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Portraits, glasses and solving the problem
Summary: Casual protraits can prove to be problematic. A case in point is a new pair of glasses for a child. Reflections, glare and an energetic subject can create a challenge. See how Michael at PORTRAITSECRETS overcame the problems in just a few minutes.
It is important to deal with problems that arise
during a portrait session. A casual photo session to capture the look of
"new glasses" provided a challenge for Michael at PORTRAITSECRETS. Some quick thinking helped solve
the problem with reflections, glare and an antsy subject in an effort to capture a
posed portrait with a candid appearance.
Here is a step by step account of the portrait session that lasted less than 10 minutes.
"Look who has new glasses"
A proud mother called attention to the new glasses
of her daughter. Well, it would be good to get a photo of her to send
to grandparents and to display around the house to help the subject get
accustomed to her new eyewear.
Grabbing a camera with a flash attachment I raced
around to check the location. A late afternoon setting sun was casting
a warm light on the subject's hair, but the ambient light was dim and
lifeless. I quickly took several photos with the flash attached and set
to TTL (a flash setting that blends ambient light and electronic
flash). A short telephoto lens set at f4 and the ISO was set at 200 on
the 4 megapixel SLR digital camera.
The exposure was correct, but the flash
spoiled the candid look I was seeking. The flash was reflected in
the glasses as well. A minor suggestion to the subject to lower her chin
resulted in losing the flash reflection, but the impromptu session was
headed for disaster.  | | The flash is reflected in the glasses (top, left) and the flash ruins the candid nature of the moment. A minor posing adjustment eliminates the flash in the (top,right) photo. The fading sun, dim light and an uncooperative subject (lower, left) call for a change of scene. The final product is a result of changing the location, using sunlight reflected from the bricks at the back of the house as a reflector and the mention of a topic near and dear to the subject that coaxed a smile to her face. |
Quick, change the light source
Turning off the flash, I set about to catch a candid
look in the natural light of the late evening. I overexposed the scene
by one f-stop (from f4 to f2.8) and exposed a few images. The camera
was set to "automatic" on the white balance, but the fading sunlight
left the scene with a blue hue and the warm glow from the setting sun
had faded.
The subject took a turn to the uncooperative side
and began to exaggerate her poses, including crossing her eyes and
putting her hands to her face.
Change of scene
A quick look around found the sunlight still vivid
on a deck at the rear of the house. My subject in tow, we changed
location. The change of location resulted in the desired change of mood
as well.
Often, it is an advantage to make a quick change of
location to provide a subtle suggestion that this is a new place therefore, renewed attention of the subject was anticipated.
Sometime, you get lucky as I did in this instance.
The hair light was back in play for the photo and
the late afternoon sun on the bricks of the house created a natural
reflector on the subject's face. I made a miknor adjustment to the
camer's white balance. I selected a "cloudy day setting" to add some
warmth to the tonal range of the scene. After a subtle repositioning to
reduce the
reflection of the bricks in the glasses, a portrait was ready for
the taking.
A reluctance appeared in the subject's expressionless face. I know
her well, and I know too that she is a fan of the "American Girl"
dolls. Truthfully, she resembles an American Girl doll with those
pigtails and glasses. I told her that and like magic, a smile came
to her face.
A final thought
Many of the ideas and suggestions that
PORTRAITSECRETS makes came into play in this short, but effective photo
session. I was prepared, proactive in selecting a lens, using a flash,
switching to a natural lighting source, changing location and finally
using my knowledge of the subject to establish eye contact and coax a
pleasant smile.
Experience was a key factor in this portrait, but
with time and practice you should be able to take full advantage to
capture the fleeting moments that make photography special.
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Good photographs begin with good light. In the digital photography world, the quality of light corresponds to the quality of the photograph. The dramatic light of the early morning and late afternoon can raise the quality of your images. In poorly lit situations use supplemental lighting from the camera's flash in the fill-flash mode.
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Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
Dear PS,
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
On the cheap in Oregon
Dear On the cheap,
Yes! If you plan to take creative steps in dealing with your images, photoshop and the lastest Creative Suite 2 are simply the best and most efficients image handling programs available. Is it "worth it" to you, that depends on what you hope to achieve with your images. I would suggest the Elements version of photoshop as an entry level position. Better yet, check a local computer store or even the Apple Store an invest a little time in attending a couple of their tutorial classes for a "test drive" of the program. Then you'll be better informed before you spend your money.
Thanks for your question,
Michael at PS
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 Michael E. Keating is an award winning portrait photographer...
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