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Chapter 12: Taking Great Pictures
Microsoft Digital Image Standard User’s Manual
Portrait Mode
For portraits and candid shots, using your camera’s portrait mode is a
convenient way to get good results. Portrait mode is set to use a relatively wide
aperture, creating a shallow depth of field. With only your subject in focus,
objects in the background are less distracting, and your subject dominates the
frame.
With a shallow depth of field, it’s crucial that you get your subject in sharp
focus. If your depth of field is so short that you can’t focus on every part of your
subject at the same time, focus on the subject’s eyes, and let hands and feet be
in less focus.
For this portrait, the Diffuse Glow filter was applied in Digital Image to soften the focus.
For successful portraits, remember to fill the frame, and use a medium tele-
photo lens (around 105mm, or zoomed about halfway between wide angle and
maximum telephoto). Keep the background very simple, unless you are using
objects in the background as context for your subject. If you are taking pictures
indoors, an off-camera flash or other light source works best.
Relaxing your
subject
An important
aspect of portrait
photography is to get
your subject relaxed
and comfortable for
the pose. Try using
conversation or other
pleasant distractions to
get your subject’s mind
away from the camera.