Bill Hurter. Group Portrait Photography Handbook, 2Nd Ed. 2005
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FORDIGITALANDFILMPHOTOGRAPHERS GROUP PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY HANDBOOK 2nd Ed. BILL HURTER Amherst Media® PUBLISHEROFPHOTOGRAPHYBOOKS ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bill Hurter started out in photography in 1972 in Washington, DC, where he was a news photographer. He even covered the political scene—including the Watergate hearings. After graduating with a BA in literature from American University in 1972, he completed training at the Brooks Institute of Photography in 1975. Going on to work at Petersen’s PhotoGraphic magazine, he held practically every job except art director. He has been the owner of his own creative agency, shot stock, and worked assignments (including a year or so with the L.A. Dodgers). He has been directly involved in pho- tography for the last thirty years and has seen the revolution in technology. In 1988, Bill was awarded an honorary Masters of Science degree from the Brooks Institute. He is currently the editor of Rangefinder magazine. Copyright © 2005 by Bill Hurter. All rights reserved. Front cover photograph by Leslie McIntosh. Back cover photograph by Frank Frost. Published by: Amherst Media, Inc. P.O. Box 586 Buffalo, N.Y. 14226 Fax: 716-874-4508 www.AmherstMedia.com Publisher: Craig Alesse Senior Editor/Production Manager: Michelle Perkins Assistant Editor: Barbara A. Lynch-Johnt ISBN: 1-58428-159-6 Library of Congress Card Catalog Number: 2004113075 Printed in Korea. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechani- cal, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior written consent from the publisher. Notice of Disclaimer: The information contained in this book is based on the author’s experience and opinions. The author and publisher will not be held liable for the use or misuse of the information in this book. TABLE OF CONTENTS The Photographers . .6 Introduction . .12 1. Cameras for Group Portraiture . .14 Film Cameras . .14 Film Choice . .15 Black & White Film . .15 Digital SLRs . .16 Price . .16 Dimensions and Weight . .16 Image Sensors . .16 Effective Pixels . .18 Removable Media . .18 Reformat Your Cards . .19 File Types . .19 Color Space . .20 LCD Monitor . .23 White Balance . .23 Lens Compatibility . .24 Lens Conversion Factor . .24 Shutter Lag Time . .24 Exposure Latitude . .25 Evaluating Digital Exposures . .25 Photograph by Dennis Orchard. Digital ISOs . .27 2. Technical Basics ............................30 Noise . .27 Film vs. Digital Retouching . .31 Contrast . .28 Lenses . .31 Black & White Mode . .28 Focal Length . .31 Burst Rate . .28 Focus . .34 Batteries . .29 Depth of Field . .34 Sharpening . .29 Shifting the Focus Point . .35 Metadata . .29 Plane of Focus . .35 Clock Settings . .29 Shifting the Field of Focus . .36 TABLE OF CONTENTS • 3 Metering and Exposure . .37 The Golden Mean . .55 Incident Flashmeters . .37 Line, Form, and Direction . .56 Optimum Shooting Apertures . .38 Line . .56 Shutter Speeds . .38 Shapes . .56 Pleasing Compositional Forms . .57 3. Posing .....................................41 Direction . .58 Subject Positioning . .41 Subject Tone . .58 Head-and-Shoulders Axis . .42 Tension and Balance . .60 Head Positions . .42 7 The /8 View . .42 5. Building Groups . .63 3 The /4 View . .42 Posing Hierarchy . .63 Profiles . .42 Posing Dialogue . .65 Tilting the Head . .43 Perimeter Check . .65 Head Levels and Placement in Groups . .43 Coordinating Apparel . .66 Chin Height . .44 Photographer’s Favorites . .67 Expressions and Communication . .45 Seating . .68 Eyes . .45 Arranging Small Groups . .73 Mouths . .46 Start with Two . .73 Camera Height and Perspective . .47 Add a Third . .73 Posing Hands . .48 Adding a Fourth . .75 3 Using /4- and Full-Length Poses . .51 Five on Up . .75 Obvious Things to Avoid . .80 4. Composition ...............................53 The Rule of Thirds . .53 6. Building Big Groups . .82 Naturalness Counts . .82 Posing Levels . .83 Level 1, Standing . .85 Level 2, Tall Kneel . .85 Level 3, Short Kneel . .85 Level 4, Sitting . .85 Level 5, Lying Down . .86 Stepladders . .87 Linking Shapes . .87 The Really Big Group . .89 7. Outdoor Lighting ...........................90 Roundness . .90 Lighting Ratios . .91 Determining Lighting Ratios . .93 Lighting Ratios and Their Unique Personalities . .94 Finding Good Light . .95 The Best Light . .96 One Main Light . .97 Reflectors . .97 Photograph by Frank Frost. Fill-in Flash . .98 4 • GROUP PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER’S HANDBOOK Using Flash Fill, Metering, and Exposure . .99 Background Control . .101 Direct Sunlight . .102 Problems Outdoors . .103 8. Indoor Lighting ............................107 Feathering . ..