Black and White Portraiture Top Tips for using natural light

Portrait Photography

Portrait photography is the art of photographing an individual or small group of people.

The real goal to portrait photography is to demonstrate the mood, personality or likeness of a person(s).

Brassai – example of environmental portraitsThis is where the person you photograph is in their natural environment/a place of meaning to them/where they work etc. With the environmental approach more is revealed about the subject. Environmental

pictures can have good historical and social significance as primary sources of information.

Edward Curtis - example of classic portraits, where one person is depicted

Helen Levitt – example of candid portraits

The candid approach is where people are photographed without their knowledge going about their daily business.

Natural Lighting

• Contrast is key, so ensure the light and your exposure settings are spot on.

• Always exposure for the brightest light source

Where to position your subjects

• Always remember where your light source is. Don’t have the sun behind the subject

Even tones

Place your subject in the shade or shoot on a grey day with no sun, to get flat and even light

Using Direct SunlightThis can create harsh shadows, interesting tones and textures

Using Windows and shade

This can create very interesting shapes and textures with the natural shadows

Don’t expect every situation in which you use natural light to be the same.

butterfly lighting

Butterfly lighting is aptly named for the butterfly shaped shadow that is created under the nose by placing the main light source above and directly behind the camera. The photographer is basically shooting underneath the light source for this pattern.

loop lighting

• Loop lighting is made by creating a small shadow of the subjects noses on their cheeks. To create loop lighting, the light source must be slightly higher than eye level and about 30-45 degrees from the camera (depends on the person, you have to learn how to read people’s faces).

split lighting

• Split lighting is exactly as the name implies – it splits the face exactly into equal halves with one side being in the light, and the other in shadow.

Composition

• Using Rule of thirds

Composition

• Using leading lines

Keeping the Subject in the Centre of the frame

Using a reflectorGold – Creates a warm feel to the image, best when shooting animals and people.

Silver – Just reflects the natural sunlight onto a subject. They do increase the specular highlights of your subject and will give the final image a higher contrast.

White – Again it simply reflects the natural light onto the subject, it is softer than silver and less likely to blind a model!

Translucent Fabric – Diffuses light and therefore it is perfect for outdoor portraits.

Black – Slightly saps colour from the image but produces a natural tone.

Blue - They are uncommon but they create pleasant cool tones.

Tell a story

Student Examples

Student Examples

Student Examples

Your first task

• Pairing up – choose 3 different lighting situations in or around the building.

• Key thing is to address the light source, where is it coming from and what’s the most interesting light you can achieve.

• Choose one compositional quality