folks need to go to large and medium format to get better results. But when it comes to the resolution of monitors and screens, cameras are generally out-resolving them by far.But instead, the concert photographer wanting to some day become a music photographer and shoot band portraits will need to learn how to manipulate lighting to make it do what they want.Aspiring wedding photographers that want sharper photos need to learn the ins and outs of TTL, bouncing a flash for maximum success and coverage, and learning how to mix ambient and flash light together.Portrait photographers will need to work with their subjects on putting together a beautiful set of images and making them pop from the image by using lighting.Lighting, more so than any other technique, will differentiate you as a photographer from many of the others out there. Even if you’re not as strong at marketing yourself, you’ll have a chance at creating images that can speak for themselves.Lighting, combined with your own unique creative vision and ideas, will take you ever further than working without it and waiting for specifics to happen naturally during the day or night.
LIVING FRAME BY FRAME 