How Light Can Be Used in Photography |  |
- How Light Can Be Used in Photography
- Photography Tips on Google+: Reaches 15,000 Followers
- Using Soft or Hard Light Modifiers for Outdoor Beauty Photography (Video)
| How Light Can Be Used in Photography Posted: 19 Oct 2013 11:09 PM PDT Final Reminder: Only 1 day left! in the deal on the new: Flash-Free Portrait Photography Guide Photography cannot exist without light. From the beginning of photography, the only element that had to be present for photography to exist was light, and this is still true today. Use of light in photography needs to be understood to make photos stand out from your everyday snapshot. One needs to know how the position of light will make or break the photo.  “Brooklyn” captured by Gagan Dhiman (Click image to see more from Dhiman.) Most professional photographers, with the exception of studio photographers who have total control of the light, usually stay away from the midday sunlight. This type of light creates strong, harsh shadows and gives very strong highlights. The result is strong contrast which looks normal to the human eye but is usually well beyond the dynamic range of most film and digital cameras. Shooting in strong midday sun will cause your subjects to lose much of their detail. The preferred light types for photographers who shoot outside are sidelight, backlight, twilight, front light, and light from overcast days, also referred to as diffused light. Types of LightSidelight reveals form and texture. It brings even the smallest wrinkles and detail in your subject to life. The best times for sidelight are about one hour after dawn and one hour before sunset.  “The Face of Chennai” captured by Wayne Crichlow (Click image to see more from Crichlow.) Front light occurs when the light source is behind the photographer. This type of light produces saturation in color, contrast and brings out detail. The best times for front light are early in the morning or late in the day. Because most of the light will be directly aimed at the subject, your camera readings are usually quite accurate.  “Appalousa” captured by Carlotta Grenier (Click image to see more from Grenier.) Backlight refers to instances when the light source is behind the subject, It is mostly used by photographers to create silhouettes. This type of lighting can be tricky to handle. It is best to take a reading directly from the subject and set the controls manually. You should also bracket some of the shots and choose the best one afterward. A word of caution when using back-light: lens flare (light which directly hits the lens and bounces inside it) is common. A good lens hood is recommended.  “Boracay Sunset” captured by Ina Hillier (Click image to see more from Hillier.) Twilight is the chosen light for landscape photography. When the sun is just below the horizon, the landscape is illuminated by the sky. When photographing in twilight, your exposure time will be longer than at other times of day, so the use of a tripod is a must. This type of light will usually impart an orange to red/yellow cast to most shots, often with dramatic results.  “Setting Sun” captured by Ina Hillier (Click image to see more from Hillier.) Overcast/diffused light is the preferred light source for many professionals. Overcast skies render light that is soft and diffused. Colors are more saturated, fine details are more visible, camera readings are more exact without regards to your aim spot, and shadows are less pronounced. You can also use diffusers to control the outside light. An example would be to hold a white cloth over a flower while shooting in direct sunlight.  “Sắc màu chợ phiên Đồng Văn” captured by Cao Nguyen (Click image to see more from Nguyen.) Light ModifiersFlash: Some photographers specialize in flash photography outside or in the studio. For nature shots, flash can bring out unnatural looking highlights, so its use is not suggested, except when your subject is partially hidden within heavy brush or foliage, and of course at night or when no light is available. Reflectors: Reflectors, which are nothing more than white, silver, or gold colored reflective materials, are widely used for shooting outdoors, especially on heavily overcast days or for macro shots in wooded areas. Most reflectors can be made at home, but they are not that expensive if you choose to buy one. I use the reflective sunscreen/visor that I use on my car windshield. About the Author: For Further Training on Natural Light Portraits:Learning to shoot portraits proficiently and efficiently with natural light involves knowledge, skills, gear and techniques that all developing portrait photographers should acquire. Skilled use of natural light can often far exceed the results captured with the aid of flashes or strobes. But it is most important to understand all the possibilities of natural light so you are aware of the possibilities. Only 1 day left to receive 30% off on this new guide. Ending soon: Flash-Free Portrait Photography Guide Go to full article: How Light Can Be Used in Photography |
| Photography Tips on Google+: Reaches 15,000 Followers Posted: 19 Oct 2013 01:47 PM PDT We love our new Google+ followers! They are often the first to know if we have a new in-depth article posted and we value the comments, plus one’s, discussions and feedback we receive there. Today the number of photographers following us on Google+ surpassed 15,000! Thanks so much to all of you, we look forward to more exciting google+ meetings and activities: PictureCorrect Photography Tips on Google+  Now 15,000 Photographers Strong on Google+ Go to full article: Photography Tips on Google+: Reaches 15,000 Followers |
| Using Soft or Hard Light Modifiers for Outdoor Beauty Photography (Video) Posted: 19 Oct 2013 11:39 AM PDT The sun is great and all, what with it being the primary source of life on this planet, but it can often get in the way of a good photo shoot. There are only a couple of hours each day that the sun can light a scene with any drama; the rest of the time it’s too flat and harsh to be of much use. But sometimes you don’t have a choice—maybe your model is only available in the middle of the day—which means you’ll have to start lugging your studio equipment around with you. In this video, photographer Michael Zelbel gives some insight on a couple of lightweight solutions that will give you more control over your outdoor scenes, and some tips on how to best use them: Zelbel carries two light modifiers with him, a 43-inch Octa softbox and a 27.5-inch beauty dish, both made by Phottix. There’s no hard and fast rule when to choose one over the other—it’s just a matter of seeing which one looks better for a given scene. In general, you’ll want to modify with harder light, since it’s a more natural fit for an already brightly lit scene.
Though you’re better off bringing both kinds of modifiers with you, just to have more options, sometimes you can get away with just the Octa. Push it close to your subject for softer light, or back it away and the light gets harder. If it’s very sunny out, though, pulling the Octa too far and the light it’s throwing towards the scene will be washed out by the sun. This is why Zelbel recommends taking at least two light modifiers with you. They’re lightweight, fold up small, and will give you a wide variety of lighting scenarios and finer control over your scenes. Go to full article: Using Soft or Hard Light Modifiers for Outdoor Beauty Photography (Video) |
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