Taking Great Pictures Outdoors

by Tracy Woods | More from this Blogger

Taking pictures outdoors can be a tricky thing for some people. Often the lighting is harsh, and there are a lot of unwanted shadows in the pictures that are shot outside. Here are a few things you can do to ensure better pictures when you shoot outside.

In general, natural sunlight will produce pictures with brighter, more vibrant colors than overcast days. You want to try, if possible, to have the sun in front of your subject, not behind them, as this will usually create unwanted effects in your pictures. Try and shoot at a time of day when the sun is low in the sky. Bright sunshine from directly overhead will often create dark, unwanted shadows. Those hours are also good times of day to shoot because of color. Where the sunlight at high noon is white, early morning or evening sunlight is warm, and tends to take on a subtle, yellow or orange warm glow. If you do not have a choice, then you need to use a fill flash if you want to avoid those shadows. An hour or so after sunrise, and an hour or so before sunset are sometimes referred to as the magic hours. The angle of the light is nice for lighting photos, because it fills in the nooks and crannies where there would normally be shadows. Often you will see a raccoon eyes effect in photos shot during midday, or your subjects will be squinting, and neither of those things makes a flattering photo.

You can also try doing studio style portraits outside, since the sunlight is so flattering. Get a piece of solid colored velvet, attach it to a wall, and shoot. You will have lighting that is just as flattering as studio lights, for far less money. It's a great alternative if you don't have a well light area inside your home.

Learn more about Tracy Woods

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger