Photography 3

how to BETTER manipulate light

Lighting• Light can:

– create mood– emphasize the subject being photographed

• Lighting is about – Quantity– Quality– Direction– Color

Lighting to emphasize the subject

Lighting to create mood

Quantity• Is there enough light for the photo you want?

Not enough light

Too much light

Good lighting

Quality• Harsh Light

– from one source– from one direction

• Diffused Light– low contrast– soft shadows– no shadows.

• Directional-diffused light– from one direction but soft illumination– early morning or late evening is the best natural light

Harsh Lighting

Diffused Light

Directional-Diffused Light

Lighting Directions• Front-light

– behind the photographer– shining on the front of the

subject– gives maximum detail

• Side-light– comes from side– gives rich contrast/texture– creates dramatic lighting

effects

• Overhead/Sun-light– Can cause harsh

shadows over the eyes and under the nose

– Can give sun-kissed look to subjects

• Back-light – behind the subject– great for silhouettes

Overhead / Sun-light

Bad lighting choice. Good lighting choice.

Back-lightGood choice. Bad choice.

Front-light

Good choice.

Bad choice.

Side-light

Final Thoughts!

• Remember to: SHOOT AND SHOOT MORE OFTEN!

• Even professional photographers do not take perfect photos all the time.

• If you get ONE or TWO good photos out of every 24 or 36 you shoot you have done an EXCELLENT JOB!

• Think OUTSIDE the box & be creative.

Your assignment• Take photographs showing how EACH of the 4 lighting

directions can be applied. Show at least 3 successful and at least 7 unsuccessful for each. Place each good photo on a slide by itself, but you may place 2 bad photos per slide, if you wish. All must be clearly labeled by concept and successful or unsuccessful. Blurry does not count as unsuccessful.

• Write one paragraph for EACH of the directions in which you define the concept, explain how you investigated it, and conclude with your discoveries about it. Paragraphs should have an opening sentence, 3 sentences describing your three points, and a closing sentence stating your final conclusion.

• 100 points