Robin Michals | COMD 1340 Photography 1
Photograph your classmates in each of the four set ups:
Create a wide range of mood.
Post at least 20 photos to an album on Flickr with at least one of each lighting style. Send your two best to the class group.
On November 29th, if you have a flash light bring it in. You can also use your phone but you might want to have a charger so you aren’t left with a dead phone all day.
The focal length of a lens is defined as the distance in mm from the optical center of the lens to the the sensor when the lens is focused on infinity. This varies on the camera and the lens.
Focal length controls: Magnification and angle of view
Focal length is described as short, normal ie close to human vision, or long.
Wide Angle Distortion-created when using a wide-angle lens AND the camera is very close to the subject. The object close to the lens appears abnormally large relative to more distant objects, and distant objects appear abnormally small and hence more distant – distances are extended.
Focal length and proximity to the camera affect how a person’s face looks in a photograph. A wide focal length and proximity between the subject and the camera create wide angle distortion and will distort a person’s features.
Think about selfie sticks. What are they for but to get the camera away from your face? This makes the photograph look more complimentary to the subject. This is really important with a cameraphone because it has a wide angle lens. The center of the lens and the sensor cannot be very far apart given the thin design of cellphones.
When working with a crop-frame sensor, approximately 65 mm will be the most flattering to your subject.
There are three basic types of lights (these are the physical lights not portrait lighting styles):
2. The Fill Light-this light brightens the shadows. It can be a reflector or an actual light.
This video shows how to use a reflector as the fill light.
3. The Separation Light or Background Light-creates separation between the subject and the background. This light can be aimed at the background or it can be aimed at the subject. If the later, it would be called a hair light. If accenting the edge of the face or shoulders, this light would be called a rim light or a kicker.
– standard lighting for portraits, video and film, uses all three: a main light, a fill light and a background light.
Mamadi Doumbouya
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/21/reader-center/mamadi-doumbouya-photo-portrait-talk.html
4 pts. Due Nov 15, 12 noon.
Shoot a total of 30 environmental portraits of three different subjects- 10 each.
Environmental Portrait-is a photograph of a person in their environment. It usually shows their whole body in a place that is meaningful to them. This could be their home or workplace or neighborhood. The surroundings illuminate something about the subject’s life.
When shooting indoors, remember keep the shutter speed faster than 1/60. Better the raise the ISO. It may be too dark. If so, change the location!
When shooting outdoors, shoot in diffused light: either shade or cloudy weather.
Make sure that there is light on your subject’s face.
Environmental portrait examples: https://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2013/10/tips-pro-brian-harkin-environmental-portrait-photography
Select
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/26/lens/examining-arnold-newmans-environmental-portraits.html
There are a 5 basic lighting styles for portrait photography. Each style is defined by how light falls on the face.
2. Broad Light-model’s face in 3/4 view-light falls on the side of the face with the visible ear. Good for controlling the reflections on glasses.
3. Short Light-model’s face is in 3/4 view, the light falls on the side of the face with the features. (Not on the side with the visible ear.)
Both of these are examples of short light.
4. Butterfly Light, Clamshell or beauty or glamour light-model is face forward, front light.
Photographer: Matthew Jordan Smith, Model: Tyra Banks
5. Split Light-model is face forward, the main light is at 90 degrees to the camera and falls on one side of the face.
Left: Photographer-Yousef Karsh, Winston Churchill, 1941
Right: Photographer-Nadav Kandar, Donald Trump, 2016
Yousef Karsh
https://karsh.org/overview/portraits/#thumbnails
Nadav Kandar
https://www.nadavkander.com/portraits/portraits/single
Set up:
The key or main light is the light that casts the shadows.
Working with just the key light:
Front view:
Photograph your subject with:
Three-quarter view:
Photograph your subject with:
Profile:
The model turns their face at a 90 degree angle to the camera. Place light like a side light. The subject faces the light BEING VERY CAREFUL NOT TO LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE LIGHT.
Put your 20 best photos into an album on Flickr. Make sure to represent each one of these lighting styles:
Send your 2 best to the class group.
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