Of all the stuff taught in schools never used, it would seem there would be a photography course.. seeing endless photos of blurred faces, poor color saturation, blurred faces .. ugh
School Event pics under the Gazebo
Under a gazebo or any shelter that has a roof but open so light comes through
Overcast .. pics wont be too bad .. but
If it is bright out when people are under a roof, the light behind em can ruin your pics
Any time the light behind people is brighter than the light falling on their face they are back lit.
1 At Rising Park
I see Soooo many pics of couples taken here in bright sun and their features are obscured.
All dressed up an event that only takes place a few times in their lives.
All their friends n family rave how beautiful.. yeah because they are loved.
2 At Rising Park
Ah ha some one knew about the magic of fill in flash.
I don't know about new phone camera flash units but most are not powerful as a dedicated digital camera flash.
Fill in means it will flash every time regardless of how light or dark it is.
The closer to people the greater effect the flash will have so you might need to go for a waist up shot to move in close.
Afternoon the sun is toward the tennis court.
Glasses can cause a reflection but having people with glasses to shift their head around a bit changes the angle the flash hits and you will get some good shots with out a reflection
3 I don't know where these guys are, just a point about light
The kids in front are well lit, the roof is not putting their faces in the shade. In back the eyes can not be seen.. poor color saturation and detail
4 Don't know where this pic was taken but
Overcast and the kids came out from under the roof where the faces are well exposed.
Check the weather map
If you want to stand on top of Mt P with the city behind you, the best time is before 10 so you are not back lit or use fill in light
PHOTOS ON TOP ANY TIME OF THE DAY
If the sun is not shinning through.. cloudy, you can get good pics on Mt P with Lancaster in the background
SUNNY DAY PICS ON MT P
If you want to stand on Mt P with Lancaster in the background
* Before 10 AM you are good
* Midday the sun will cause harsh shadows, turn your back to the sun and have the photographer get close and use fill in flash
* IF it is a bit warm out, the climb will make you a bit red and likely perspire. Walk up about an hour before and have a handkerchief to blot.
* After noon back of peoples head toward the fairground, photograph on top with them, move in and use flash
* After noon people facing the fairground, photographer with a powerful telephoto down on the fairgrounds shooting people on top.
STANDING UNDER TREES
* Standing under trees, overcast is ok but if the sun is filtering through the trees there will be cobweb shadows on those you are taking pics of. Move em to solid shade.
When you take pics of groups in spotty shade some faces will be hard to see.
Maybe the photography club could create a short course of outdoor photography n students could do a short trip.
(Day selected by checking the weather forecast)
Gazebo pics
How pics have I seen of people getting pics under the gazebo where their faces are hidden in the shadow.
The lights on your camera phones are not very powerful so you have to be close. Go after the waist to the top of the head.
The light will bring out their eyes and give the face good color saturation
Just try it on a sunny day, put some pals under the gazebo while they r n the shade, move in close and take one pic with and one pic with out fill n flash .. digital camera or phone
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Almost any day of the year you can walk up n find couples, friends n families looking over our turf.
You can decrease the contrast a bit n make the sky orange but you must use flash
The effect that flash will have depends on distance. Move in and frame em from the waist up. Make sure the sun is peeking behind them.. they don't cover it. Move in and out a bit taking a couple shots. Pick the best n delete the rest :)
Here I compared flash n no flash with these guys. When the light is brighter behind someone their face becomes kind of a silhouette.
These two pics were taken seconds apart. Flash makes the difference between muddy shots or great color saturation and sparkling eyes.
Think waist to the top of the head shot. You can adjust the effect of the flash by moving closer or further away.. with a new digital camera you can use your flash compensation.
Dealing with glare, sunglasses take em off, regular glasses have your person keep looking at the camera but moving their head up, down, right, left slightly n one of the pics should have no glare.
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NIGHT PICS
You can get super nice shots from Mt P.
At fair time or after dark with the city lights, you can get great people pics, but you have to use your phone light or camera flash to make the magic work ...
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Standing at this location is a rock a little higher then the rest.
Having your people just on the other side of the rail you will have a downward view ... great shot
If it is overcast, tilt the camera down to avoid the sky and use flash
Remove hats.. hoods n if it is a bit windy place any long hair persons so their hair is not flying in the faces of their pals.
Get em to remove any sun glasses, if they have regular glasses have em move their heads n slightly different directions while looking at the camera
.. and USE FLASH
Some like to walk out toward the edge but just let em duck under the rail so they are just on the other side. Some of em r like chipmunks sitting on the edge.. keep em close to the rail.
Standing on my favorite spot it was afternoon n I turned their faces from the sun. Because the light behind them was brighter than the light falling on their faces their faces would have been in a bit of a shadow.
Having them move close I turned the flash all the way up n produced great color saturation n made their eyes sparkle.
Your phones use LEDs (I guess) so it is a constant light. The closer any light flash/led is the greater the effect.
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Light causes your eyes to close down a bit. If you are using a phone camera.. I guess it is not a flash.. so
But if you use a flash, it will do it's job before you have a chance to squint.
Glasses/reflective surfaces are a bit of a problem but you can get pretty good shots any way.
When people wear sun glasses ask em to put them on top of their head.
When you are at the park there will be other visitors near. Instead of trying to get a selfie with your pals, just ask someone to take.. 3 shots... one will be the best one :)
So close a cool place to get pets for my Pup n pics on my photo safari's. As soon as I get home I share my photos on facebook.
There are dozens of Rising Park websites and facebook groups just like mine. My Google Map with a few of my favorites.
A few Others ... click on their photo links
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/risingpark/
https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/633649713493209/mt-pleasant-in-rising-park/
Rising Park on Google Maps
Rising Park offical facebook page
Mt Pleasant in Rising Park
Rising Park Paper Mill
Rising Park ...
etc.. hundreds of sites just like mine and thousands upon thousands of photos just like mine on social media.
Such a great place to photograph n get pets for your pups :)