Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-07
CAMERA
CAMERA
ShudeHeIps
In Summer
Photos

"SA 90 bAdNh- oAlO- WAAVC
are taken Of people during
the summertime than of
other subject. There are
many ways in which these
people can be photographed,
but a much-overlooked one
is using shaded areas as set
tings for distinctive and flat
tering pictures.
Shaded areas abound on
all sides. Tees. woods, build
ings, hills, and other natural
and man-made objects pro-
vide them, and no matter
what the spot, they all have
one thing in common for
good photography of people:
Soft, non-glaring, even illum-
nation. While excellent pic
lures can be made in SUM-
light, just as satisfying re-
suits can be had in shaded
areas; indeed, many subjects
will take on a more flatter-
ing appearance when posed
in the shade.
BY using a shaded area for
posing your subject, you gain
several advantages. First, the
soft illumination virtually
eliminates the problem Of ex-
cesSive, unpleasant lighting
contrast so often the down.
fall of pictures of people
made in direct sunlight. Sec
ondly, color pictures made in
the shade take on a muted,
extremely pleasing overall
appearance impossible to
duplicate in any other set
ting. Lastly, subjects are apt
to be more at their ease in
shady spots where heat and
glare are not present to cause
discomfort and squirting.
Use Exposure Meter
A properly used, accurate
exposure meter will go a long
way toward assuring consist
ent picture quality. Don't try
to guess your way, exposure
wise, through a shady pic
ture session, as no two such
areas are ever alike from an
illumination level standpoint.
If you're shooting in color,
you may need a skylight or
ultraviolet type filter over
the cameras lens to avoid a
blush cast to your pictures.
This effect is particularly
prevalent in areas of open
shade, such as beside a build
ing, where the light is COM
ing from an open blue sky.
Also, some color films are
more susceptible to this Off
color result than others.
Wooded areas can provide
really excellent picture set
tings, where tree trunks and
branches or other greenery
can be used as part of the
photograph as background or
as a prop" for the model
to use in some natural, I'M
posed manner, such as young
children climbing a tree; an
attractive girl smilin g
through a framework of
hanging leaves from a low
branch; a man seated against
a tree trunk beside his ia
vorite fishing spot. Also, the
color quality of the light in
these deeply shaded areas is
particularly distinctive. A tri-
pod will be needed where light
levels are too low for slower
shutter speeds to be hand
held.
Get Them Close Up
Don't overlook the posi-
bilities for eye catching
close-ups Of your subject. Too
many photographers make
the mistake Of thinking they
must shoot pictures of peo-
pie full-length, and thus in
clude much unnecessary
background as well as sub
ject matter In the picture
area. While full-lenght shots
certainly have their place,
particularly where showing
the subjects entire costume
is important or where a we'll
posed, overall view is called
for, close-in shots showing
only the persons hand and
shoulders or perhaps only a
tightly-cropped face will pro-
duce stunning results.
Telephoto lenses are par
ticularly useful here TO give
the large image needed with
out the subject distortion
sometimes encountered when
shooting close with a lens OF
normal focal length.