- This topic has 9 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 5 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
A professional portrait photographer friend told me once that you always, always, always want light reflection spots on the eyes of anybody you ever take a picture of. I’ve always tried to do that ever since she told me. But I’ve noticed that when I take pictures of people with the sun behind them, I never get these light spots! It makes sense, I suppose, since the light is behind their head. Does anybody have any ideas for how to get these light spots even if the sun is behind the person I’m taking a photo of? I don’t usually like to use flash. 😀 I do have a reflector. 😀
I’m including a picture of someone with these lights reflections in their eyes. 😀
Attachments:
Yes, you can use that reflector to your advantage. If you look closely, that’s probably what they used for the portrait you showed.
Another option is to use an external flash with a head that goes up and down (and might swivel); these normally have a little card in it that pulls out. This will reflect some light on your subject, but it will also give a little pop into their eyes. If you don’t happen to like the creepy ghastly look that pointing it directly at the person gives them (I don’t!), point the flash up. If you are outside, the card will put off enough brightness to give them that spot in their eyes, and the sun will still give them the backlit halo on the hair and set them apart from the background.
Another option I might try—in a pinch–would be to Photoshop the light spots in. This can look fake, and I don’t know that I’ve tried it before, but I’d experiment a bit with your dodge tool very very small.
Good luck!
@kina, gorgeous picture! I don’t really have any tips for you, but I thought I should mention that I believe those lights in the eyes are called ‘catchlights’! 🙂
@loganlamar Thank you! I actually took that picture. 😀 I didn’t use my reflector – the sun was behind me. Unfortunately, I don’t have Photoshop or an external flash, though I would like to get one eventually. I’m thinking I’ll just have to try to shoot with the sun behind me as much as possible, instead of behind the subject… but I really don’t like to do that when possible. But those are really good tips that I’ll keep in mind for if I ever do get Photoshop or a flash. 😀 Thank you! 😀
@creative-click-photography Ooh, thank you!! That’s an interesting name though…. 😀 😀 😀 LOL
You could try shooting in shade, or putting the sun off to the side of your subject (not directly behind you, but not directly behind your subject).
Here is a post that talks a bit about the science behind catchlights… In this case it was a sheep, but eyes are all basically the same – small reflective balls, from a camera’s point of view. 🙂
https://www.lenspiration.com/forums/topic/lambs/
Basically, you need a large bright area that will be reflected in the subject’s eye.
Thank you @dfrazer! I think I’ll need some hands-on experience before I thoroughly understand it, but it mostly makes sense, and it looks like once I’ve thoroughly understood it, it will be extremely helpful. 😀
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.