Portraits are one of the most popular types of photography from amateurs through to pros. Unfortunately, they can also be tough if you're looking for a really good shot. But there is a simple “trick” you can use to dramatically increase the effectiveness of portraits. It usually doesn't require any extra gear and you can pretty much do it from anywhere.
Taking a flash-lit portrait of somebody at sunset is an almost sure-fire way to get a dramatic effect with that portrait. Now, how far you take this is up to you. Sure, you can deal with light diffusers at various angles and whatnot, but often a standard built in flash can be effective too. We’re not pretending this is easy or that it always works out, but it can certainly be worth experimenting with. Check out some of these fantastic examples.
Photo by Hassan OUAJBIR
Photo by Pixabay
Photo by Renato Abati
Photo by Max Andrey
Photo by Mark G
Other Sunset Portrait Resources
- Sunset Portrait Discussion (at Photo.net – very useful)
- Classic Sunset Portrait
- A Tutorial on Using Fill Flash at Sunset
1 Comment
This post was interesting and makes me think of all the ways I can sort of revive the art of painting with light in my own work. It’s going to be a challenge because such gutsy and deep images have been passed over for those that seem light and clean by so many clients. Balance is good, but at some point I’d like to shoot a client who lives in less fear.