Portrait Shots - how can I improve?

[powers_brent]

Ok so I got lost with your comment, mainly because I am still a noob at this. How do I back off on exposure (ETTR)? And a tone curve, are you talking the histogram on Live View? I may know what you are talking about but I do not know the technical terms for it. So can you please explain again? Thanks!

[Vlad Xp]

The main issue that I see with both images is the quality of light that your subjects are captured in. It's bright, and harsh. I would try to place your subjects with their back to the sun, and use a reflector to direct a softer and defused light back in their faces. A remote-triggered flash placed off axis can also help (a lot actually). The sun can be a great light source, but at the right time of a day. In your pictures, the light's transition from the brightest part (cheeks, nose, etc) to the darker areas (shadows under the nose, eyes) is too abrupt. If you choose to shoot during the brightest time of the day, find a shade and put your subjects there. Go out 1 hour before the sunset and start shooting till you run out of light. You'll see how the softer the sunlight gets; the better your subjects will look.

Dallasphotog’s example shows excellent use of light (and a good lens). Here’s an example of what a direct sun combined with a reflector can do for you:


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.39/Viktor_5F00_Park_5F00_Reflector.jpg[/img]


Canon EOS 40D with an EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS at 78mm. Av mode, ISO 100, 1/500th sec, f/2.8

[Dumien]

I think he was referring to the curves you see in, for example DPP, under the RGB folder. You can adjust those Reds Greens and Blues singularly or you can do it all together. The difference is that, when you do it singurarly, for say green, you will see the whole picture get a lot more or less -it depends on how you modify it- green and you will have to change che blues and reds too, in order to get the balance you want. If you change them all together RGB, you change the overall brightness and contrast of the image. Also, if you shoot RAW, under the RAW folder in DPP you will see a little historgram alike the one you had in your Live View, and you can modify it in order to get a better exposed picture.


On the "how" topic, I sugget you just trial&error...I think it's the best way to learn by yourself =)


hope this helps,


andy