Light and Subject

8/6/2019 Light and Subject

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

The primary function of light in photography is the illumination of theThe primary function of light in photography is the illumination of the

subject.subject.

Many quality of light, can change our perception of the subject.Many quality of light, can change our perception of the subject.

Lighting can reveal or hide the for, or threeLighting can reveal or hide the for, or three--dimensionality, anddimensionality, andtexture of the subject.texture of the subject.

Light can act as important design element in a photography.Light can act as important design element in a photography.

The quality of light can carry psychological and emotional weight,The quality of light can carry psychological and emotional weight,

setting a mood or feeling of time and place.setting a mood or feeling of time and place.

The light cab be altered by the surroundings, being diffused,The light cab be altered by the surroundings, being diffused,

reflected, blocked, and filtered by objects in the environment.reflected, blocked, and filtered by objects in the environment.

The presence of additional light sources can add even moreThe presence of additional light sources can add even more

complexity.complexity.


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Lighting ContrastLighting Contrast

The type of lighting will affect subject contrast.The type of lighting will affect subject contrast.

The light in the shadowed area usually comes from light reflected orThe light in the shadowed area usually comes from light reflected or

scattered from the surrounding environmentscattered from the surrounding environment known asknown as

environmental lightenvironmental light but may also come from secondary lightbut may also come from secondary light

source.source. The higher lighting ratio, the higher the contrast. high contrast isThe higher lighting ratio, the higher the contrast. high contrast is

sometimes called harsh and low contrast is called flat.sometimes called harsh and low contrast is called flat.

The amount of environmental light illuminating the shadowsThe amount of environmental light illuminating the shadows

depends upon the environment surrounding the subject, calleddepends upon the environment surrounding the subject, called

ambience. High ambience means the surroundings contain highlyambience. High ambience means the surroundings contain highly

reflective or light color surface; more reflected light will reachreflective or light color surface; more reflected light will reach

shadow, producing low contrast. Low ambience means darkshadow, producing low contrast. Low ambience means dark--coloredcolored

surroundings producing less environmental light and higher contrast.surroundings producing less environmental light and higher contrast.


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Left: Texture subject with light straight into surfaceLeft: Texture subject with light straight into surface

Right: Texture accentuated by cross lightingRight: Texture accentuated by cross lighting


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Left : High lighting ratio : about 5:1Left : High lighting ratio : about 5:1

Right : Low lighting ratio : about 2:1Right : Low lighting ratio : about 2:1


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Subject Lit by specular source.Subject Lit by specular source.

Left : Note how sharp and wellLeft : Note how sharp and well--defined the edge of each shadowdefined the edge of each shadow

Right : A magnified view of the shadow edge.Right : A magnified view of the shadow edge.


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Subject lit by diffuse source.Subject lit by diffuse source.

Left : The edge of the shadow is now softer and more graduated.Left : The edge of the shadow is now softer and more graduated.

Right : A magnified view of the shadow edge.Right : A magnified view of the shadow edge.


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ColorofLightColorofLight

Many factors can affect the color of the light:Many factors can affect the color of the light:

Type of light sourceType of light source. The sun produces white light and is the standard. The sun produces white light and is the standard

by which we judge the color of light. Light produced by light bulbsby which we judge the color of light. Light produced by light bulbs

with tungsten filaments contain less blue and more yellow or orangewith tungsten filaments contain less blue and more yellow or orange

than daylight. Fluorescent light usually produces light with morethan daylight. Fluorescent light usually produces light with more

green than daylight.green than daylight.

Variations of sunlightVariations of sunlight. The color of the sunlight is altered by its. The color of the sunlight is altered by its

passage through the atmosphere. Late in the day the light is morepassage through the atmosphere. Late in the day the light is more

yellow than it is midday. The light in cloudy, rainy or foggy conditionsyellow than it is midday. The light in cloudy, rainy or foggy conditionsusually contains more blue than does direct midday sunlight.usually contains more blue than does direct midday sunlight.

Condition at dawn or dusk can add great amounts of red, orangesCondition at dawn or dusk can add great amounts of red, oranges

and yellow to the light.and yellow to the light.


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ColorofLightColorofLight

ReflectionReflection. Light reflected from a colored surface will take on the color. Light reflected from a colored surface will take on the color

of the surface; this called color contamination. Reflected light fromof the surface; this called color contamination. Reflected light from

the green wall or green tree will cause a green cast in a colorthe green wall or green tree will cause a green cast in a color

photography. Reflected light from a clear skyphotography. Reflected light from a clear sky skylightskylight is bluish inis bluish in

color.color.

We often associate emotions with the situation in which we seeWe often associate emotions with the situation in which we see

different colors of light. In black and with photographs the color ofdifferent colors of light. In black and with photographs the color of

the light is not represented, so the other qualities of light must bethe light is not represented, so the other qualities of light must berelied upon to communicated such feelings and ideas.relied upon to communicated such feelings and ideas.


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The warm orange or yellow light at the beginning and end of the day can produceThe warm orange or yellow light at the beginning and end of the day can produce

feelings of restfulness or peace associated with those times of the day.feelings of restfulness or peace associated with those times of the day.


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Working with LightWorking with Light

Two approaches can be taken to dealing with the light inTwo approaches can be taken to dealing with the light in

photography:photography:--

1) The preexisting light is accepted as is with no attempt to modify or1) The preexisting light is accepted as is with no attempt to modify or

change it.change it.

Getting good results depend on discovering the chance momentGetting good results depend on discovering the chance moment

when light and subject interact in beautiful way. The only controlwhen light and subject interact in beautiful way. The only control

available is to move your subject matter within the light or wait foravailable is to move your subject matter within the light or wait for

more desirable light.more desirable light.

2) Modify the preexisting light to achieve the desire effect, add2) Modify the preexisting light to achieve the desire effect, addsupplementary lights or eliminate all preexisting lightsupplementary lights or eliminate all preexisting light --as in a studioas in a studio --

( with artificial light).( with artificial light).


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Photographed by Ansel Adams.1945. The low back lighting provided by the sunPhotographed by Ansel Adams.1945. The low back lighting provided by the sun

accentuates the texture of the boulder field.accentuates the texture of the boulder field.


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Daylight PhotographyDaylight Photography

The light from the sun can undergo many natural modifications.The light from the sun can undergo many natural modifications.

The direction, quality, and color of the light change from hour toThe direction, quality, and color of the light change from hour to

hour, from day to day and from season to season.hour, from day to day and from season to season.

A landscape that look perfectly ordinarily in the middle of the dayA landscape that look perfectly ordinarily in the middle of the daymay be spectacularly by the golden, raking light of the evening sun.may be spectacularly by the golden, raking light of the evening sun.

Dont put your camera away on bad weather days. The hazy dayDont put your camera away on bad weather days. The hazy day

add mystery or beauty to your subject.add mystery or beauty to your subject.

Daylight can provide soft lighting on a overcast day or indirectDaylight can provide soft lighting on a overcast day or indirect

sunlightsunlight--as in open shade situations where the light is either skylightas in open shade situations where the light is either skylight

or light reflected from surrounding objects.or light reflected from surrounding objects.


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The very diffuse light resulting from a heavily overcast day can give the feeling ofThe very diffuse light resulting from a heavily overcast day can give the feeling of

dreariness associated with bad weather, but if handled with proper exposure, it willdreariness associated with bad weather, but if handled with proper exposure, it will

give a luminous, glowing quality to highlights that the specular harshness of directgive a luminous, glowing quality to highlights that the specular harshness of direct

sun is unable to convey.sun is unable to convey.


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Move the subjectMove the subject. The direction of the sunlight on the subject can be altered. The direction of the sunlight on the subject can be altered

by orienting the subject to the sun for the desired effect.by orienting the subject to the sun for the desired effect.

Left : the sun is providing of high 45 lighting.Left : the sun is providing of high 45 lighting.

Right: by turning the model toward the sun, high front lighting is achievedRight: by turning the model toward the sun, high front lighting is achieved


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Changed the camera positionChanged the camera position. The point of view of the camera can radically. The point of view of the camera can radically

change the appearance of the light on the subject.change the appearance of the light on the subject.

Left: The difference between having the sun behind the cameraLeft: The difference between having the sun behind the camera

Right: walking around so that the sun is behind the subject.Right: walking around so that the sun is behind the subject.


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Wait for better lightingWait for better lighting. If the quality of the daylight is not giving you what you. If the quality of the daylight is not giving you what you

want, wait for different time. The overhead lighting at noon may not producewant, wait for different time. The overhead lighting at noon may not produce

attractive portrait lighting, but waiting until later in the afternoon or shootingattractive portrait lighting, but waiting until later in the afternoon or shooting

earlier in the morning may give a better position of the sun. This subject isearlier in the morning may give a better position of the sun. This subject is

seen in early afternoon on the left and at sundown on the right.seen in early afternoon on the left and at sundown on the right.


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Modify the lightModify the light.. To reduce the hardness of the direct sunlight, diffuse the light byTo reduce the hardness of the direct sunlight, diffuse the light by

placing a translucent material, such as thin white cloth, between the sun and theplacing a translucent material, such as thin white cloth, between the sun and the

subject.subject.

Left : lit by direct sunlightLeft : lit by direct sunlight

Right : diffusion screen has been inserted as seen in the set shot.Right : diffusion screen has been inserted as seen in the set shot.


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To reduce the lighting contrast without affecting the hardTo reduce the lighting contrast without affecting the hard--edged shadowsedged shadowsproduces by specular direct sunlight, more light can added to the shadowsproduces by specular direct sunlight, more light can added to the shadows

by using a white reflecting surface, such as a large white card.by using a white reflecting surface, such as a large white card.

Right : the effect on the shadow when the fill card is placed as shown in theRight : the effect on the shadow when the fill card is placed as shown in the

set shot.set shot.


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Positioning and Modifying FlashPositioning and Modifying Flash

Direct OnDirect On--camera flash flash bounce off the ceiling flash bounced off a nearby wallcamera flash flash bounce off the ceiling flash bounced off a nearby wall

The principles for lighting with flash are the same as those given earlier forThe principles for lighting with flash are the same as those given earlier for

continuous light sources.When the light from the flash is diffused bycontinuous light sources.When the light from the flash is diffused by

reflection off white surfacereflection off white surface a wall or carda wall or card--its called bounce flash.its called bounce flash.


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Thank youThank you

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Light and Subject