Christian Photographers Community

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My good friend and spiritual adviser, Rev.Howard Herbert.

That's great, Mario!

Wonderful picture!  Love the verse.

What church is he at?

 I really like the composition here.   

Thank you, Jim

Mario - you know I'm pretty new at photography so I'd like to ask a "how to" question if you have a moment to teach...    What is the best setting/ISO/ way to photograph our Sisters and Brothers with dark skin.   I've taken a few portraits of my African American friends and find shadows or underexposure, often distract from capturing a true likeness.   Is there a good "rule of thumb" I can learn?

Shooting a person with dark skin is no different than shooting another person with lighter skin. It has nothing to do with the ISO setting. It is about proper lighting and using the right exposure in relation to the background.

If you have the habit of using automatic setting, the camera's built-in metering system can be fooled by the contrasting areas in the background. When I am shooting a black person against a bright background, I would spot meter the subject to read the proper exposure, then lock the setting manually.

I did not have any problem shooting my friend Howard, the preacher. It was existing light, and the lighting/background was balanced to the subject. So I just shot it without even thinking about it.

I hope my reply is of some help to your concern,

Good luck to your Portrait Photography.

Blessings,
Mario

Thanks Mario - the advice is helpful.   I guess with all photography, practice is key!