NATURAL LIGT
by Diane Bohlen
Photography is a visual communication. A good photograph should tell a story, evoke emotion and engage the viewer. The purpose of a
photograph is to communicate visually.
Communicating Visually
Light is one element to which we must pay particular attention
so as to communicate visually effectively. Light and composition are the most
important elements of photography. After all the meaning of the word “Photograph”
comes from the Greek; photo = light and graph =
to draw. So photograph = to draw with light.
Start by observing light in everyday life. Notice how rays of
light illuminate everything when you walk down a familiar street. Look at how
sunlight pours into a room. Then do it all again at a different time and in
different weather.
Be obsessed
with natural light. Learn how to read light. Look at other photographer’s
photos and ask: ‘What does it convey?’, ‘What time of the day is it?’, ‘What
direction is it coming from?’, ‘Could it have been shot in a different light?
You don’t need fancy gear just an understanding of how natural
light works and how to use it as a tool. You needn’t be far from home to apply
your knowledge of light.
The Role of Natural Light
Light is necessary for communication to take place. It doesn’t
just light the scene but the way it hits the scene can tell a story or create
mood, atmosphere and emotion. It can make the image dynamic and dramatic. The
interplay of light and dark tones can sculpture a shape and give it volume and
depth. Light can lead our eye to what is important but the most important role
is to create mood and atmosphere in other words evoke emotion.
The Power of Natural Light
Natural Light is always changing and so there are many different
types of light, Heavy cloud produces a neutral light which gives a melancholic
mood where as a clear day at sunset gives a vibrant light which creates an
exciting happy mood. This is an example where different light can give the same
story but a different mood.
Use Light as a Tool
There is no
‘good’ and ‘bad’ light. Many photographers maintain that early and late hours
are best times to shoot but we can learn to use any light situations to our
advantage. It is well known that sunset and sunrise is the ‘Magic Hour’ or the
‘Golden Hour’ when the light makes beautiful photos but it can limit the types
of photos you take.
To convey
drama, mystique, hardship or sadness you need different types of light.
However, we can’t pull out a paint box. We don’t have control over natural
light. We need to adapt to what we have been given. Use the ‘Golden Hour’ for
beautiful shots and overcast, stormy skies for telling of hardship or struggle.
Characteristics
of Light
Quantity
or intensity: We have to adjust the camera
to the amount of light available just like our eyes do when we enter a dark
room or a bright place.
Dark = let in more light =bigger aperture(lower number), slower speed,
bigger ISO number.
Bright=let in less light=smaller aperture (bigger number), faster speed,
lower ISO number.
Quality
of Light:
Soft
Light is non-directional and comes from
diffused source like through clouds, in the shade, or inside with light from a
window or door.
Hard
Light is harsh, directional and casts strong shadows and bright highlights. Midday sun on
faces gives dark shadows under eyes and on the neck.
Colour
Temperature:
A photo may have a colour
cast, either cool or warm. Light isn’t crystal clear it actually has a colour
which varies under certain conditions. Deep shade has a cool blue tint, Golden
sunlight has a warm gold tint. Colour temperature has a profound impact on
photography. Colour is a visual story telling element. Colour can effect the
way we feel. from the colour of food and packaging in the supermarket to
looking at a photo. It is important for us as photographers to create emotion.
Sometimes colour cast can
spoil a photo like when peoples faces look yellow or orange.. You need to
adjust the white balance on your camera or in post processing where you can
also adjust colour.
Direction:
The direction of light
changes constantly obviously from the rotation of the earth. This means when
taking a building or landscape the time of day will change the scene. If you
don’t like it ay first go back at a different time.
Light’s direction also
changes because of where your subject is positioned in relation to the light
source. Whether it is inside from a window or outside from the sun.
Position the subject between
the light source and yourself creates a silhouette.
This can be done outside too
when the sun is close to the horizon it creates a semi silhouette with light
outlines.
Light coming through a window
at 45° to the subject creates a progression of light to dark tones referred to
as sculpturing the subject.
Multiple light sources also
creates interesting shots too. Light from more than one window or opening.
Types of Light
Twilight (The
time after the sun has set or before the sun has risen)
This light can
produce beautiful and mystical shots. It creates a soft image without shadows.
The presence of clouds can result in spectacular colours. Pink, red, orange,
yellow and purple.
Twilight also has a tinting effect on colours and the image. The
light is directional, it can bounce off clouds and it is stronger where the sun
has just disappeared or is about to rise. However, this light lacks power and
can cause blur.
Camera shake can
cause blur when the shutter speed slows down to let in more light. Try to use a
wide aperture f2.8 or more, the highest ISO before it becomes grainy and the
fastest shutter speed possible before the exposure is too dark. Use a wide
angle lens, less zoom means less camera shake. Stabilize yourself, hold your
breath, use continuous shots one should be good. Doing this you should be able
to go as slow as ¼ sec without blur but if not use a tripod.
Movement of the subject can cause blur in low light. Slow
movement blurs at ¼ second and faster movement blurs at 1/25 second. Try using
motion blur as creative tool.
Tones can disappear in twilight. Try to let as much light in
as possible with a wide aperture and slow speed. If the subject is still use a
tripod with a slow speed. Otherwise use the lack of colours to your advantage
and make the focal point a silhouette.
The contrast becomes
harsh in failing light. To fix this use post processing programs such as Photo
Shop, Lightroom , Aperture etc. Use HDR with still subjects.
Tell a Story
with Twilight Light. The
moods associated with twilight are mystical, romantic, calmness, tranquility
and excitement if the clouds are coloured. Nature scenes and people
finishing or starting their day are good subjects for this time. Its not the
best for cheerful happy scenes.
The Golden Hour (The hour before the sun sets or after the sun rises)
This light has
beautiful tints of deep orange to yellow. It makes colours more vivid and gives
a deep blue sky when you put your back to the sun.
The light can
be directed in many ways making silhouettes, semi-silhouettes, a progression
from light to dark tones, you can sculpture with light and give images depth
and drama. It is a fairly soft light but creates long shadows. This light is
very versatile for a variety of shots.
Be aware that shadows can get in the way,
including your own. Move if necessary or use them to create a sense of drama.
This light can cause high contrasts. When the sun is
near the frame, detail can be lost. Reposition yourself so that the sun comes
from the side. Expose for the part getting lost. Use Post processing and HDR.
At this
time light changes fast you have little time to shoot so be
prepared and plan beforehand. When the sun is low it is good for silhouettes.
When the sun is higher use progression of light to dark tones. Learn what to
expect and be ready to react.
Tell a Story
with Golden Hour Light. This
light is very flexible and allows you to communicate in many ways. It
accentuates beauty, uplifts mood and it is dramatic. It can be literal when
light illuminates the subject or it can be symbolic with silhouettes.
Diffused Light (Light diffused by clouds)
On an overcast day the light is soft and evenly distributed with
no shadows. It is good for soft skin tones. It is less exciting but also less
challenging. It can be a weak light that will darken subjects or wash out
colour.
To avoid flat
and boring images shoot in RAW and use post processing to add
impact. Contrast can cause exposure problems. When the sky is
white it is easy to over expose. Expose for the darker subject and shoot in RAW
and use post processing to adjust the sky.
Tell a Story with Diffused Light from Clouds. This light evokes a serious, melancholic, somber mood
but you need supporting details for this type of light to have impact. E.g.
cloudy, stormy skies, struggle or hardship.
Diffused Light (Light diffused by shade or by being indoors)
When outdoors
in the shade of a forest or a mountain shadows are non existent.
When indoors
with a narrow light source, shadows can be dramatic. You can sculpture by using
light and dark tones.
In darker closed spaces when light is directed onto the subject
the colours can appear more vivid because it is surrounded by darkness.
The light is
not intense and you can get camera shake and blurred movement.
Like in twilight use high ISO, fast shutter speed and wide aperture or a
tripod. Indoors get the subject closer to the light source. Embrace the
blur and make it part of the image.
Indoors there
might be mixed light sources like a light bulb, and a
fireplace. If so it is best to turn off the light and get the subject closer to
the natural light.
Diffused light
produces high contrasts. The subjects near the light are too light
those away from the light are too dark. When using light from a window, a gap
in the canopy or a hole there will be a complete loss of detail in either the
light or the dark parts of the photo. You can move yourself or the
subject. You can accept over exposure of troubled areas. You can use post
processing and HDR
Reasons for Using Post Processing by Mitchell Kanashkevich.
“Our eyes are capable of perceiving incredible degrees of tones,
colors and details. Strong contrasts between light and dark parts of a scene
are no hindrance to our visual perception, which performs effortlessly in all
but the most extreme situations.
Today’s digital cameras cannot do the tasks our eyesight can, no
matter how expensive or advanced they are. In many situations, to even get
close to communicating through our photographs what our eyes perceived so
easily in life, digital camera users must turn to post-processing (digital
manipulation) software. For this simple reason post-processing has come to be
considered a vital part of photography for anyone working with the digital
medium.
The basic
reason for post-processing as it relates to light is to compensate for the
camera’s shortcomings in capturing the light’s impact on the subject we frame
within the viewfinder. The general description to cover for what we do is to
expand the dynamic range of tones and colors beyond what the camera’s capabilities
are.”
Tell a Story
with Diffused Light from Shade or Indoors. This light outdoors creates a neutral, soft mood so the story
needs to be told by subject matter rather than light. Action or details are
important to the story. Indoors this light can be directed and create dramatic,
dynamic or even mysterious shots. It can give a sense of volume, texture,
colour and details to make the subject more interesting. Multiple light sources
can open up more possibilities highlighting the face and backlight on hair.
Harsh Daylight (bright sunny days)
In general photographers don’t like it. However, it can be a
powerful tool if you become aware of its characteristics, potential and
limitations. It has a neutral effect on colours, the sky loses its blue. It
causes deep shadows and strong contrasts especially around people’s eyes. It
can be directed by moving the subject or yourself. It can cause skin can appear
rough. It can create volume and depth but not as well as diffused light or
Golden Hour light.
To avoid shadows on
faces you can use a natural reflector from below like sand, snow a page of a
book or you can use a specially made reflector. You can move the subject, turn
them around. You can be creative and use the shadows to your advantage. You can
use post processing to soften shadows.
To deal
with bleached colours use camera filters or post processing to
boost the colours with vibrancy and saturation. Use it to your advantage to
portray harsh subject matter.
To cope with high contrast that loses detail in
the light or dark areas use a neutral density or polarizing filter. Shoot on
RAW and use post processing and work with layers and masks or fill
light/shadows and recover highlights. Use HDR if the subject is still.
Tell a Story
with Harsh Light. Harsh
light evokes a harsh mood it is good for stories of hardship. It is good for
making textures look rough but it is no good for making people look beautiful.
Light in Fog (There are two
kinds of fog light. One is heavy cloud and total absence of sun. The other is
fog which is close to the ground and with no clouds where the sun can interact
with the fog.)
The first kind is non directional with soft contrast. The second
kind has stronger contrast and is more directional. Fog causes elements to fade
and creates a feeling of layers. It adds to the depth of the photograph.
Fog gives tints of grey, blue, orange and yellow.
The problems
of low light are the same as with diffused light from clouds
and twilight. So use the same techniques as mentioned for them. Silhouettes are
a good way to deal with fog.
Another problem is exposure. Our eyes see a
wider range of contrast than the camera it is easy to assume that what we see
will appear in the image. Be careful to get the exposure right. Test exposures
and see which looks best. Shoot in RAW and use post processing.
Tell a Story with Light in Fog Fog naturally creates a mood of stillness and quiet. Sun
rays can create awe inspiring moods. Focus on shapes not detail. However in
thicker fog where there are no shadows it can bring out more detail especially
when the subject is close to the camera.
Sun Rays and Flares
Fog, dust and smoke are good for showing the sunrays. Lens Flare is caused by the sun or a strong light shining into or across the lens. Lens flare is everywhere these days. In portraits, landscapes, advertising, film and television.
If you us your smartphone to take photos, you can even get a free app called Lens Distortions to add lens flare after you have taken the image.
Have fun learning to read light and using it as an important
tool in photography.
You can learn more from the the eBook “ Natural Light” by
Mitchell Kanashkevich and is available from the website “Digital Photography
School”, (http://digital-photography-school.com/)
Check out Mitchell Kanashkevich’s web site at:
Oden Wagenstein, “Understanding Natural
Light”
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