Mastering the Fine Art of Photography Lighting
The word photography originates from the old Greek roots that when combined mean “writing with light.” So, being a good photographer means having a very good understanding of how light works.
However, this is a concept that’s a bit more complex than just controlling your camera lenses since light moves in different directions bouncing off of objects on the way, passing through others, changing the appearance of colours and creating shadows. So regardless of how expensive and advanced your camera is, if you don’t understand the essence of natural light, it will be very hard for you to produce satisfying images.
You’ll find the following tips useful as you start your journey of mastering the fine art of photography.
The waiting game
Many photographers divide the light into what is typically expected and the one that manages to catch you by surprise. Simply put, there’s the light that you plan to catch and lots of tools and apps to aid you, and then, there’s the amazing light that just creeps up on you such as a ray of sunlight as the storm clears up.
Obviously, as you set off on a mission, you need a plan, but your best ally is knowing your camera so well and trusting your instincts so that you are able to capture the moment as it unfolds.
As the new Master’s Degree in Photography at Raffles Milano nicely explains, photography is past its stage of craftsman trade and is now focusing on storytelling, and interpreting objects, nature and landscapes with a new mindset. As much as digital tools are there to help, the attention is now shifted to the photographers and their skills, patience and critical awareness.
Embracing the shades of grey
One of the most valuable lessons you can learn from the works of other masters is appreciating the flat or grey light. Lots of traditional landscape photographers will pack up their gear once the sky becomes grey, but others will readily use it for shooting nature and gardens. In such a setting, the sky becomes a giant diffuser and all harsh contrast, lines and shadows are smoothed out.
However, one thing to bear in mind is avoiding grey skies in the image itself as it tends to add dullness, but if that’s your objective then go for it. If you need more texture, rain and drizzle can add a specific atmosphere and tone.
Hard vs. strong
Another trap to avoid is shooting in the middle of the day because at that time strong and direct sunlight typically creates harsh shadows. The high sun can be useful when you need to take photos with strongly defined shapes, such as architecture because that’s when geometrical abstraction is best achieved. It’s also ideal for black and white photography where contrast is one of the main goals.
On the flip side, soft light allows for a more subtle modulation and transition from the light to the dark parts of the image. It’s less dramatic with soft light but that’s why the shadows are smoother so even small details don’t get lost in the gloomy areas of the picture.
With portraits, hard light generally accentuates skin imperfections whereas the soft light will disguise the blemishes and blend surfaces. Being easier to work with, soft light is a much better starting point for beginners.
Shooting into the sun
As most professional photographers will acknowledge, shooting into the sun entails lots of technical issues, because of the huge range between the sun’s disc and the shadows in the foreground. Due to these challenges, many digital photographers will avoid shooting into the sun but with some careful exposure and photo editing, these problems can be solved, especially if you don’t shoot in JPEG format but rather in Raw.
The Rake’s progress
“Raking light” is a common term in photography that covers more than just the angle that light comes in. Raking light is seen when the light source is sharp and when you glance across a surface that has a delicate relief. This can be used to your advantage especially in landscape, travel and architectural photography as it helps sharpen the images.
Catching the snow
According to many experienced photographers, snow can be used as the ultimate reflector. For instance, when shooting a snowy scene on a cloudless day, the photo will seem as if much less light is coming down onto a scene from above, but it will rather appear as if the objects in the landscape are getting bounced reflection from below.
The way light is captured in an image plays a crucial role in its final definition and for this reason, spectacular images can be made with a toy camera, if you only know how. Becoming a great photographer starts with understanding light, recognizing its subtle differences and learning how to modify it to produce a dramatic effect.
