Digital SLR Photography - UK (2020-01)

PH O

K L L

PORTRAITS

IN A FLASH

GET STUDIO-LIKE PORTRAITS ON LOCATION WITH A SIMPLE BUT CLEVER LIGHTING

TECHNIQUE THAT MIXES FLASH WITH DAYLIGHT, SHOWN HERE BY CAROLINE SCHMIDT

T

HERE ARE NUMEROUS ways you can capture backlit portraits

• you can use window light, a low sun, a snooted studioflash or
  a simple flashgun, for instance. Backlighting a subject, however,
  doesn’t mean you need to have a bright background; some of the
  best backlit portraits use a hair light to separate a subject from a dark
  background. It’s perhaps one of the easiest, quickest and most
  effective techniques to have in your arsenal when you’re forced to
  work in shade, as long as you pay attention to a few key factors. The
  flash power, size and distance from the subject all play a role in the
  success of the effect, but perhaps most importantly your subject’s
  distance from the background and from the key light – in this case,
  the sun – to ensure a bright illumination of the face. This issue’s
  Photo Masterclass (page 54) is dedicated to the fundamentals of
  off-camera flash, so if you need a refresh, be sure to read that first.

CAMERA: NIKON D800/LENS: N IKKOR 85MM F/1.4/FLASHGUN: NIKON SB800