Ira Block—People in Their Environments

Lessons 15–16

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any photographers start out shooting landscapes rather than
people. Landscapes enable you to practice composition, learn to
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different way. But it’s also true that you can make more emotional pictures
by adding people. Of course, one of the keys to photographing people is to
interact well with them. Talk to your subjects about what they know or what
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become invisible, allowing you to get natural shots of people in their
everyday environments.

Light, Composition, and Moment
When photographing people in their environments, don’t just point and
shoot. Think and shoot. You still need good light, good composition, and a
good moment or gesture. Working with light—for example, using silhouettes
and shadows—adds drama to your photographs. Sometimes natural light
is all you need, but you don’t have to depend on it. Add your own light
sources—even candlelight or headlights from a car—or put lights in odd
places to add interest to your images. Introducing your own light sources
helps you balance your subjects with the backgrounds. These days, you can
boost the ISO on your camera up to a high number and shoot in any kind
of light, but be aware of the quality of the light: harsh or soft, scattered or
focused, and so on.

Of the three elements of a good photograph, composition is the one you have
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small positive elements that can help make a good image. If you’re shooting
a portrait, try having the subject look both into the camera and off to the side.
Shoot subjects from a low angle to eliminate a cluttered background, and
get down on the same eye level as children. Remember, too, that an angular
composition has more impact than a horizontal or vertical one.