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Photography and light…the best of friends!
Summary: Photography and light...the best of friends!
Portrait photography requires good light that determines success or failure of a photographer. Identify the types of light and learn how to use lighting to increase your portrait proficiency with tips and techniques from veteran portrait photographer.
Light is your best friend and potentially, your worst enemy. Too much
light can intimidate your subject, diminish their revealing expressions
and create harsh shadows. Too little light can test the limits of your
camera and lens and force you into technical missteps.
To avoid what might be a confounding problem for any photographer
a little planning and ingenuity can enable your success.
Types of light
To
better understand the problem of light we will identify several types
of light that can be used to advantage during portraiture.
Direct light is light that is cast directly from the source onto
your subject. It might be the sun from overhead or the sun at a
dramatic angle depending on the time of day. It may be light from the
electronic flash on your camera or light from fixtures in a room.
Reflected light is simply light reflected from a source. It may
be the soft light from a strategically placed reflector. It may be the
bright, but evenly balanced light, bouncing off in sand at the beach or
snow.
 | | Diffused window light softens shadows and enhances the natural feel of the portrait. |
Diffused
light is filtered light. That filtering may be through sheer curtains
or frosted glass. The soft light that gently embraces your subject may
offer the best potential for candid and revealing portraits.
Gaining advantage
Direct light for portraits is most successful when the light
source is placed and an angle to the subject. Moving a light source or
positioning your subject to your best advantage can overcome problems.  | | Direct on-camera flash flattens facial features. The subject appears one dimensional. |
 | | Moving the direct flash to the side of the subject offers shadow areas that give the face dimension and depth. |
Reflected light can be dramatic and used to convey a mood. Use of
a white sheet of poster board or colorful wrapping paper to reflect the
light onto your subject can lighten shadow areas. Be mindful that
reflected light is the same color of the reflecting surface and an
unwanted color shift could occur.
Diffused
light is a favorite of portrait photographers. The gentle embrace of
the light that softens expressions and removes harsh shadows places the
subject in a comfortable situation. The subject's comfort makes the
photographer's job easier. Diffused light provides opportunity to
explore your subject with an excellent light source.
Situations with perfect lighting are rare, indeed. However, knowledge
about the types of light and their characteristics can enhance your
abilities and results. Understanding lighting sources and turning them
to your advantage leads to your success.
Keys to success:
- Know your and the camera's limits
- Understand light sources and types
- Remove obstacles
- Think creatively
Utilizing
any of these types of lighting, individually or in combination, can
give
you optimum results. Making choices when deciding how best to light a
subject for a protratit is subjective. Take a litle time to
explore your opportunities and put them to use for your next
portrait session.
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Good photographs begin with good light. In the digital photography world, the quality of light corresponds to the quality of the photograph. The dramatic light of the early morning and late afternoon can raise the quality of your images. In poorly lit situations use supplemental lighting from the camera's flash in the fill-flash mode.
• more tips & tricks
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
Dear PS,
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
On the cheap in Oregon
Dear On the cheap,
Yes! If you plan to take creative steps in dealing with your images, photoshop and the lastest Creative Suite 2 are simply the best and most efficients image handling programs available. Is it "worth it" to you, that depends on what you hope to achieve with your images. I would suggest the Elements version of photoshop as an entry level position. Better yet, check a local computer store or even the Apple Store an invest a little time in attending a couple of their tutorial classes for a "test drive" of the program. Then you'll be better informed before you spend your money.
Thanks for your question,
Michael at PS
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 Michael E. Keating is an award winning portrait photographer...
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