Portraits and light

5 years 9 months ago #590438 by August-Coenders
Hello everyone,

I am a beginner in photography and I was wondering whether anyone could help me with the following problem. I want to make a portrait of myself whilst sitting in the window but I am struggeling with the lighting here. The picture is basically divided into two halfs, the right one receiving a lot of light from the open window. The left one, however, remains much darker and this is the part that I will be sitting in, and thus the part that I want to have more light in. I have tried adjusting the shutter speed and aperture but nothing seems to be working. Does anyone have any tips for me?


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5 years 9 months ago #591548 by fmw
Use a white reflector to fill the shadows.


Photo Comments
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5 years 9 months ago #591551 by Shadowfixer1
Don't shoot if the light is coming in directly from the window. Wait until the sun is opposite the window so you just get the glow from the window and not direct sunlight.
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5 years 9 months ago #591557 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day mate

If you can - I suggest you pop into your local newsagent shop and buy a $10 magazine showing portrait photo tips & tricks.

Other things to do - especially with a helper - is to setup a reflector of some sort to brighten the shadows. I use a piece of white cardboard about 60cm x 75cm [24" x 30"] with alfoil glued to one side ... this gives me a super-bright side and a less bright side to play with. If you do not have a helper, try hanging a white bed sheet very close behind you but out of camera view so that it can bounce some light into the shadows.

And as others have said - avoid direct sunlight coming into the lens - use blue-sky light to bounce light into the window as it will also give you softer results

Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

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