The most inspirational figure of all times, in photography, is of a woman. Yet female photography has been the root cause of many scandals. Women and their form have fascinated many a famous painters and sculptors including Vinci, Raphael, Picasso, Vermeer etc. Some of the other great pieces of art depicting women include ‘Whistler’s Mother’ and the ‘Venus De Milo’. Photography, which came into existence later, just followed this pattern and brought images to life using depth and colors.
One of the most famous photographs of all times is the face of an Afghan girl on the cover of National Geographic magazine’s 1985 issue. Her name is Sharbat Gula and the photograph of her direct gaze into the camera, intrigued many people for years; Steve McCurry took this photograph. Female Photography can be well divided into various forms like fashion model photography, nude photography, celebrity photography, and self-portraits. Nude photography has got be that one form of photography that has shaped and influenced the perspective of people worldwide.
Photography is an art, which can fill your heart with the joy of having achieved the extraordinary. The most important criteria for becoming a good photographer is to have passion for taking pictures. You should have the ability to feel the intensity in the eyes of a woman, to understand the female form, its delicate nuances, and understand and appreciate the many of moods of woman. Additionally, a dexterous hand at being able to experiment with light and shadows will bring out the depths and tones in your pictures.
There are three very important aspects of photographing women:
Setting the surrounding or the scene: How the photographs really come out depends a lot on the immediate surrounding. The subject’s expressions can also vary with the surrounding. If you are trying to take a photograph in the middle of a bustling street then your subject may also feel the crowd around her and this can easily affect her expressions. On the other hand, a photograph on a secluded waterfront might bring out the best expressions. Creativity plays an important role; the more creative you are regarding the settings, the better the photograph will be.
Lighting Conditions: Lighting conditions are important for getting the best out of a photograph. Too much or too less light can expose the photograph and destroy its effect. The best option is to have a soft bulb light, which works better than a flash. Always remember, to place the light source either on the subjects left side or the right side. This will bring out the details in the face. You can always experiment with the position of the light and even bounce it off the ceiling but never place it in the front, as it will lead to reflection in the photograph. You can also use a soft side light for creating shadows and use a filler flash to light up the face of the model.
Getting it right: Getting the ‘perfect’ shot during female photography shoot, is a challenging task. Try to use a long lens and take the picture moving away from the subject. You can also use a tripod to get a steady shot. Most of the top-notch female photographers use a small aperture and a long shutter speed. Last but not the least; you need to take as many shots as possible with different expressions so that you can get the perfect shot.
Women are enigmatic and mysterious. Female photography is an ode to this most beautiful creation of God!