Monday, July 27, 2009

Portrait Photography - Some Helpful Suggestions

By Wilson Chang

Faces of people have been frozen in various famous photographs down the ages. However, portrait photography isn't just about capturing a face; instead it is about making one person or a group of persons come alive in a picture by showing them in their true form.

A good portrait photograph beats the convention and is able to capture mental states and angles of the subject like never seen before. However, photographs of one person or of entire families are also taken by photographers, and these are normally stuck in family albums.

A perfect close up with a sharp focus on the person's face is what gives portrait images that touch of class. This can be attained by adjusting camera settings to obscure the subject's background so that his or her face receives optimum focus. A wider aperture used in a camera can give ideal results for this purpose. However, in some portraits where the person wants to be seen as part of the background, particularly in images taken out in the open, a normal aperture serves the purpose better.

Without ample light available to shoot, photographers find it hard to click a good image. However, by following some common photography tips, a decent portrait photograph can be clicked. If the subject is made to sit by a window in a posture in which the sun's rays fall only partially on the face, then the image normally ends up looking wonderful. The remaining part of the face can be lighted up by using a reflective object like a white piece of glossy paper or board. However, portrait photography is best shot in studios as lighting can be controlled there.

The last but perhaps the most important aspect of portrait photography is to ensure that the subject feels at home. If the subject doesn't feel comfortable while being clicked and doesn't pose naturally, then even the highest quality camera and lighting methods can not ensure a good portrait.

About the Author:

0 comments:

Post a Comment