Tip Tuesday: Lighting
The one thing that really matters in photography is lighting. Some of you are probably thinking that this is a no brainer, but this is something that really needs to be considered. No matter whether you are using a point & shoot camera or a DSLR lighting will either make or break your photo. Yes, there are technical things that you should be aware of, but I am saving that for another post. This post is to raise your awareness.
No matter whether you are taking photos of someone or a landscape you need to be aware of where your light is coming from. This could be natural light from the sun or whatever light that is available in the room. Take notice of how the light plays on the things in the room or where the sun is shining on things in your environment. Decide how you can use this to your advantage when taking the photo. Also, think about where the shadows are going to be. Sometime there can be really harsh shadows that may have a serious affect on your image. If you're taking photos of someone you want to make sure that their face is lit in a way that you can see their whole face (unless you're trying to do something artistic). It is easy to take someone's photo and have one eye darker than the other, or one side of their face darker than the other. It really depends on where your lighting source is, and how you use it.
All of this is why when I am shooting outdoor sessions I prefer doing it early in the morning when the sun is raising, or in the evening as the sun is going down. If you shoot photos during the day (i.e. noon, one, two, etc.) it is easier to get these harsh shadows in your photos. This is because the sun is higher in the sky, and it emits a harsh light. This also gives you photos where certain areas are blown out (bright with little detail). It is difficult to get good photos during this time of the day if you are shooting outdoors. Inside the light is more controlled, and it won't be as bad as this. However, it is still possible to get similar results inside with shadows as you would outside.
Be aware of where your light source is, how it affects the environment, decide how you can use it to your advantage, consider the time of day, and decide how best to overcome harsh light when you're in those situations. This is the beginning of what will help you get better photos. Next week we will talk about fill light. We'll discuss what fill light is, and when/how to use it.