SHADOWS
Using the Light and the Shade and with a little thought, a shadow can play a starring role in our Photographs.
Using the Light and the Shade and with a little thought, a shadow can play a starring role in our Photographs.
Exercises
a) Students are required to take 5 photos based upon set compositional technique
b) Using the techniques developed students are required to develop an image titled:
a) Students are required to take 5 photos based upon set compositional technique
b) Using the techniques developed students are required to develop an image titled:
Getting the right light: It's all in the timing
The Idea
Photography is all about collecting light and projecting it onto film or a digital sensor. Without light there would be no photograph. It is important to consider the lighting conditions under which you are shooting. If you are using ambient light (natural light) the time of the day has a huge effect on what your final picture will look like, so think about when you shoot when you are making plans.
The Ingredients
- Digital Camera
Photography is all about collecting light and projecting it onto film or a digital sensor. Without light there would be no photograph. It is important to consider the lighting conditions under which you are shooting. If you are using ambient light (natural light) the time of the day has a huge effect on what your final picture will look like, so think about when you shoot when you are making plans.
The Ingredients
- Digital Camera
The Process
a) Choose your subject
Direction:
It's not (as we learnt in Week 1) just about the softness or hardness of light you have to consider, but also the direction from which the light is coming.
For example: It's tricky to take a portrait in the middle of the day, with no cloud cover, as the sunlight will be hitting the top of your subject's head rather than their face. This could also mean that their face will be in shadow. Even if the light is hitting their face, it will be hard light, which will produce strong shadows.
Overcast days produces really soft light, and soft light produces shadows with soft edges, giving a gentle gradation of tones in an image. If you want that soft look and it's not an overcast day, you can always shoot in the shadows.
Nice and bright and sunny days doesn't make the best conditions for photos. Unfortunately, for the ideal light, you need to either get up really early or wait for magic hour.
Timing:
Magic Hour: Most photographers agree that the best times of day to shoot are around sunset or sunrise. The period around sunset and sunrise is often called 'magic hour' or 'the golden hour'. Although it is called the 'hour' in reality there is a period of around 15 minutes when the light is incredibly golden just before the sun dips below or rises above the horizon. This light can give you wonderful portraits. Check Weather websites that will usually list these times and make sure you get to your location in plenty of time.
Blue Hour: This refers to the twilight period in the morning and evening, just before or after magic hour, when it is neither fully light, nor yet in complete darkness. It's a bit trickier to take photos at this time as your camera will struggle with the low light, so if possible, shoot on Shutter Priority mode, on the lowest speed and turn up your ISO sensitivity.
a) Choose your subject
Direction:
It's not (as we learnt in Week 1) just about the softness or hardness of light you have to consider, but also the direction from which the light is coming.
For example: It's tricky to take a portrait in the middle of the day, with no cloud cover, as the sunlight will be hitting the top of your subject's head rather than their face. This could also mean that their face will be in shadow. Even if the light is hitting their face, it will be hard light, which will produce strong shadows.
Overcast days produces really soft light, and soft light produces shadows with soft edges, giving a gentle gradation of tones in an image. If you want that soft look and it's not an overcast day, you can always shoot in the shadows.
Nice and bright and sunny days doesn't make the best conditions for photos. Unfortunately, for the ideal light, you need to either get up really early or wait for magic hour.
Timing:
Magic Hour: Most photographers agree that the best times of day to shoot are around sunset or sunrise. The period around sunset and sunrise is often called 'magic hour' or 'the golden hour'. Although it is called the 'hour' in reality there is a period of around 15 minutes when the light is incredibly golden just before the sun dips below or rises above the horizon. This light can give you wonderful portraits. Check Weather websites that will usually list these times and make sure you get to your location in plenty of time.
Blue Hour: This refers to the twilight period in the morning and evening, just before or after magic hour, when it is neither fully light, nor yet in complete darkness. It's a bit trickier to take photos at this time as your camera will struggle with the low light, so if possible, shoot on Shutter Priority mode, on the lowest speed and turn up your ISO sensitivity.