Balancing Act

Here's the unedited image, found on google:



Here's the same picture, after using the levels adjustment on photoshop:

White Balance

Color temperature is a term sometimes used to describe white balance.
White balance is basically how white objects are tinted- "warm" blue, or "cool" red, which is opposite of what we typically think about those colors. Sunlight typically leans more towards red on the black body spectrum, and tungsten lighting is typically shifted more towards blue (it can also be yellow, depending on the light). Flourescent lighting is normally some sort of green.

All this really means is if theoretically you take a picture of someone wearing a white shirt, outside on a sunny day it will be slightly tinted blue, inside it will be tinted slightly red or yellow, and under flourescent light slightly green. This applies to everything in the shot, not just perfectly white objects.

To correct white balance before shooting, many cameras have adjustable white balance settings (example, mine has tungsten, overcast, sunny, flourescent, etc, and a custom setting). With film, because you don't have these options, and also with digital if you don't want to use all the buttons, a colored filter can be added to the lense or a gel can be stretched over the flash.

To shoot inside you would use a blue gel/filter, outside you would use a red/yellow filter, and in flourescent lighting a magenta filter. These take some playing around with, but you can easily change the white balance to whatever you want.
Of coruse thanks to Photoshop, we can also quickly adjust white balance levels after taking a shot.

Say Cheese

Three things to remember when taking portraits are:
~ Typically, the camera should be positioned at eye level of the subject, ESPECIALLY with children.
~ Use a simple background that won't distract the viewer, unless the background is relevant (like an environmental portrait).
~ Fill the frame with the subject. They ARE the subject, after all.


There are a few main types of portraits:

Environmental: In an environmental portrait, the picture tells the story of the subject. How they're dressed, what they're doing, or where they are are all factors in creating a portrait that shows the subject's personality.



Here's an example of an environmental portrait. It's a bit comical too.

Candid: In candid portraits, the subject is typically unaware and in an uncontrolled setting. Sometimes the subject can also be aware of the presence of the photographer, but they are not posed.

Posed: All this means is that the photographer has communicated to the subject, and the subject acts or poses a certain way to create the desired shot.

Formal: A formal portrait is planned out; the clothing, location, style, mood, etc is all controlled by the photographer.

Group: Obviously, a portrait taken of a larger group of people.

Couple: The object of the photo is to portray the connection between the two subjects, whether it be motherly affection, attraction, or teamwork.

Sporting: A portrait of an athlete. Their uniform and surroundings tells you what sport they participate in, and the mood of the subject can tell you their attitude at the time of the shot.

Children: Portraits of children can be candid or posed. Typically parents like to have portraits of their children when they're very young.