Photography 101Lighting Basics

Direction of Light With the exception of completely

diffused light, light casts shadows over a scene which can emphasize texture and depth or diminish them

The main source of light (the sun, a bright window) will illuminate the side nearest the light and cast shadows on the opposite side

Directional/Side lighting

Direction of Light cont… When looking at the lighting on a

scene, you need to take into account the direction the light is coming from and also its relation to the camera (will the shadows be visible to the viewer?)

Direction of Light cont… Three different kinds of lighting

are defined as front, side and back lighting

Front lighting is often applied by beginners because it is “safe” and will illuminate the scene evenly, but this can create flat, less interesting photographs

Direction of Light cont…Side lighting can emphasize

texture and adds depth to your photographs

Back lighting can create dramatic

silhouettes against a bright background

Direction of Light cont… This is not to say that front

lighting should be avoided, or that side or back lighting will enhance every scene

Look at the scene you are photographing and look for a way to use the light in an interesting way

Direction of Light cont… Can you move the subject relative

to the light, or move the light to another position?

Outdoors, you have little control in moving the light source except for waiting for another time of day

Degree of Diffusion Next to direction, the most

important characteristic of lighting is its degree of diffusion

When people refer to the quality of light, they usually mean its degree of diffusion

Degree of DiffusionDirect Light

Direct light creates hard edged, dark shadows, striking the subject all from one direction

The smaller the light (relative to the size of the subject) or the farther the light is from the subject, the sharper and darker the shadows will be

Degree of Diffusion Direct Light cont…

A spotlight is a good example of direct lighting. Think of a performer on stage in a single spotlight. The highlight areas are very bright and the shadows are very hard edged and dark.

Degree of Diffusion Direct Light cont…

The sun on a clear day is another source of direct light. Because of its distance to the earth, it is a small source in a large sky and causes hard, dark shadows as well.

Degree of Diffusion Direct Light cont…

Degree of DiffusionDiffused Light

When the suns rays are scattered in many directions by clouds or an overcast day, then it is directional- diffused or even fully diffused

Diffused light scatters onto the

subject in many directions and can show no direction of a source

Degree of Diffusion Diffused Light cont…

Diffused light appears to surround the subject and come in from all directions causing shadows to be relatively light and their edges to be indistinct

Degree of Diffusion Diffused Light cont…

Outdoors, an overcast day produces diffused light

To fully diffuse light indoors, the subject would have to be placed near a large light source (large window or doorway) and reflectors be used to bounce light into the shadows (tenting is another way)

Degree of Diffusion Directional-Diffused Light

Directional-diffused light is partially direct with some diffused or scattered rays.

It appears to to come from a direction and creates distinct shadows, but with softer edges that gradually go from light to dark and detail can still be seen in the darkest areas

Degree of Diffusion Directional-Diffused Light

Degree of Diffusion cont…Source of directional-diffused light

Windows and doorways that have light bouncing in the room rather than shining directly in

Lights bounced off of a reflector before hitting the subject

Hazy days outdoors Outdoor sunlight bounced onto a

subject in a shaded area (under a tree)

Overcast Lighting A bright overcast sky,

usually bright clouds or open shade, can make beautiful light and softens colors while keeping detail in the shadows

Heavy clouds or rainy days can make moody photos

Overcast Lighting Hazy sun and shade or reflected

sunlight are great conditions for portraits

Indoors, portrait photographers imitate this type of lighting with their flash units to produce soft, smooth photographs without having to rely on weather conditions

Quality of Light Sunlight varies dramatically in its

qualities and paying attention to its tendencies can help improve your photographs

Weather conditions, time of day, and time of year all have an influence on the quality of light

Quality of LightThe Golden Hours

Sunrise and sunset have been referred to as the “golden hours” for photography

These two times are wonderful for photographs because of the warm light and low angle of the light source.

Quality of Light The Golden Hours cont…

Morning light is somewhat cooler than sunset, but both times produce warmer tones than at midday

The low angle of the sun produces long shadows and creates a feeling of depth and dimension in photographs, great for emphasizing texture and detail

Quality of Light The Golden Hours cont…

These two times give better side lighting and backlighting opportunities, and often the light is soft enough so that the shadows aren’t overly dark and contrasty

Quality of LightMidday Sun

In the summer, midday sun is harsh and contrasty, and the shadows it casts fall almost straight down creating a flatter feeling image than one with long, fading shadows

Quality of Light Midday Sun

It can be hard in the summer, if not impossible, to get side lighting or back lighting with a midday sun as well

As the seasons change however, the sun is more angular even at noon and more interesting light can be found

Quality of Light cont…

Autumn skies are often full of dramatic cloud formations that make for more interesting landscapes than a completely clear blue sky