Jeffrey Smith wrote: > > I don't do formal portraits, so the lighting is the way it is.
I respectfully disagree, Jeffrey. The light _source_ may be what it is, but what you do after that makes a huge difference to the quality of the portrait. You may have the sun coming in through blinds on one side of your classroom. You can position your subject closer or further from the window and that will affect light fall-off across their face or body. You can have them face the window or away from it, or any angle in between. If you have them turn their back to the window then position a large white board behind you to bounce soft light into their face, you can get a gorgeous backlight to define their hair and flattering even light to illuminate their features. Do that but have them face 45 degrees to you and you'll get some side light as well. Even a little fill flash from a mini softbox like Walt's will improve the look in a windowless room with overhead strip lights. Fight the crappy light, Jeffrey! :-) On Fri, Jul 12, 2013 at 10:20 AM, Jeffery Smith <[email protected]> wrote: > I don't do formal portraits, so the lighting is the way it is. ;-) I take a > photograph of each of my students (75% are African American) on the first day > of class, using ambient (lousy) classroom lighting and a fast lens. > > Jeffery > > > On Jul 12, 2013, at 9:18 AM, Darren Addy <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Virtually all of the answers so far have focused on exposure only and >> not lighting. I found this article to be very informative. >> http://www.nyip.edu/photo-articles/archive/photographing-people-of-color >> The secret is to create "lots and lots of highlights" on dark skin. >> This can be done with reflectors or side lighting. >> >> From experience, I know that using a strobe from the side would also >> be very effective if a wedding dress was in the photo. The side light >> shows the dress in relief (which highlights and preserves folds and >> details). In fact, a single on-camera strobe is probably the worst way >> to show off a white wedding dress. >> >> On Fri, Jul 12, 2013 at 8:54 AM, Jeffery Smith <[email protected]> wrote: >>> I adjust lighting accordingly (the meter reading will try to make them Zone >>> VII) so that all of their facial features are clearly visible and pleasant. >>> >>> Jeffery >>> >>> >>> On Jul 12, 2013, at 12:58 AM, Larry Colen <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> It is discussed briefly in Light, Science an Magic. >>>> >>>> In short, either increase exposure, or take advantage of reflections. >>>> >>>> >>>> On Wed, Jul 10, 2013 at 10:31:14PM -0400, P.J. Alling wrote: >>>>> I have nothing to share except that a mix of skin colors is nothing >>>>> compared to a black bride in a white dress. >>>>> >>>>> On 4/20/2013 12:15 PM, Bipin Gupta wrote: >>>>>> Request please share resources for photographing dark skinned people. >>>>>> There is still a greater challenge, that of photographing a group of >>>>>> people with yellow, brown, white, black skin or every other races of >>>>>> mankind. >>>>>> Regards. >>>>>> Bipin - from that far away enchanting land. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> There are two kinds of computer users those who've experienced a hard >>>>> drive failure, and those that will. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>>>> follow the directions. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Larry Colen [email protected] >>>> http://red4est.com/lrc >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>>> follow the directions. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>> [email protected] >>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>> follow the directions. >> >> >> >> -- >> "Photography is a Bastard left by Science on the Doorstep of Art" - >> Peter Galassi >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >> follow the directions. > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- -bmw -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
