I’m sure you have witnessed those situations, where people wanting to take a portrait of someone else place their subject to have the sun shining directly onto them. Because it looks nice. Objects look sharp, crisp and colorful when the sun shines on them. That’s definitely valid for landscapes, buildings and stationary things. It’s less favorable for human beings. Because they tend to squint when facing the sun, and you get unfavorable shadows in their eye sockets, especially when the sun is high.
It’s much for flattering when you place your human subjects with their backs to the sun. The lighting on their face is more even, and you get this wonderful rim light around their body and especially around their hair. You just have to make sure you take your exposure metering directly from their faces in order to achieve natural skin tones. Try it next time, it’s much simpler than you think.
The photograph was taken with my Olympus OM-D E-M1X and the mZuiko 12-100mm F/4.
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Have a great Thursday!
Marcus
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The sun offers such pretty lighting when you know how to capture it and you do it so well! 🙂
Thanks, Amy, really appreciate your kind words! Marcus
I had the same question as Brenda about the high ISO setting. Does that offset the bright sunlight?
No it doesn’t. Actually, the ISO increased to 1600 as it really was getting dark in the streets. I was already at my lowest f-stop (f4) and in order to keep the shutter speed at acceptable levels (to freeze the motion of moving people) I had to increase the ISO.
Perfection!
Thanks so much, Lynn! Marcus
Nice composition Marcus.
Thanks, much appreciated! Marcus
Gorgeous shot.
Thanks so much, my friend! Have a great Sunday! Marcus
Yes, very nice rim light.
Thanks, Tim, so much appreciated! Marcus
You’re welcome.
beautiful portraiture and amazing colors! I like how the background is blurred and seems to offer variations of her hair color.
Thanks, Brenda, your kind words are so much appreciated! Marcus
I noticed your b&w photos were shot in mostly ISO 200. This one is ISO 1600. How did you know what setting you wanted to use? Thanks, Marcus.
I shoot my street stuff mostly in P mode with Auto-ISO capped at 1600. As this was late afternoon and the cam saw the shutter speed endangered, it cranked up the ISO. I let the machine do the work, I‘m focusing on getting the shot instead of fumbling with the settings. I just monitor if all shooting parameters are within acceptable limits to achieve the look I‘m after! Marcus
Marcus–thank so much for the advice!
You are so welcome, Lois! Marcus
Very nice, Marcus.
Thanks, Allan, much appreciated! Marcus
Great photo, a cute Ginger! 😎❤️
Thanks so much, John!