What Everybody Ought to Know About Legs: photography tips
Legs are an important expressive means, as their position often define the pose of the whole body. Legs are a symbol of force for men, while for women legs are an attribute of gracefulness and sexual attractiveness. It is very important to choose the right position for legs, as their position can either improve and accentuate the beauty of your models or completely spoil her figure.
Here comes some general tips that will help you to choose the optimal position for legs of your model.
1. If you want to see your model with crossed legs in the photo, you should be aware some possible deformations of the form of her legs, especially in the area of calves. To avoid this effect, ask your model to lift a little bit up her upper leg.
2. If you take a full-length portrait, avoid placing a camera at eye level, because it may make the legs of your model seem shorter than they really are.
3. If your model has short legs, it is recommended to shoot from below. Or you can ask your model to tiptoe.
4. If your model has too wide hips, you’d better avoid frontal shooting. If the model will cross the legs, one contour won’t be seen and her figure will seem slenderer. Read more in this article 5 Tips for Slender Hips: digital photography tutorial.
5. And last but not least! If you have any idea about visual arts, you are sure to know the term Contrapost. Though, as there still can be some readers who are new to photography and are not good at the history of visual arts, I will explain what it is.
Wikipedia.com: ‘Contrapost is the position of a figure in painting or sculpture in which the hips and legs are turned in a different direction from that of the shoulders and head; the twisting of a figure on its own vertical axis. This gives the figure a more relaxed and less stiff appearance. It can also encompass the tension as a figure changes from resting on a given leg to walking or running upon it (so-called ponderation).’
Contrapost has been used since the dawn of classical western sculpture. Such great masters as Discophoros, Doryphoros, Michelangelo and Donatello, as well as Leonardo da Vinci created their masterpieces using this technique. Why not benefit from a tried-and-true technique? Look at the picture on the right and try to copy the pose.
The current post is included in a series of articles devoted to Nude Photography, which also contains the articles:
- Who Else Wants to Try Nude Photography
- Do You Make These Mistakes in Nude Photography?
- 5 Tips for Slender Hips: digital photography tutorial
Technorati Tags: nude photography, photography tips, portrait photography, model, digital photography
Loading ...