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Photographic Techniques : Who took your photo?
Let us get behind a new subject venture
I was a professional photographer for 20 years. I developed film, printed color and black and white photos and other, as well as wedding, portrait and industrial.
It has been many years since I did that, back in the film days, and then I had photographic burn out.
I am awakening photographically again, but in the digital age.
I see many photos here that can be improved on by using simple means like using and waiting for a cloud to reduce shadows/contrast on a face. You do have to pick your day but even using white boards for reflecting into the facial shadows can help. Using the correct lighting, flood or flast or both for the effect you need
A simple camera can make a excellent shot by using the right techniques
like a box brownie. I know there are a couple of professionals on TR but don’t forget there are a few amatuers who can out do professionals as well
I would like to dedicate this topic to anyone who has photographic skills and ideas to share, to pool them here. Then those snappers who would like some ideas to use, can draw on ideas if they want to.
Every photographer is a critic. Every photographer has a opinion. There is no right or wrong, just a collection ideas.
Lets coment in facial photos also. How to deal with long noses for example
Don’t look at my photo for a start. It is just a happy snap from someone with little time before the party.
Even I could learn. I don’t profess to know everything.As a start, lips. To create a larger lip for photograpic purposes. Breathe out and say ffffffffffffffff and when the outward breath stops and the lips gently settle you have larger protuding lips. If the upper lip is smaller then use you finger to gently lift the upper lip a little
Over to you!!!
Georgette -
6 Replies
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Georgette,
Thanks for opening this thread. I have a series of photos taken during a makeover, then a lot I have taken myself using timer and tripod. They are happy snaps and are nowhere near as good as those taken during the makeover. If you or any other photographic person could post tips so we amateurs can improve our photos. then I and hopefully many others will be grateful.
Thanks
Helen
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Many probably will know a few techniques as this topic expands.
Hint. To decrease shadows, particularly for faces when there is a lot of contast use a flash to highlight the shadows. the sun will virtually always over power as flash anyway but there will be appreciable detail in the shadows of a face. When you have a outdoor setting and taking a shot of four subjects at a relatively close distance use normal flash settings as a starting guide. In a digital camera there is a flash fill setting.
Hint. Depending on your camera. Indoors, try and use 2 flashes one on the camers and one bounced of a WHITE ceiling
You can also bounce off a WHITE paper diffuser behind the camera. You will reduce light. If you can get away with it, the shadows will be less
harshA nice experimenting duo is a diffuser and fill flash combination, usually one being at 45 degrees.
You can use a flash diffuser at the camera and another flash fill at 45 degrees. That will give gentle highlights in the face depending on seletcd strengths.One flash? Try flash on camera and a white sheet on one or both sides close to the subject but out of viewer range
Experiment with flash and cloudy conditions in front of greenery. Use a white flood light to highlight hair and areas you deem fit to emphasize.
Ideas and combinations are many
Happy shooting
Georgette -
Everywhere you go you see party shots. Couples, single, groups facing the camera. Simle, cheese, coon, sex, and with kids you are a clown.
You get a happy face, good expression most of the time. There is this and that person in a over exposed photo with a blushed out face.
I agree it is important part of photography, but I also feel one can also go beyond that.One of my favourites is powerfull flash and a telephoto zoom lens up to 175mm. You stay put in one part of the room and let the lens do the walking. Once you feel that opportunities have exhausted in that location you relocate. I also like high locations, stage, top of steps etc
Then you look around for subjects. People talking, listening and expessing. You zoom in and frame loosely. Select several areas of interest and observe. You point the camera in any direction and look out the other eye as well. Then you spot several people who have most of their faces towards the camera are in discussion. A few listening intently to the one telling a story. Suddenly you turn the camera to focused on them and in ten or so seconds or less you wait for their best, and click. At that distance the light from the flash is fairly even. You then get the photo that truely radiates personality and color.
Sometimes they are aware of the camera but most of the time not. If they are aware and it is a good shot, great. If not focus elsewhere and keep an eye on your target subject. They will let their guard down soon enough. When you feel it is right, refocus and do it quickly. Good for subjects who in fun hate their photo taken. You can really give them a hard time and have fun at the same time, but also keep an eye on those who are interacting with the photo dodger.On the party subject another favourite is a high point [ I have even taken ladders ] and a wide angle shot in available light of the party in general. The light is low but usually enough for a wide angle shot even at night indoors. Using available light elimates bright foreground and dark background
Experiment. Get to know your camera better
Georgette -
Quote:Georgette,If you or any other photographic person could post tips so we amateurs can improve our photos. then I and hopefully many others will be grateful.
Thanks
HelenHi Helen, (another Helen, we must be breeding!
)
I used to be a professional photographer, did all the self developing and used to have many a happy hour in the dark room playing with chemicals. Nowadays it’s all done on a computer, sadly, I liked the smell.
!/ I always, where possible, used available lighting. More flattering.
2/ I always carried a large, foldable, white card to use any available light, or flash, to fill in any shadows, like double chins and wrinkles.
3/ Get the subject to to practice ‘smiling’. And that goes for those of us who indulge in self photography, (which, I would guess, is the majority).
A smile is the best accessory a girl can have, I don’t know who said that first but it is so true. So many girls look so severe and morose.
In fact, while on the subject, learn to stand as well. Some look like they have jumped down from a truck or off a tractor. Learn to pose and not those stupid ballet dance poses with hands and arms all over the place like a psychotic chimp. Look at how real women stand. They don’t usually have their heads cocked to one side at 45 degrees or with legs astride and hands on hips, watch real women and learn. -
so any experts in WA offering to take photos ? i will pose for some and pay the normal price for some good make-over ones > any offers Kristina
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I have found that photos taken by others can be more effective than those self taken. The reason I say this is that they (the photographer) can control certain aspects that would normally be guesswork, for example the set up and also the framing. The problem is getting somebody else. I use my camera on a tripod and am lucky that the timer has a light which gives an idea of where the camera is pointed.
The upcomng ball will be great for photos as there won’t be a shortage of cameras or photographers.
