ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS
Digital Photographer|Issue 256
Learn to make tricky lighting, colour and backgrounds work and capture dramatic environmental portraits in any location
ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS

Shooting portraits in the studio is a well-established method of capturing images of people under controlled lighting. A studio is a safe space for photographers and offers access to bespoke lighting and backgrounds. You can move your lights around at will, alter the intensity and direction, focus or widen the spread and easily modify how much light hits the surrounding background elements. You even have the ability to control the ambient temperature and have access to unlimited food, drink and shelter from the weather. So why would anyone want to take their photoshoot outside or into another 'alien' environment?

On the other hand, the studio might not necessarily feel safe and comfortable to your subject. You might be familiar with it and it may provide the opportunity to surround yourself with every possible item of kit you need, but to the person being photographed, it can be an intimidating place, which brings about a sense of vulnerability.

This emotion rarely encourages the most honest expressions and posture, and can lead to uncomfortable, wooden poses. In this case, it might be more appropriate to capture them in a place with which they are familiar. In other circumstances, you may be called upon to photograph a subject for an editorial purpose in a location that better communicates their story.

When you find yourself in an unfamiliar setting you have to be prepared to manage unpredictable lighting, reduce unsightly colour casts and eliminate peripheral distractions in the location to make the background complement your main subject. Let's take a closer look at how to prepare for the unknown and be ready to capture stunning portraits anywhere at any time.

Use overcast lighting

Capture outdoor portraits under flat but softer natural light

この記事は Digital Photographer の Issue 256 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Digital Photographer の Issue 256 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERのその他の記事すべて表示
Apply a stylised detail enhancement
Digital Photographer

Apply a stylised detail enhancement

Give your photos a movie aesthetic with the bleach bypass effect in Photoshop

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 280
Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G
Digital Photographer

Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G

Matthew Richards investigates this lightweight wide-angle zoom lens with a unique focal range

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 280
Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR
Digital Photographer

Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR

This lens offers everything from wide-angle to super-telephoto reach, says Matthew Richards

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 280
Novo Helix T50 Carbon Fibre Tripod
Digital Photographer

Novo Helix T50 Carbon Fibre Tripod

Adam Waring discovers an unfeasibly small yet feature-packed travel tripod

time-read
3 分  |
Issue 280
OM System OM-1 Mark II
Digital Photographer

OM System OM-1 Mark II

James Artaius finds the OM-1 Mark II has features that you wish your camera did

time-read
4 分  |
Issue 280
How do I get into events photography?
Digital Photographer

How do I get into events photography?

Jules Renahan, owner of Jules Renahan Photography and co-founder of PhotoHound, tells us what to expect when photographing events

time-read
2 分  |
Issue 280
Career advice
Digital Photographer

Career advice

This issue, Claire Gillo looks at the logistics behind running a photography business and talks to an events photographer

time-read
2 分  |
Issue 280
My dream photo kit
Digital Photographer

My dream photo kit

With help from used camera gear specialists MPB, we've created an expert photographer's fantasy camera kitbag

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 280
Create wet plate portraits
Digital Photographer

Create wet plate portraits

Recreate the collodion process for enhanced detail

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 280
Fine-tune colour and saturation
Digital Photographer

Fine-tune colour and saturation

Use Lightroom's extensive controls to enhance individual colours in your shots

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 280