There are few things more devastating to a potentially great picture than bad lighting. You’ve seen them…faces deep in shadow, flash shots that blow out” all the color and subtlety in someone’s face. With improved technology, one would think we’d be able to take pictures in the dark or in absolutely bright, shining conditions; however, this is not the case. Knowing how to use light to your advantage can mean the difference between a bad picture you’ll just erase and a great shot you’ll treasure in a photo album or enlarged on the wall as a photo to canvas. As a professional photographer, I’ve learned a few simple tips that allow me to use the light around me to the best advantage.
Let’s start with the flash. When you’re shooting indoors, using your flash is always a good idea because it will help even out the light on your subject. Don’t get too close, because flashes can “blow out” any object that is within three feet of your lens. On the other hand, don’t assume your flash is going to evenly light up objects much further than ten feet or so away. The optimal flash range is generally 6-10 feet. When shooting outdoors, a great tip leave your flash on, even in bright sun. It will work as a “fill” flash to light up shadows caused by sunlight. You will surprised at how much clearer and brighter your photos will be.
Moving on to natural light, keep these tips in mind when shooting outdoors. First, natural light is blue in the morning, and turns more yellow in the afternoon. If you don’t want to be messing around with your lighting color settings in your camera, plan your shoot accordingly; blue light will make your picture colder, yellow light will make it warmer. Some color correction can be done in Photoshop or other photo manipulation software, but it’s usually easier just to choose the time of day with the best lighting for your subject.
Also, direct harsh sunlight will cause incredible contrast in your photos between light and dark. Overcast days will give you more even light, but if you must shoot on a bright sunny day try shooting in the shade. If your subject is in the shade, you’ll want to shoot from the shade. You’ll want to be out in the sun if your subject is in the sun. Your camera is more likely to over- or underexpose the picture if you’re not in the same lighting conditions as your subject.
Another very important tip is to never shoot into the sun or shoot someone standing in front of a brightly illuminated window because your subject will be too dark while the background will be too bright. The sun or brightest light should be at your back. For those times when you have no choice but to shoot into bright lights, put on your fill flash… there’s a good chance that the flash will even out the lighting and give you a good image. Your camera can do amazing things, but it needs a little know-how from you to take that beautiful shot, the one you want to have enlarged and printed as a photo to canvas.
Always keep an eye on your viewscreen to make sure your subject is properly exposed and the shots are coming out just how you want them. When you’ve taken your favorite photo, upload it to www.PhotoArtPeople.com and to let them transform it onto a stunning photo printed to canvas.
Brooke P.
