If you want to take photos of people, there are two basic kinds of picture you can take. 'Portraits' are taken when the subject is aware and cooperating with you, and 'candid' shots are usually taken without the subject knowing. Whatever style of photography you are interested in, there are various technical and compositional principles that you should be familiar with.
One of the most important things when photographing other people is being close enough to your subject. If you're taking photos of people you know, that shouldn't be too difficult. If you want to take photos of people on the street, however, you will either have to approach them and make them feel comfortable enough to have their picture taken, or learn to take photos without being noticed.
The setting for your photo will also have a big impact on the ultimate feel of the image. It provides visual interest, and also gives the subject some form of context - giving the viewer information about the person in the shot. It's important to get the balance right between the subject and the background details - the subject should always be the focus, but framing them using the environment around you can help you get a far more dynamic and interesting shot.
Generally speaking, most portraits tend to be shot using a low aperture, which gives a shallow depth of field. That allows you to accentuate your subject against a blurred background. If the background is being used for purely visual reasons, this may give you a more striking image. If the details of the background convey important information, however, a higher aperture may be necessary.
Another skill that's much harder to learn is anticipating the behaviour of your subjects. If you're shooting friends, you will find it easier to predict what they will do, but this is still an instinct that takes photographers years to hone. This is partly about understanding human nature, and being sensitive to the way situations or interactions are developing so that you can anticipate particular emotional responses before they occur. Always having your camera at the ready, with settings fine-tuned for the lighting conditions, will help you capture those fleeting one-off moments before they disappear.
One of the most important things when photographing other people is being close enough to your subject. If you're taking photos of people you know, that shouldn't be too difficult. If you want to take photos of people on the street, however, you will either have to approach them and make them feel comfortable enough to have their picture taken, or learn to take photos without being noticed.
The setting for your photo will also have a big impact on the ultimate feel of the image. It provides visual interest, and also gives the subject some form of context - giving the viewer information about the person in the shot. It's important to get the balance right between the subject and the background details - the subject should always be the focus, but framing them using the environment around you can help you get a far more dynamic and interesting shot.
Generally speaking, most portraits tend to be shot using a low aperture, which gives a shallow depth of field. That allows you to accentuate your subject against a blurred background. If the background is being used for purely visual reasons, this may give you a more striking image. If the details of the background convey important information, however, a higher aperture may be necessary.
Another skill that's much harder to learn is anticipating the behaviour of your subjects. If you're shooting friends, you will find it easier to predict what they will do, but this is still an instinct that takes photographers years to hone. This is partly about understanding human nature, and being sensitive to the way situations or interactions are developing so that you can anticipate particular emotional responses before they occur. Always having your camera at the ready, with settings fine-tuned for the lighting conditions, will help you capture those fleeting one-off moments before they disappear.
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