Table of Contents
1. What is the Key to Success in People Photography?
Range of people photography
People photography is a kind of photography that directly expresses people by taking static or dynamic people as subjects, focusing on depicting their appearance and spiritual outlook. All kinds of subjects that involve characters and take characters as the main body belong to the category of character photography. Such as: portraits, family life, reunion with relatives and friends, happy couples, weddings, childhood facts, campus dynamics, evening scenes of the elderly, travel range rover, fashion wear, stage performances, sports activities, work sites, festivals, customs, social news, human body art etc. Wide variety, available everywhere.
In general, in the field of photographic art, there are specific categories corresponding to this. In addition to portrait photography, there are also family, children, travel, wedding, sports, stage, social documentary and even human body photography. Distinctive and interrelated. It is often included in the portrait photography series, collectively referred to as portrait photography.
The key to people photography
Since the birth of photography in 1839, people have always been the main subject of photography, and the key to the success of photography of people is “both form and spirit”.
In real life, everyone’s appearance and personality characteristics are different, and their mental outlook and even more change in the intellectual world are ever-changing. If a photograph of a person captures the demeanor and emotion of the subject, but the appearance is not well presented, it cannot stand close inspection, and it lacks due artistic expression,
On the contrary, if the appearance is similar, but the demeanor and emotion are not delineated, the character performance is bound to be rigid and without charm. Therefore, people photography should not be limited to taking pictures, but should be based on the theme, the appearance of the characters should be promoted and avoided, and the beauty should be highlighted, so as to better convey and describe the spiritual outlook of the characters through the appearance. As a result, the people in the photo look more beautiful, more vivid and more spiritual than the real subject. Only when you achieve the “shape is similar” first, can the spirit be expressed.
In order to make portrait photography meet the requirements of “both form and spirit”, photographers should not only master the correct use of camera technology, but also on the basis of observing excellent photographic works and learning relevant photography knowledge, often carefully observe various people in life, Think seriously, develop agile thinking and judgment ability, so that you can be discerning in the practice of portrait photography, deliberately seek novelty, and choose the subject matter without wasting time. And capture the typical and vivid moments of the subject, and take a picture of lifelike characters.
2. What Kinds of Shooting Methods Are There for People Photography?
There are three types of shooting methods for people photography: pose shot, snap shot, and pose/grab combination. Each has its own characteristics and requirements. And they are related to each other and cooperate with each other, respectively constituting an indispensable way of portrait photography.
1) Posing
That is to say, during the whole photography process, always let the model know that someone is taking pictures for him. So that the photographer can have more time to complete the shooting after preparing for the shooting and instructing the model.
Therefore, we also call this method of shooting as manipulation, or we can call it the shooting method of subject omniscience. We often use it for portrait photos, group photos, commemorative photos, advertising photos, etc. But at the mercy of the situation, the photographer should do everything possible to make the subject relax so as to cooperate with the shooting.
2) Capture
That is, during the entire photographer process, the subject does not know that someone is taking pictures for her. The photographer directly captures the typical and vivid moments in the activities of the characters on the spot. Therefore, we can also call it a shooting method that the subject does not know.
Shooting in this way, the composition and lighting may be unsatisfactory. But the subject is in a state of unrestrained activity, and the expressions and behaviors are more natural. However, photographers need richer life experience and keen eyesight. They are good at capturing the most typical, perfect and attractive moments of the subject in the fleeting activities of various characters, and pressing the shutter in time.
3) Combination of pose and capture
That is to say, during the whole photography process, although you told the subject that someone is taking pictures for her, but not inform the exact shooting time. So that the model is still focusing her attention on what she is doing. The photographer has a certain time to choose the best angle and light. And after a small range of adjustments and manipulations, press the shutter at the right time. This shooting method combines the advantages of both pose and capture. Therefore, we also call it the shooting method where the subject is half-aware.
3. Which Camera Should I Buy for Portrait Photography?
Although you can use ordinary cameras for portrait photography. However, due to different models and structures, performance and characteristics are different. How to choose a camera for portrait photography? Usually, we can consider it from three aspects: photographic use, personal hobbies and economic conditions.
1) Photographic use
This refers to the range of use of the camera. If beginners only take family photos, full-body and half-body photos for personal souvenirs, etc., they can easily handle it by purchasing an ordinary small 135 camera. These cameras generally come with standard lenses and can take both black and white portraits as well as color portraits.
Alternatively, a “point-and-shoot” camera can be purchased. It is small in size, simple in construction, and comes with a flash unit. Not only is it convenient to use, but you can take pictures when you pick it up, and you don’t need to purchase a separate flash.
If you plan to use the camera for artistic creation of human subjects, consider purchasing a single-lens reflex camera. This type of camera can generally replace lenses with different focal lengths, and the degree of automation is relatively high. You can use it to take photos of people in a variety of genres, including full body, half body, and avatar specific.
2) Personal hobbies
Every photographer has different hobbies, some like 135 cameras, some like 120 cameras. These two cameras have their own strengths and characteristics. It is difficult to say which is better and which is bad.
Generally speaking, the 135 camera is small and compact and easy to carry. It is more convenient to use, and the cost of each negative is relatively cheap. 120 cameras, some with interchangeable cassettes, and can shoot a variety of formats. At the same time, due to the large format of the negative film, the particles of the photo are relatively delicate and soft. That is easy to make the faces of the characters show the effect of rich layers and real texture.
3) Economic conditions
On the market, there are many models of cameras with different functions and structures. Although the basic performance is generally similar, the price of each is very different. When purchasing a camera, you must consider whether its price is suitable for your economic conditions.
Under normal circumstances, buying a mid-range camera can be suitable for all kinds of portrait photography. We must recognize one point. Thatis, there is no necessary relationship between the quality of the camera and the quality of the pictures of people. With a high-end camera, there is no guarantee that every photo will be of good quality. Using a normal camera, you can also take high-quality pictures of people. The important issue is that one must be familiar with the structure and performance of the camera and be proficient in operating techniques.
4. Which Lens Should I Choose for Portrait Photography?
Although you can use various lenses of the camera for portrait photography. Strictly speaking, the lenses for portrait photography should have the following options.
1) Imaging
The image quality of the lens for portrait photography should be clear and soft. Because portrait photography generally focuses on expressing the face, the quality of the lens image should be able to meet the requirements of rich layers, real texture, full details and moisturizing skin.
2) Focal length
Generally, cameras all come with standard lenses. That is, the focal length is approximately the diagonal length of the film frame you took. You should only use this lens for full body or half-length portraits. If you use it to shoot a close-up of a half-length person or a head portrait, the perspective distortion of the image of the person would probaly happen because the distance is too close.
And if you shoot at a distance closer to the specified minimum shooting distance, some lenses cannot be brought into sharp focus. Therefore, to shoot portraits or close-up people, it is necessary to use a medium or telephoto lens. The focal length generally needs to exceed the standard lens 1-2 times. Taking the 135 camera as an example, the focal length of the lens needs to be above 105mm. So that the distance between the camera and the person can be kept above 1.5 meters. It can not only make the focus clear, but also avoid deformation such as big nose and small ears.
Taking small group photos indoors, if there is a lack of retrogression, you need to use a short focal length lens (ie, a wide-angle lens). But it is prone to the defect that the characters on both sides are slightly deformed.
3) Caliber
When shooting close-ups of half-length figures and avatars, the effective aperture of the lens should be large. So that the subject is clear, the background is slightly blurred. And the sense of perspective in far and near space is enhanced to highlight the subject. In addition, if the effective aperture of the lens is large, in the case of slightly dim light and no flash, you can still use a faster shutter speed for shooting dynamic people.
(To Be Continued)