| You've all heard the phrase, "to see light". | | | | Medium wide sources of light are desirable |
| Everything that we see is made up of light. | | | | for their flattering, yet shape-revealing |
| Light has direction, width, intensity and | | | | effect on the human face.Practically, when |
| color. While understanding all the | | | | outside, look for a white wall sit by the sun |
| properties of light would be beneficial to | | | | with a shaded area nearby. A low reflector |
| the photographer/artist, it is just as | | | | like a sunlit patch of concrete, a beach, a |
| effective to recognize the effect of light on | | | | light colored car, or anything with an |
| a subject when you see it.Outdoors, sunlight | | | | appreciable area which will reflect light |
| shows crisp edges, creates dimensional | | | | makes a good source of light. Unless wanted, |
| shapes, reveals textures and outlines | | | | make sure the surface is not too far from |
| silhouettes. The color differences between | | | | white, or the subject will take on that |
| direct sunlight and light from the open sky | | | | color.The angle of the light is also |
| intensifies the feeling of outdoors, though | | | | important. For faces, the hours between nine |
| this effect must be used with discretion. A | | | | AM and one hour before sunset are not the |
| cloudy day usually portrays a somber mood, | | | | most flattering times. The moments just |
| lighting everything with a top-weighted blue | | | | after sunrise and just before sunset is often |
| cast. | | | | referred to as "The magic hour" for the |
| | | | beneficial effect it has on the human face as |
| A warming filter changes the blue mood to | | | | well as on most other objects. The next time |
| one of happier emotions.Indoors, the light | | | | you see an advertisement for a new car, try |
| from a window is very shape-revealing in | | | | to ascertain the direction and time of day |
| nature. Care must be taken to provide light | | | | the photograph was taken. I think you will |
| on the shadow side in order to balance the | | | | find that "magic Hour" played an important |
| picture. A blue sky as a source must be | | | | role.There are certain combinations of light |
| warmed up with a filter (80A) when using | | | | that has proven itself in the world of |
| outdoor film. Sunlit clouds are a perfect | | | | photography and art. Food often is |
| source of light for your window pictures. | | | | photographed with a broad source of light |
| Incandescent light is much warmer and must be | | | | straight toward the camera, just missing |
| used carefully. When incandescent light is | | | | being in the picture. The human face is most |
| used, a cooling filter (81B) will prevent the | | | | flattered with a soft light at a 30 degree |
| photograph from appearing too orange. | | | | angle to the right or left of the camera and |
| Fluorescent lights are lacking in red may | | | | slightly above the lens, (sometimes referred |
| not portray skin tones properly.The width of | | | | to as a loop light). The "north" light of |
| the light source must be taken into | | | | painter fame presented an unchanging source |
| consideration. The widest possible light | | | | of light whose direction was controlled with |
| source is the wrap-around effect of a cloudy | | | | movable drapes. Unfortunately, the built-in |
| day at the beach. Round shapes are | | | | flash used by millions of photographers, |
| flattened, detail is obscured, and areas of | | | | while lighting the subject evenly, flattens |
| similar color are often presented | | | | the three dimensional subject, hiding the |
| monochromatically. A point source like the | | | | true roundness of shape. Occasionally in your |
| sun or a light bulb throws sharp shadows and | | | | travels, you may come across a quality of |
| will emphasize small detail. Every effect of | | | | light which strikes a chord in your brain as |
| light can be used as a tool to further the | | | | being perfect for you photograph. Try to |
| aims of the artist. If there is a special | | | | place this effect in your permanent memory |
| effect which is necessary to the message | | | | for future use. Happy shooting.Luck is |
| within the composition, the photographer must | | | | recognizing the moment of opportunity. |
| wait for that perfect time and weather. | | | | Comments welcome. |