Photography talk
Hmmm, so the overall practicality of his talk is rather little, although I must say that he's talk was interesting as I get to see how an actual photographer work is like. I like how they put their subject, compose them as they prepare for a single shot. Alas, why is it so impractical for us? Because we are shooting it outside the studio and all we have are our cameras. Lighting? We hardly can control them although I must concede that at different angles, we can get different type of lighting. I know my sis liked one of my photos.. hehe.. I was flattered then.
Anyway, back to the talk, what have I learned so far? I've learned that there are really different type of photography. There are people that shoots people, there are food photographies, landscape, sports photography. Anything that can captures people attention... And what do I like most? Perhaps it is the photoshoot, just like Mr. Russel, I like to compose something. I like to see the curves and how they make people look so mysterious. I like how they cut of the light and still make people look good in it. Alas, all these need skills. =)
For studio shooting, one important thing that he likes to emphasize is the lighting. He kept talking about lighting and I guess it is the key to his photography. He said that he likes to shoot things from the right. He doesn't like flat lighting like because that would make his subjects look very dull, there isn't any shape to his subject. He likes to see his composition where the curves and lines define the. So his lightings are very particular and they are focused at places where he wants the SHADOWS to fall on. Just like a model, he wants to see the cheek bones, he places his lighting(s) at an optimum angle where there isn't any shadows below the eyes and yet you can see the cheek bones and they are not the effect of the model's make up. Thought that was very interesting. And one more thing,(he really likes shadows huh), he likes to show a little shadow below the neck and make his composition just nice. OK, so this is about the angle of the ligting.
Next, also about lighting. What does he do about his light. He spends time to remove the lighting. Because when he looks at his subject, he knows exactly what kinda composition he wants it to be. Got it from sports photography he said? Coz he needs to see things fast, and see wat's wrong with it, fast! Haha! So, how does he remove light, and what does it mean by that? For example, he wants a picture of this person, and the most important thing is to see his face.. he doesn't want to see the ears, he doesn't want to see the shoulders, just light where it is enough to cover the face. That's when you remove enough light to see the face but not everything else. Interesting eh?
Ok, another one one lighting. He likes to see the texture and this is where he plays on the lighting as well. Mentioned that cross lighting would allow us to see the texture or the feel of how the subject is like. For instance, this person is wearing a linen shirt and a cotton pants. Cross lighting allows shadows to fall nicely on the shirt and pants and makes it look natural and when we can tell what type of material they are wearing, it brings out the quality of the picture. (ok, the last bit I added it in myself)
He needs to be engaging. He needs to talk to the subject and directs them on what to do. THat's how he made his people look natural. And if you are a beginner, and the person you are shooting happens to have his or her picture taken like a hundred times, listen to your subject. They know their face best and they know how to make pictures of them look good.
Well, he likes to think that the pictures he take is not just pictures of people, but instead it is their personality that you want. You want to shoot a person and the expression or that composition could tell a whole lot of things about this person. Perhaps, I could call this the impact of pictures? Maybe.. I don't really know. But I just like his concept. =)
Last but not least, this means that photographers have to do their homework before they can tell what kinda composition they want. How they want their subject to look like in the photo. Most of the time, they flip through magazines, look through the internet, know how their subject is doing. For artists, maybe it's their latest music album, maybe it's their latest film. Just something to engage them and to know what shots you are prepared to take. If you are taking pictures for a film, then you might want to read up on what the story is like and sketches, the feel of the tone, the colour.. It is all important for a photographer. =)
Well, guess that's all for today!
Anyway, back to the talk, what have I learned so far? I've learned that there are really different type of photography. There are people that shoots people, there are food photographies, landscape, sports photography. Anything that can captures people attention... And what do I like most? Perhaps it is the photoshoot, just like Mr. Russel, I like to compose something. I like to see the curves and how they make people look so mysterious. I like how they cut of the light and still make people look good in it. Alas, all these need skills. =)
For studio shooting, one important thing that he likes to emphasize is the lighting. He kept talking about lighting and I guess it is the key to his photography. He said that he likes to shoot things from the right. He doesn't like flat lighting like because that would make his subjects look very dull, there isn't any shape to his subject. He likes to see his composition where the curves and lines define the. So his lightings are very particular and they are focused at places where he wants the SHADOWS to fall on. Just like a model, he wants to see the cheek bones, he places his lighting(s) at an optimum angle where there isn't any shadows below the eyes and yet you can see the cheek bones and they are not the effect of the model's make up. Thought that was very interesting. And one more thing,(he really likes shadows huh), he likes to show a little shadow below the neck and make his composition just nice. OK, so this is about the angle of the ligting.
Next, also about lighting. What does he do about his light. He spends time to remove the lighting. Because when he looks at his subject, he knows exactly what kinda composition he wants it to be. Got it from sports photography he said? Coz he needs to see things fast, and see wat's wrong with it, fast! Haha! So, how does he remove light, and what does it mean by that? For example, he wants a picture of this person, and the most important thing is to see his face.. he doesn't want to see the ears, he doesn't want to see the shoulders, just light where it is enough to cover the face. That's when you remove enough light to see the face but not everything else. Interesting eh?
Ok, another one one lighting. He likes to see the texture and this is where he plays on the lighting as well. Mentioned that cross lighting would allow us to see the texture or the feel of how the subject is like. For instance, this person is wearing a linen shirt and a cotton pants. Cross lighting allows shadows to fall nicely on the shirt and pants and makes it look natural and when we can tell what type of material they are wearing, it brings out the quality of the picture. (ok, the last bit I added it in myself)
He needs to be engaging. He needs to talk to the subject and directs them on what to do. THat's how he made his people look natural. And if you are a beginner, and the person you are shooting happens to have his or her picture taken like a hundred times, listen to your subject. They know their face best and they know how to make pictures of them look good.
Well, he likes to think that the pictures he take is not just pictures of people, but instead it is their personality that you want. You want to shoot a person and the expression or that composition could tell a whole lot of things about this person. Perhaps, I could call this the impact of pictures? Maybe.. I don't really know. But I just like his concept. =)
Last but not least, this means that photographers have to do their homework before they can tell what kinda composition they want. How they want their subject to look like in the photo. Most of the time, they flip through magazines, look through the internet, know how their subject is doing. For artists, maybe it's their latest music album, maybe it's their latest film. Just something to engage them and to know what shots you are prepared to take. If you are taking pictures for a film, then you might want to read up on what the story is like and sketches, the feel of the tone, the colour.. It is all important for a photographer. =)
Well, guess that's all for today!