The Power

of Light

Presented By:

Brian Castle

Picture Perfect Photography

Topics of Discussion

• When do you shoot?

• Window Light

• Artificial Light

• Shadows

• Back & Rim Lighting

• Outside effects

• Feathering Light

When do you shoot?

• Bright and

Sunny?

• 7pm?

• When sun is at or

below the horizon?

• 12 Noon?

The Golden Hour

• Only have about 1 hour to use

good light.

• Is best when the sun is close or

just beyond the horizon of the

location

• Best time to shoot – The first and last hour of sunlight during the

day

Window Lighting

• Diffused window light can create a real

sense of calm and mood to an image.

• Angle the subject so the light hits them at a 45 degree angle.

• 45 degrees from the side and the top

• Most of the time you can use ‘Aperture

Priority’ and the camera will meter the light correctly every time.

• The softest type of lighting – Allows more even and shallow shadows

Window Lighting Cont….

• More of a soft natural soft box effect

• For more fill light add reflectors or some

type of bounce light to fill in shadows.

• Window/Door lighting can be used for: – Newborns/children, modeling, bridal portraiture, etc.

Let’s Get

Window/Door Lighting

Angle of light passing through

How to Use Artificial Light

• Every time you bend or diffuse light it

softens the shadows.

• Side Lighting

• Top Lighting

• Angled Lighting

• Fill Lighting

• Bounce Lighting (Bounce Cards or Reflectors)

• Can bounce with natural of artificial light

Diffused Lighting

• Clouds are God’s natural softbox • Always look for nice cloudy, overcast days for shooting.

• For nice even lighting, makes shadows almost disappear

• Bounce Flash • Either off a white object or directly mounted onto a flash.

• Use of reflectors • Versatile: Gold, Silver, White and Black

• Can easily make your own.

• White Sheet

• Under a Tree

• Wax paper or tissue

over the flash

Diffused Lighting (Clouds)

Shadows

• Creates depth • 45 degree angle

rule

• Creates drama

• Enhances features

• Subtractive light • Reflector

• Creates a focal

point • Draws the eye to

the subject

Back and Rim Lighting

• Place subjects back

to the light source

• Creates drama

• Creative

• Outlines the

subject

Let’s Get

Softening the Shadows

Side and Top Lighting

Bounce Lighting

Angled Lighting

Fill Light

Rim Lighting

Feathering Light

Outside Effects

• Haze

– Point the camera to the away from the light

source (darker area preferred), hold shutter half

way, bring camera down to the subject and take a

photo

– Overexposes the photo on purpose.

• Find a natural spotlight

– Aperture Priority works well for this effect

• Flares

– Shoot directly into your light source

– Use backlighting to create this effect

Hazing from Sun

Natural Spotlight w/Sunflare

Feathering the Light

• Can be lit from all angles

• Never put your subject in the

middle

of a lit area. • Use edges of overhanging tree limbs,

etc….

• Edge lighting is the softest type of

light • AKA Feathered Light

Final Thoughts

• Pre-plan your shoot and subject

• Use various lighting techniques

• Wait for the right time of day

• Practice. Practice, Practice

Next Class

Tuesday, October 8th

6:00-7:30pm

at the

Kingsport Public Library