July 28, 2009
Digital Photography Tips and Tricks
In this issue...
The Characteristics of Light
LIGHT
Light is a substance that reveal itself with characteristics and subtleties. Natural light (not from a flash) can change from a cool blue to a warm pink in a matter of seconds. In portraits, light that provides a soft, even glow can hide wrinkles, while light that's dramatics and directional (coming from the side, for example) can intensify a subject's weathered features. I often find myself thinking more about light than the subject itself. When the proper lighting is right, the ability to produce outstanding images are endless.
Natural or "available" light can change fast, however the idea situation is to be at the scene and ready to go before the good light arrives. It also pays off to stick around, when the light is not good, and wait for it to improve. There is usually always a time for good light and if you are patient the light will come.
Two qualities that greatly help the photographer are preparedness and patience-getting to the scene ahead of time and being able to wait, if necessary, for the idea moment.
COLOR of LIGHT Light takes on many different hues, each having a very different effect on the subject. The more technical among us describe the various colors of light as different temperatures. For example, candlelight can be express as 1900K degrees and noontime daylight might be around 5500K. Light is also referred to as cool or warm, depending on its temperature or color cast.
It doesn't matter how your describe light, as long as you get into the habit of noticing the various colors that light can offer. When you do, you'll see the quality of your pictures immediately begin to improve. With each photographic outing, you'll become more and more aware of the effect that the light has on your subjects. You'll see how subtle changes these hues can completely transform your photos.
DIRECTION
It is very important to consider the direction and angle of the light. When the light source (usually comes from the sun) is behind your and hits the front of your subject, this is call frontlight. 
When the sun is in front of your and hits your face and the back of your subject, this is called backlight. Backlighting is much trickier to work with than frontlighting, but it can often result in interesting, creative images.
Light that comes directly from above, as when the sun is high in the sky, is generally considered less than ideal for taking pictures. This overhead light is usually too bright and harsh. Objects appear flat and lifeless, without texture. Harsh overhead lighting can also cause unflattering shadows in portraits, such as "raccoon eyes" effect when the eye socket get filled with shadows. It can also cause your subjects to squint, which always looks worse in the final photo than it did in the viewfinder.
Sidelight Light that comes from the side, or sidelight, accentuates the three-dimensionality and depth of a scene, and the picture looks more interesting. In side-lit scenes, even slight shadows add drama and give viewers something more enjoyable to look at.
Digital Photography Tricks Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this e-zine and tell me what you think!
See you next month!
Marvin
www.digital-photography-tricks.net