How to choose or take a good reference photo
Hello everybody! I am really happy that I am finding some time to post some blogs again. ( I took this material from my “Beautiful Faces” course so it was quick to do.)
When we look for a good photo we often fall for the photos with a lovely face and a good story. But we can run into trouble when we have a photo that misses the key information for getting the likeness.
Here are just some of the things I think about when I find a photo for my artwork. with these tips, you get a long way.
1. Lighting
The most common mistakes are caused by lighting. If a photo is too bright and washed out or too dark, it will be difficult to make out the shape and features. A washed-out photo is going to be difficult and most certainly will affect likeness.
Look for a lighting situation that will give you depth and character. It should show the important tonal info where you get a clear image of the shapes of the face and features of the subject. An Ideal photo can show light on one side of the face and shadow on the other, which can be achieved by taking a photo sideways onto a light source.
Natural light is best. Use a photo that is taken in daylight outside if possible. Pick a time of day where the lighting is best. If you are inside you might need to go from room to room to find the best spot.
If you are using a flash, the shadows can be too harsh which will make it obvious that it is a photo. But this is a style, you need to decide if you want this.
2. Resolution
Make sure your reference photo has a good resolution. Old camera photos can have a too low resolution for portraits, all you’ll see when you enlarge it are blocky pixels. If you have photoshop you can use it to try to reduce the pixelation.
3. Contrast
Cameras tend to flatten tone, and many photos don’t contain quite enough contrasts. Some phones and cameras will let you increase the contrast either before the photo is taken or even on a photo that has been taken already.
4. Background
The background can tell a story, and you have to decide what part of the picture is most important, You can use a cloth, wallpaper, or a screen as a backdrop. If you take the photo against a plain wall, make some space between the subject and the wall.
Avoid a background that is messy and in conflict with the subject or which distracts from the subject.
5. Subject
What is the first thing you notice about the person? Big eyes? small lips? the shape and the nose? Ask yourself what is the first thing you see. What makes them different from most other people. Try to find something that captures what makes them ‘them’.
Find a pose that shows some personality. A big smile is a great quality in a photo.
I often use snapshots in my artwork, but this is part of the story and my interest in old photos is the point.
Summary
Choose a pose that shows your subject’s features and personality.
Make sure the photo:
- is well lit
- has good resolution
- has good contrast
- has a good background
One more thing I would like to mention is that photos are taken within a fraction of a second and therefore they freeze time. If you think of the old painted pictures from art history, they “hold time”. in a classical portrait, we often see that the “moment” they captured is not an instant, but reflects a much longer time than a snapshot from a camera.
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