If you are going to experiment with outdoor shooting techniques now is the time to do so. Summer is when most families spend the bulk of their days in the great outdoors and snap happy parents are getting a workout trying to capture all of their children’s adventures with their cameras.
To avoid spoiling those spectacular outdoor summer shots (who wants a ton of shots featuring squinting faces or raccoon eyes?) consider following these tips:
MADE IN THE SHADE
When the sun is blazing seek out shade. Not only will the light be softer, but you will also avoid having your subjects look as though the light is blinding them. If you are shooting outdoors in the mid-day sun have your subject pose under a tree, and awning or in the shadow of a tall building. If you’re seeking shade under a tree, though, be warned, sometimes tree branches allow light to filter through causing your subject to look as though he or she has spots or stripes on his or her skin. Adjust your subject to the left or right, until he or she is completely in the shade before taking your shot.
SHOOT INTO THE SUN
If you are at the beach, the public pool or smack in the middle of a strawberry field there might not be any shade to be found. In those cases you have no choice but to shoot under direct sunlight. You can salvage your shot by using the sun as a backlight. Position your subject so the sun is behind them. Doing so will add a nice rim light effect around your subject and cause a halo effect around his or her hair. If you are using a point-and-shoot camera make sure you use the flash to add just enough light to your subjects’ faces to insure they blend in with the natural light that surrounds them.
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