Mastering Light.

I realize if I am to make a living from photography in 2 years time, I will have to master light. Light is the raw ingredient of photography. The word photography comes from the Greek words “Photos” for light and “Graphien” draw. How do I draw with a good picture with light if I do not have a proper understanding of how lighting works and how best to exploit it?

The NAFA course has provided me with a good introduction to studio lighting. It is up to me now to take it further. This long weekend will be a good time for me to start.

I have started off with some theory:

The Nature Of Light

-energy that travels in waves

-photography makes use of visible light

-photons are the raw material of light; when atoms are excited or energized, photons are emitted.

-white light is made up of a mixture of colours

Light can be:

i) Reflected ~ light will always come off a flat reflective surface at the same angle at which the incoming wave of light struck the surface ( angle of incidence = angle of reflection)

ii) Scattered - reflection off a rough surface which diffuses the light

iii) Refraction - light slows and bends when it passes through certain materials

iv) Absorption - Absorption results in the production of heat and not light.

Light intensity
–Illumination from a light source declines considerably over distance ~ inverse square law holds i.e if you double the distance between the subject and the light, the illumination is reduced to a quarter of what it was originally.

Colour of light

- Coloured gels are important and very useful tools for anyone interested in flash photography. They are commonly used to get the light from your flashes to match the surrounding light.

Just a quick post before i head for the showers and after that, reluctantly to school for class and all the assignments deadlines.

Some learning points from the RSPB guide to Wildlife Photography that is also applicable to all the other genres.

Backgrounds and Lighting.

Backgrounds.
The background of a picture can make or break it. Distracting elements in the background of an image, can draw the viewer's eye away from the main subject, and impair its success. When your attention is devoted to the subject in your viewfinder, it is easy to miss distracting elements that will weaken a picture. When taking images, it is useful to scan your backgrounds first before releasing the shutter.

To overcome a bad background:
1. Move your position, sometimes, it is only by a few centimetres to the side or up.
2. Using Depth of field to throw out any distracting element. A Shallow depth of field is a great way to make your subject stand out from the background.
3.Using a long lens to isolate part of the subject, so the background doesn't matter.

Some points on lighting.
The direction and quality of light on your subject will give the image its mood, and will play a big part in the impact a picture has.

The best light of the day will always be in the early morning or in the evening, when light moves towards the the warm end of the colour spectrum. Colours are then intensified and a more 3 dimensional form to people, animals and things is created.


Front lighting
- with the sun coming from over your shoulder. Front lit objects will show greater detail and will lack shadows; colours will also be at their best. However without shadows the image looks flat s there is less contrast.

Side or Backlightiing provides a more moody feel and a more creative image, however the photographer needs to exercise greater control.

Rim lighting - with backlighting, the subject may be back lit against a dark background; the edges of a person or an aimal is lit up producing a beautiful effect - or glowing halo. Things to watch out for when shooting backlit scenes include lens flare, but using a good deep lens hood or holding your hand over the top of your lens should eliminate this.

Side lighting - 3 dimensional field, but harsh shadows may occur, therefore it is best to shoot side-lit subjects at the start or the end of a day. Side lit objects are often photographed best when low to the ground. The low angle accentuates the drama in the image.