Day 7 - Vertical Portraits
1) INTRODUCTION TO "P" MODE
2) MORE HOW-TOs: SETTING FOCAL LENGTH, SETTING ISO
3) INTRODUCTION TO PORTRAIT COMPOSITION
4) PRACTICE SHOOT
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1) INTRODUCTION TO "P" MODE
Programmed Auto (P) is a mostly-automatic mode that we will use for the next few classes. It is relatively easy-to-use but will not cause the flash to fire, and more importantly, will let you set your own ISO value.
Once in "P" mode, using the right thumb on the command dial will allow you to select a number of shutter speed / aperture combinations (we'll learn all of this in detail later).
2) MORE HOW-TOs: SETTING FOCAL LENGTH, SETTING ISO
We will have a comprehensive lesson on ISO in the next course, but halfway through this video is an excellent visual guide of how to physically change the ISO on your camera.
1) INTRODUCTION TO "P" MODE
2) MORE HOW-TOs: SETTING FOCAL LENGTH, SETTING ISO
3) INTRODUCTION TO PORTRAIT COMPOSITION
4) PRACTICE SHOOT
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1) INTRODUCTION TO "P" MODE
Programmed Auto (P) is a mostly-automatic mode that we will use for the next few classes. It is relatively easy-to-use but will not cause the flash to fire, and more importantly, will let you set your own ISO value.
Once in "P" mode, using the right thumb on the command dial will allow you to select a number of shutter speed / aperture combinations (we'll learn all of this in detail later).
2) MORE HOW-TOs: SETTING FOCAL LENGTH, SETTING ISO
We will have a comprehensive lesson on ISO in the next course, but halfway through this video is an excellent visual guide of how to physically change the ISO on your camera.
In proper photography lingo, what we casually refer to as the "zoom level" is called focal length. Your lenses are "18-55mm" lenses, meaning 18mm is zoomed out (wide shot) while 55mm is zoomed in(tight shot).
3) INTRODUCTION TO PORTRAIT COMPOSITION
A portrait is a photograph that features a still subject (person). Thus, the emphasis needs to be on the subject and not the background. Anyone can take a lousy portrait, but it takes skill and planning to take an effective one.
Tips for proper portrait photography:
- Be close to your subject. 2-6 feet away is a good guideline.
- Keep your subject well in front of your background. Don't back them up against a wall, tree, etc.
- Basically, the photographer-subject distance should be less than the background-subject distance
- Shoot at a focal length of 55mm.
- Shoot at F/5.6. (We will have a comprehensive lesson on aperture later, but trust this setting for now).
All of the above will help establish a shallow depth of field. This will blur your background and make your subject more prominent. Other tips:
- Shoot vertically (the human body, when standing, is vertical)
- Don't use open windows as backgrounds! This is known as backlighting, and will make your subject much too dark.
- Keep an uncluttered background! Less is more.
- Shoot lots! Facial expressions can change multiple times per second, so the more shots you get the better chance you have of landing the "perfect' portrait!
4) PRACTICE SHOOT
You have the remainder of class to move around the school (please use multiple locations) and take vertical portraits of your camera partner.
Be sure to go through the pre-shoot checklist from Day 2 before you begin! You then need to ensure that you are shooting in "P" mode.
Your ISO should be 1600 for indoor shooting or 100-400 for outdoor shooting (100 for bright sunshine, 400 for darker cloud cover).
*** CHECK WITH YOUR TEACHER TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHEN YOU NEED TO BE BACK!!! DO NOT BE LATE!
Share Your Work
At the end of class, please take your best two portraits from today's shoot and upload them to the Google Classroom folder "Day 8 - Portraits I"
Your teacher will use these for teaching examples at the start of next class.
3) INTRODUCTION TO PORTRAIT COMPOSITION
A portrait is a photograph that features a still subject (person). Thus, the emphasis needs to be on the subject and not the background. Anyone can take a lousy portrait, but it takes skill and planning to take an effective one.
Tips for proper portrait photography:
- Be close to your subject. 2-6 feet away is a good guideline.
- Keep your subject well in front of your background. Don't back them up against a wall, tree, etc.
- Basically, the photographer-subject distance should be less than the background-subject distance
- Shoot at a focal length of 55mm.
- Shoot at F/5.6. (We will have a comprehensive lesson on aperture later, but trust this setting for now).
All of the above will help establish a shallow depth of field. This will blur your background and make your subject more prominent. Other tips:
- Shoot vertically (the human body, when standing, is vertical)
- Don't use open windows as backgrounds! This is known as backlighting, and will make your subject much too dark.
- Keep an uncluttered background! Less is more.
- Shoot lots! Facial expressions can change multiple times per second, so the more shots you get the better chance you have of landing the "perfect' portrait!
4) PRACTICE SHOOT
You have the remainder of class to move around the school (please use multiple locations) and take vertical portraits of your camera partner.
Be sure to go through the pre-shoot checklist from Day 2 before you begin! You then need to ensure that you are shooting in "P" mode.
Your ISO should be 1600 for indoor shooting or 100-400 for outdoor shooting (100 for bright sunshine, 400 for darker cloud cover).
*** CHECK WITH YOUR TEACHER TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHEN YOU NEED TO BE BACK!!! DO NOT BE LATE!
Share Your Work
At the end of class, please take your best two portraits from today's shoot and upload them to the Google Classroom folder "Day 8 - Portraits I"
Your teacher will use these for teaching examples at the start of next class.