Consumers can spend thousands of dollars on digital cameras, but their photography is not going to improve until they learn how to use light. The term "photograpy" comes from the joining of the Greek words for light, "photos," and "graphos," to draw. Several different lighting mediums exist in photography along with endless aesthetic possibilities. While rule-breaking is paramount in making creative photographs, beginners find that following several lighting guidelines drastically improves their digital pictures.
Three-Point Lighting
Knowledge of the basic three-light setup is crucial for any photographer. A key light, fill light and back light are part of every three-light setup. The key light, or main light, illuminates the photographic subject. A good starting point for a key light is a 45-degree angle in relation to the subject's front on either side. The fill light opposes the key light. The fill light's job is to lower the contrast of the shadow cast by the key light. The fill light should not be as bright as the key light. If the two lights are of equal brightness, increase the distance of the fill light from the subject. Greater distance lowers the intensity of the fill light. The back light, or rim light, shines from behind the subject at a 45-degree angle from either side. The back light reveals the contour of the subject's face and illuminates the hair. Experimenting with the three lights can offer new artistic possibilities.
Artificial Lighting
Photographers often use artificial light to gain meticulous control over their studio portraiture and perfect the three-point lighting scheme. Both strobe flashes and continuous lights create quality lighting for photographic subjects when used properly. Strobe lights are advantageous for photographers who want a "studio" look to their pictures. The bright pulse of light that comes from strobes gives a "vanilla" look to images that is meant to draw in viewers. Continuous lights are similar to strobes; however, they simply turn on and off rather than flash, and are not as bright. The advantage of continuous lighting is the lower cost, as well as the ability to see the effect of the light before the picture is made. The three-point lighting setup can be created with both strobe and continuous lights.
Indoor Natural Lighting
Indoor natural lighting is a cheap and effective alternative to artificial lighting. Using natural lighting requires a window, ideally facing north. North-facing windows keep direct sunlight out, allowing softer, more flattering light to illuminate subjects. When north-facing windows are unavailable, covering the window with a sheet diffuses direct sunlight and creates a soft look. Reflectors are useful when shooting in natural light to soften a subject's shadows. Manufactured reflectors are practical; however, cheap alternatives, like foam-core board and aluminum foil, are also effective in manipulating shadows.
Outdoor Natural Lighting
Outdoor natural lighting is the utilization of the sun, sky, clouds and natural reflectors. The time of day and certain weather conditions dictate what natural lighting techniques are ideal. Sunset and sunrise are ideal for digital photography because the low-dwelling sun provides frontal lighting for entire landscapes. This period of the day is referred to as the "golden hour." An overcast sky calls for subtractive lighting. This technique involves using dark surfaces to create shadows rather than light. For example, for a portrait under an overcast sky, the subject stands next to a dark wall. The sky evenly lights the subject, but the wall adds tonal variation to the subject's face by darkening one side.
Consumers can spend thousands of dollars on digital cameras, but their photography is not going to improve until they learn how to use light. The term "photograpy" comes from the joining of the Greek words for light, "photos," and "graphos," to draw. Several different lighting mediums exist in photography along with endless aesthetic possibilities. While rule-breaking is paramount in making creative photographs, beginners find that following several lighting guidelines drastically improves their digital pictures.
Three-Point Lighting
Knowledge of the basic three-light setup is crucial for any photographer. A key light, fill light and back light are part of every three-light setup. The key light, or main light, illuminates the photographic subject. A good starting point for a key light is a 45-degree angle in relation to the subject's front on either side. The fill light opposes the key light. The fill light's job is to lower the contrast of the shadow cast by the key light. The fill light should not be as bright as the key light. If the two lights are of equal brightness, increase the distance of the fill light from the subject. Greater distance lowers the intensity of the fill light. The back light, or rim light, shines from behind the subject at a 45-degree angle from either side. The back light reveals the contour of the subject's face and illuminates the hair. Experimenting with the three lights can offer new artistic possibilities.
Artificial Lighting
Photographers often use artificial light to gain meticulous control over their studio portraiture and perfect the three-point lighting scheme. Both strobe flashes and continuous lights create quality lighting for photographic subjects when used properly. Strobe lights are advantageous for photographers who want a "studio" look to their pictures. The bright pulse of light that comes from strobes gives a "vanilla" look to images that is meant to draw in viewers. Continuous lights are similar to strobes; however, they simply turn on and off rather than flash, and are not as bright. The advantage of continuous lighting is the lower cost, as well as the ability to see the effect of the light before the picture is made. The three-point lighting setup can be created with both strobe and continuous lights.
Indoor Natural Lighting
Indoor natural lighting is a cheap and effective alternative to artificial lighting. Using natural lighting requires a window, ideally facing north. North-facing windows keep direct sunlight out, allowing softer, more flattering light to illuminate subjects. When north-facing windows are unavailable, covering the window with a sheet diffuses direct sunlight and creates a soft look. Reflectors are useful when shooting in natural light to soften a subject's shadows. Manufactured reflectors are practical; however, cheap alternatives, like foam-core board and aluminum foil, are also effective in manipulating shadows.
Outdoor Natural Lighting
Outdoor natural lighting is the utilization of the sun, sky, clouds and natural reflectors. The time of day and certain weather conditions dictate what natural lighting techniques are ideal. Sunset and sunrise are ideal for digital photography because the low-dwelling sun provides frontal lighting for entire landscapes. This period of the day is referred to as the "golden hour." An overcast sky calls for subtractive lighting. This technique involves using dark surfaces to create shadows rather than light. For example, for a portrait under an overcast sky, the subject stands next to a dark wall. The sky evenly lights the subject, but the wall adds tonal variation to the subject's face by darkening one side.
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