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