Rain exposure control

The composition of the rain scene is exquisite.

The white balance of the rain scene sets the equipment needed to shoot waterfalls/streams.

Exposure control of waterfalls/streams

The "Shady Mountains and Rivers" Rule of Waterfalls/Streams Shooting The Best Time for Sunrise/Sunset Shooting

Composition principle of exposure control of sunrise and sunset in foggy days

Fog should be the theme of composition.

How to control the contrast of fog scene? Equipment needed for fireworks shooting.

Weather factors of fireworks display

Use buildings to set off fireworks

Main items of slow shutter camera for fireworks display

Exposure control of snow scene

The light of snow scene chooses the artistry of still life photography.

Introduction of common equipment for still life photography

Theme selection of still life photography

The Application of Light in Still Life Photography

The use of tripod and the choice of angle, the choice of landscape photography equipment

Choice of lens

Use a medium gray mirror, a gradient grey mirror and a polarizer.

Lighting skills of landscape photography

Selection of scenery photography and application of natural light

Use of basic portrait lamp with reflector

Basic principles of fashion photography

How to place the main light

The principle of using auxiliary light: preparation of food photography.

Composition skills of food photography preparation of glassware products

Exposure control of glassware products Light distribution method for jewelry photography

The focus of jewelry photography is silverware and stainless steel shooting equipment.

Main points of light distribution for silverware stainless steel photography Observation on characteristics of electronic products

Light distribution method for electronic products

Exposure control of electronic products appreciation game works at home and abroad

Creative practice

Light skill

The soul of photography is running out of light, just like a rock band, the soul is bass. The charm of light and shadow is endless. As a master said, light is used to sculpt objects. Light and shadow is a treasure chest. If used properly, it will bring a new look to the picture. If the studio has 8-9 main light levels, it is not reasonable. Therefore, it is the best way to imitate the illumination of the "sun" and make the light levels as uniform as possible. Sometimes I don't hesitate to organize a main light source with 5-6 lamps to create an artificial sun in the studio. The main light source is preferably located directly above the furniture, and a soft light screen is added to make the light soft and diffuse, so that a large area of soft light can sweep a large area. In addition, several hard lamps (high-wattage flashlight for several seconds) are used, and honeycombs with different apertures are selected to cover the standard cover of the lamps as needed, so that several bright local light areas will appear on the main body of the furniture, thus immediately turning on the light and shade of the furniture and making people feel elegant. There are many kinds of light, soft, intense, dreamy, vivid, clear, hazy, hot, desolate, sudden, delicate, dark, early spring, straight, oblique, emotional, controlled, peaceful or pale. If you want to make the bedroom furniture look softer, you can use soft lighting and dreamy lighting to achieve this effect instead of using low-contrast filters. Vivid light refers to bright contrast and full of vitality, while lifeless light lacks layering and shadow. Clear light should be contrasted, but not too much.

Silhouette shooting skills

As a shooting method, silhouette can be used for many purposes, which requires photographers to use it flexibly in creative techniques and innovate in creative ideas. So how to take a good silhouette photo?

1. Fully show the physical features of the silhouette theme, and vividly combine the modeling with the background. It can be said that the shape is the language and the background is the intonation, and this language is sometimes louder than silence, which is the beauty of silhouette photos. Because in silhouette photos, the subject has no color and details, so the physical characteristics of the theme are very demanding, which requires the author to carefully choose the shooting angle and subject shape according to the effect of later performance, fully display the external characteristics of the theme, and strive to be beautiful and vivid.

2. The acquisition of silhouette photos makes full use of the light difference between the theme and the background. Generally speaking, you can use backlight at sunrise and sunset, because the light at this time is the softest and looks not dazzling, which is a good time to shoot, usually only about ten minutes. In addition, we can make use of the artificial light difference between outdoor and indoor or the natural reflection of the sky and water.

3. Exposure should follow the principle of "less than the total", and spot metering should be carried out according to the bright part of the background, which makes the subject seriously underexposed and forms a strong silhouette.

4. When the proportion of the subject in the picture is too small or the picture is blank and monotonous, silhouette can be creatively used as the foreground. Black silhouette can not only oppress the audience's vision of the subject, but also not distract the audience. We can even use the silhouette as the main frame to form square, round or varied shapes, so that ordinary scenery has a unique sense of form and increases the depth of the picture.

Backlight scenery photography skills

In digital landscape photography, backlight photography is a photography technology with certain shooting difficulty and unique artistic effect. Backlight comes from the back of the scene, and the subject we shoot is often a dark part without direct light, which is not easy to show the light and dark levels and lines of the scene, with large contrast and many changes. Without rich shooting skills and experience, the exposure of the subject will be inaccurate and the unique charm of backlight photography will not be displayed. Therefore, photographers should be able to skillfully use and master the following skills when shooting backlit photographs. 1. The exposure shall be subject to the exposure of the subject, and the rest shall be ignored. If you shoot the sunrise or sunset, you should take the exposure value of the sky or the sun as the main basis.

2. When shooting flowers, plants, people, animals and other scenes with clear outline and transparent texture, we should choose a darker background as the contrast, and use high light as the photometric basis when exposing, so as to create a strong light ratio contrast, strengthen the backlight effect, and achieve the artistic effect of clear outline and prominent subject.

3. When shooting the silhouette effect, the exposure should be based on the bright background brightness.

4. Because the camera is facing the strong light source when shooting in backlight, we should pay attention to the influence of glare. Try using a hood or using hands, hats, cardboard, etc. Stand in front of the camera or adjust the shooting angle to prevent glare. There are two most commonly used backlight shooting effects: one is silhouette effect, and the other is "side light" effect. The following are backlight photos taken at the same time, place and subject matter in different ways, with completely different effects.

Lighting skills in indoor portrait photography

How to use light or light in portrait photography is not only a basic skill, but also an important content to reflect the photographer's level. Compared with the arrangement of figure posture, props and background, the use of light in the final image of portrait photography plays a decisive role. Because photography is painted with light. So photographers get together, besides talking about money and cameras, the topic is often what kind of lights to use and how to use them.

When it comes to the fatigue of the studio, it is natural to say four things:

1, main light

The main light is the first choice to determine the lighting mode of the subject, and other lights can only play an auxiliary role. The main light used in modern studios is usually emitted by soft light boxes. The reason why the soft box is used is that the light it emits is more uniform and easy to control. The so-called soft light box is actually to put one or several light bulbs in a box and illuminate the subject through a soft box cover (usually made of plastic or textile) that can scatter light. The bigger the box, the more light bulbs, the stronger the power and the wider the lighting range. For the general photo studio, a soft light box with a diameter of about one square meter can be competent. The distance and angle of illumination can be adjusted as needed, and the exposure is determined according to the main light.

Step 2 fill the lamp

Fill light is also called auxiliary light. As the name implies, its function is to supplement the light of the shadow and make it shallow. In fact, the auxiliary light can be the same soft box as the main light, and its light ratio with the main light can be adjusted by lighting distance or output power. If the exposure of the supplementary light is 3 steps less than that of the main light, the light ratio is 1: 3, which means that the result will get a deeper shadow. If the intensity of the supplementary light is close to the main light, for example, the difference is half an aperture, then the shadow part becomes very shallow. For simplicity, the light source can be fixed on the ceiling or wall, and the depth of the shadow can be controlled only by adjusting the output power. As for how to get the best light ratio between the supplementary light and the main light, we can only try again and again.

3. Background light

In most cases, the subject has a certain distance from the background. Because the illumination of the light source decreases obviously with the increase of distance, the background is farther away from the light source than the main body, so the brightness of the background is much darker than the main body. If exposed according to the lighting conditions of the subject, the background will appear darker, and as a result, the subject looks as if it is integrated into the dark background. If the photographer doesn't mind this background effect, of course, no background light is needed. But if we want to distinguish the subject from the background, we need to illuminate the background separately, so there is the so-called background light. However, the use of background light should take into account the color, distance and illumination angle of the background. If you can't do it well, you will be self-defeating. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the background light repeatedly to use it normally. In order to illuminate the seamless background evenly, it is sometimes necessary to use two lamps.

4. The head glows

Due to the development of portrait photography technology, the so-called head light has gradually evolved from an unnatural beam of light projected on the head to one or more wider and softer beams, which can not only prevent the hair from turning black, but also outline the subject, so it is also called "separated light". This method of using light has been widely used, and small soft light boxes or strip lights are used for this purpose. This kind of head lighting can also be realized by reflecting a beam of light from the ceiling, but the light distribution range should be controlled. It won't look good if it shines on your nose.

The above four kinds of lighting are the basic lighting methods for portrait photography. These four methods can be used flexibly according to needs, and they can be used at the same time, or they can only use the main light and reflector. As for portrait photography using natural light in the studio or outdoors, the light sources used are natural light and reflectors on the spot. Of course, you can also use a combination of natural light and lighting.

Light skills in landscape photography

Light is the life of photography. Without light, there can be no photography. Photography is the art of light and shadow. As we all know, the scenery in the landscape, like other things, will produce light and shade levels, lines and tones under the illumination of light. Taking pictures of scenery, we mainly use ether sunlight as light source. Sunlight is varied. When they shine on the scenery, they can produce various effects. It is sometimes strong and sometimes weak, and it will change with different seasons and climates, and the scenery will be affected differently because of its different changes. Therefore, when shooting a scene, we must first understand the source of each kind of light and the influence of light intensity, so as to make good use of it and fully show the light effect of the scene. The success of scenery photos is closely related to the proper use of light. Therefore, it is a key problem to be familiar with all the changes of light in the scene.

1, the influence of frontal light on the scenery

Shooting a scene with positive light can make the scene clear and have a bright and vivid atmosphere. However, when the front light shines on the scene, it is necessary to divide the light and shade, which often confuses the tone of the main body and background of the scene and lacks the three-dimensional sense of the scene.

2. The influence of sidelight on scenery

When shooting a scene with sidelight, because the light shines obliquely on the scene, the scene will naturally produce shadows, showing alternating lines of light and dark, making the scene three-dimensional. When the scene is stereoscopic, the colors of the stereoscopic background are not easily confused with each other. However, when shooting a sidelight scene, we should pay attention to the depth of the dark color height and determine the bright time with the dark part. However, it is best to use neutral gray as photometric tone to fully show the level of the dark part of the scene and enrich the picture level. Side light is the light that can best express levels and lines among several basic lights, and it is also the most suitable light for taking landscape photos.

3. The influence of backlight on scenery

Backlight illuminates the scene, and the part of the scene illuminated by light will produce a bright outline, so that there is an obvious light boundary between objects, and the subject and background will not be mixed into dark black tones. Because the outline caused by backlight is bright, the subject and background are completely separated, which is the uniqueness of backlight.

Backlight comes from the back of the scene, and the object we shoot must be a dark part without direct light, so it is not easy to show the light and dark levels and lines of the scene. But the backlight shines on the back of all objects, and if the distance between objects is not too far, it has the function of reflecting light from each other. When shooting a backlit scene, the sharp outline and the illumination in front of the lens often affect the photographer's field of vision, which easily leads to underexposure. Therefore, the exposure time must be determined by the dark part of the scene or neutral gray, in order to fully display the level of the scene. In addition, all objects on the ground, water surface and back under the background light will naturally have strong white reflection. In order to avoid too much contrast between this part and other objects, it is more appropriate to shoot with soft light.

4. The influence of highlights on the landscape

This is a bright spot when the sun rises in the sky and shines vertically on the earth. Highlight is the strongest time of the day, so strong light will make the shadows darker. At the same time, the highlight is the light that shines vertically from high altitude, and it can't express the texture of the object except the dark layers from top to bottom. This kind of light is not an ideal light source for shooting scenery, so it should be avoided as much as possible when shooting scenery without necessity.

5. The influence of scattered light, weak light and reflection on the scene.

In addition to the four basic light types mentioned above, such as front light, side light, back light and high light, sometimes we have to shoot scenes under scattered light. Scattered light is not as direct as sunlight. When shooting in this light, all the objects to be photographed must have no light-dark boundary and cannot produce shadows. Therefore, we don't use light to change the theme depth and background tone of the scene. Shooting a scene under scattered light can only show a dull object image and a gloomy atmosphere, and cannot produce the beauty of light and shade levels and lines on the scene. So sometimes it is necessary to shoot a scene. In case of scattered light weather, only by narrowing the scope of the scene as much as possible and shooting a close-up middle scene or local scene can we get a slightly clear effect. The bigger the scene, the darker the atmosphere; The smaller the scene, the smaller the gray tone.

Handheld skill

When shooting with a hand-held camera, the correct posture is one of the foundations to ensure a clear picture. Most photographers have their own skills, and there are many basic explanations on the Internet. Alex Jansen, from the US military, combined with his knowledge and experience in practicing shooting in the army, discussed in detail how to keep the camera stable when standing, squatting, sitting and with auxiliary support from the aspects of head, back, elbows and legs. Some of them are already known to most of us, but some of them have never occurred to us and are worth seeing.

Only when you can't find support, consider shooting standing. You can adopt the following postures, which you can choose according to your own habits. You should keep your body in a straight line when standing upright. Many photographers will unconsciously lean forward, which needs attention. In addition to standing upright, you can bend your back and stand with your legs apart like a weightlifter, which is also a very stable posture. Note that the span of your feet should be greater than your shoulder width. Not everyone likes to lean back and protrude at the same time, but you can choose.

Anti-shake skills of three hand-held cameras

Let's face it, it's not always easy to take pictures with a tripod. No matter what people complain about its size and weight, the problem is that tripods are forbidden in many places suitable for photography. Unfortunately, it is difficult to shoot with a camera in poor light, and what you get is often a blurred photo.

Fortunately, there are three techniques, any of which can effectively improve the quality of hand-held photos.

A. Correct posture

Most photographers hold their cameras in the same posture, but they often ignore the importance of body posture. Many people lean forward and use their arms to keep the camera stable. The correct posture is that, like lifting most heavy objects, the best way is to bear the weight with your legs, so you need to adjust the posture of your feet to adapt to the following principles:

1. Hold the camera with both hands. In which the left hand holds the lens and the right hand holds the body and controls the shutter.

2. Take a half step forward and keep your knees slightly bent. In this way, you can distribute your weight evenly on your legs.

3. Raise the camera and pose for shooting. For digital SLR cameras, the viewfinder is held in front of the right eye, while for portable digital cameras, it is held at the eye height of about 15cm in front of the face.

4. Clip your arms to your sides. The left forearm should be completely vertical, and should not go forward beyond the toes. Be sure to avoid leaning forward, otherwise it will cause camera shake.

Take a deep breath and press the shutter as gently as possible between breaths.

B. Portable tripod

Tripod is very inconvenient to carry. This skill teaches you how to use a portable tripod when shooting in low light.

1. Before going out to shoot, cut a piece of rope about your height and put it in your pocket or camera bag.

2. At the shooting scene, wrap one end of the rope around the camera lens and let the other end hang on the ground.

Step on the rope on the ground with one foot, and then slowly lift the camera to your eyes. Straighten the rope carefully, but be careful not to use too much force to avoid affecting the fuselage and lens interface.

4. When the rope is stretched into a straight line, press the shutter gently according to the posture described in the prompt 1.

C. joe McNally grip

Photographer joe McNally, who is famous for his quick lighting skills, often takes photos for publishing houses, such as Sports Illustrated, National Geographic and Life magazine. Although he has to shoot in all kinds of light, he seldom uses a tripod. On the contrary, he has his own way of holding the machine. This method requires the left eye to observe the scene. With a little practice, this method of holding the camera allows the photographer to shoot with a low-speed shutter. (Translator's Note: This method is described in detail in joe McNally's Diary of Hot Boots, and only applies to cameras with vertical racket handles. )

1. The posture of footsteps is the same as that of 1. The left foot is in front, the right foot is behind, and it is shoulder width.

2. Turn the upper body so that the left shoulder faces the subject.

3. Hold the machine with your right hand and place the frame in the depression below the clavicle between your left shoulder and your body.

4. Fix the camera inward with the left hand and completely fix the right hand. Keep the weight of your body distributed on your feet and observe the viewfinder with your left eye. Take a deep breath and press the shutter.