location, Location, Location...

Creating outdoor portraits in the middle of a City on a hot sunny day, packed with tourists can be a challenge.  As soon as you find a space and start shooting you invariably attract an audience, all of whom appear to have cameras and are finding it hard to resist using them to grab a surreptitious or shot or two, or three or more.

 

Its best if you can work fast, get the shots and get out of there as soon as possible, but when you stop to consider all the variables and decisions that you need to juggle, then “fast” is completely off the menu.

 

You can, however arm yourself with a simple technique that has rarely failed to produce great results in double quick time, and it requires  nothing more than your camera and lens.  no need for fill-flash, reflectors or additional equipment of any kind.  All you need is your camera and lens and an eye for a very  specific type of locatio and some sunshine.

 

 

What you need to find is a boundary between light and shade.  The more sharply defined that boundary is, the better. Ideal boundaries are entrances to buildings where there is a large doorway, arch or structure in which the sun doesn’t enter, placing it in deep shadow in direct contrast with the bright sunshine that is outside.  

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Placing the person you are photographing directly in the bright sunshine immediately in front of such a structure will result in an area of deep, dark shadow behind them. 

 

Exposing your shot for the face of your subject will result in the appearing to opo out of an area of complete blackness.

 

Its simple fast and highly effective.  

The portrait of model, Karina Lagstrom, was created by placing her on the edge of the dark rectangular structure that is just above and to the left of the seated man in the photograph. 

She was lit by direct sunlight, while the area directly remained deep in shadow. 

 

The secret to success is to ensure that your subject remains in the bright sunlight, with the shadow area behind her. All you need to do is to expose for the light on her face. Spot metering works really well when you want to expose correctly. just take the reading from the cheek just below the eye on the brightest side of the face. 

 

 

There are many such locations available to you on sunny days and with little or no additional equipment required you can work fast and get out of there before a crowd gathers.

 

this technique will work anywhere there is aboundary between a brightly lit area and a region of shadow, such as a boundary formed by shadows dast by a line of trees. 

If you want to learn techniques and tricks like these, check out ian’s workshops at https://www.meetup.com/photoworks