bad overhead light photography reflector

#Bad overhead light photography reflector how to

But sometimes that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes in the middle of the day, under ole’ Sol. The worst time of day to take a portrait outdoors is high noon, especially in the summer. A reflector on the left side bounces light into the shadow, softening the light further, while a soft-focus filter smoothes out any remaining unflattering lines. Note the soft modeling on this subject’s skin. Warm late or early day light is less harsh and more flattering. Photo by Christopher Campbell on Unsplashĭirect light, but a bit softer: This shot’s all about softening the image. A gold reflector can also bounce more flattering, warmer light into your subject’s face. You can overcome this by using your compact camera’s “snow” setting or by adjust your more advanced DSLR’s color balance setting.

However, color will be slightly blue because the blue sky is a primary light source. Open shade: Open shade works much like light overcast in that there is no direct sunlight. But even if you’re shooting on a cloudless day, you don’t need to battle the sun. While light overcast skies are ideal, they cannot be made to order. You’ll need someone to hold the reflector for you. More advanced shooters: use a reflector such as a Flashpoint 32″ Collapsible Disc Reflector to bounce light into the subject’s face. Then, use your camera’s pop-up flash as a fill light to lighten the shadow. Tilting the head down slightly might do it. For details, keep reading.Ĭheat the sun: If you can’t avoid harsh overhead sunlight, cheat it a bit by turning the subject’s face so it’s in complete shadow.

#Bad overhead light photography reflector how to

Most of these problems can be solved if you know where the sun is at all times, and learn how to use it to your advantage. It’s better to find an open shaded spot and shoot there–especially when shooting close-up if you plan on doing a close portrait. What made the lighting unflattering? The high mid-day sun threw the eyes into deep shadows–an unflattering phenomenon known as “raccoon eyes”. Thanks to the harsh lighting, the photographer wisely backed up and made this a clever environmental portrait. This portrait tells a story–this graduate is at the end of his educational road and about to climb into the workday world. Uneven, dappled light on faces (usually when shooting when there’s a tree overhead that doesn’t totally block sunlight).When doing portrait photography outdoors, sooner or later you’ll come across bright, sunlit scenes. In this exclusive Adorama Learning Center article, we’ll look at how to overcome the challenges of outdoor portrait photography in bright sunlight. But a few simple picture-taking tips can soften and flatter those harshly-lit, squinty-eyed faces. And most are less than satisfied with the results. Whether you’re traveling, enjoying a backyard barbecue, or recording your graduate’s moment of glory, everyone ends up shooting outdoor portraits.