Time for the third in the series from my ‘Stay At Home’ photography project!
I’ve really enjoyed seeing all of the images coming in from those who have been trying out my tips at home.
If you haven’t taken part yet but would like to, don’t worry. There is still plenty of time to get creative with your camera and share your ‘Stay At Home’ photos with us. Go here for tips and instructions on last week’s theme: ‘Making Faces’.
Read on for all the details you need about this week’s theme and how to share your photographs.
Week 3 of the ‘Stay At Home’ Photography Project
Before I introduce this week’s theme, here’s a quick reminder of what the ‘Stay At Home’ photography project is.
The idea is that you take photos from the safety and comfort of your own home on a set theme. Assignments include teaching you how to create your background, editing tips, even the best apps to use to create professional photos in your home.
Follow my tips and you’ll learn how to improve your photography skills whilst documenting your time at home during the current lockdown. I hope that these will become special memories to look back on in the future.
How to take part
So, here’s what you need to do….
STEP 1
Dig out your camera or smartphone. You don’t need any fancy equipment for this. We’re going to be keeping it simple!
STEP 2
Follow my tips. They’ll give you pointers on how to take better photos of your partner/children and encourage you to try different things with your camera.
STEP 3
Take photos and have fun! Experiment and see what results you get.
STEP 4
Then, share them with me using the hashtag #KingshillStayAtHome and don’t forget to tag me on Facebook @kingshillstudios and/or on Instagram @susanreneephoto so I can see your creations!
THEME 3: ‘90 Degree Window Light’
This one is all about using light and shadow coming from a window.
These portraits can be thoughtful or even moody, and I usually do them with the bride and groom separately before the wedding ceremony.
My nephew Ethan took these of his friend Ali………….What could you create?
Photography Tips for ‘90 Degree Window Light’
Tip 1
Find a room with a window and curtains or screens which can be closed. Face your subject into the window. Take some shots. Have them put their back to the window and look back into the ‘light’ (ie the window). Make sure the light (sun) coming through the window isn’t too bright. There shouldn’t be any other light sources in the room. Any other windows should have the curtains closed. The idea is to cast as much shadow and light as possible. You’re pretty much trying to take a photograph using window light WITHOUT having the window actually in the image. 🙂
Tip 2
Google Snapseed is a free editing app for your phone and it’s really easy to use. Here’s a tutorial we found to show you around it if you have trouble.
Tip 3
Download the Layout App by Instagram or the Unfold App. Both of these apps create fun photo collages for your images that you can use on Instagram, social media Stories, and Facebook.
Take your portraits
Find the right spot in your house, and then snap away. Try to create a short sequence of portraits. Ask the subject to look at you, look out the window, look down and away.
Remember, these images will probably be quite thoughtful and moody.
Select and Edit
Go through your photographs and choose your favourites. Edit them all, in the same way, using the Snapseed app.
Remember black and white works well, and if you’ve got the lighting right, they should have shadows – shadows are good!
Design your Grid
Both the Layout app and the Unfold app work well if you want to put your images all into a collage-type presentation.
Sharing is caring!
Don’t forget to share your Stay At Home photographs with me by using the hashtag #KingshillStayAtHome and tag me on Facebook @kingshillstudios and/or on Instagram @susanreneephoto as I’d love to see your photographs and share them for others to enjoy too.
