Hi everyone. Today we will talk about the eternal. That is, about the power of light in the photo.
No matter what aspect of the photo I'm talking about, I always want to say that this is the main rule of a good frame. In fact, everything is important in photography, there is nothing minor and trifling. But light is probably a powerful tool for creating a great photo. You just need to learn how to use it for good, not for harm. .
Light is the tool that will help you discover your imagination and create truly stunning, unusual, dramatic and story frames. But in order to start this game, you first need to understand the rules. Yes, breaking the rules is fun and it is a real manifestation of the skill and character of the author. But before you break something you need to study this case.
The light is hard and soft. Hard light gives sharp shadows, and emphasizes all the shortcomings of the subject. It is difficult for a beginner to work with such light. Hard light is a powerful source aimed at the subject. But by learning to work with it you can build beautiful frames based on the game of shadows, on the contrast of light and shadow. How to understand this science? I think that this is possible only if there is constant practice, accumulation of experience and great observations. Try to pay attention to the light in your daily life. Start a kind of mental "piggy Bank of light". Notice those moments when you see a beautiful play of light. For example, how light plays in the leaves of a tree, how a forged fence casts a shadow. As your loved one reads something in the smartphone and his face is illuminated by the blue light of the screen. All these observations will help you to work with hard light in photography.
Soft light is light scattered. That is, it is uniform and not sharp. There is something between the light source and the subject that dims the brightness a little. For example, it is a cloud on a cloudy day or a thin curtain on the window. Also in the hour before sunset, the light of the sun becomes softer and more diffused. .Soft light is ideal for most photos. It emphasizes the volume and texture of the subject. It's light for a beautiful portrait, for a romantic photo shoot, for Food photography, for everything! This light is easy to work and it always helps to create a nice photo.
The direction of light in the portrait.
The ideal option for shooting a beautiful portrait is a light source behind the model, just to the right or to the left of the camera. Also a good option is a light source located in front of the model just above her eyes. If the light falls from behind, use a light reflector, such as a sheet of white paper. You can also find silver light reflectors in the photo shop. They are compact and easy to take with you for a walk. The reflector should be placed in front of the model, but so that it certainly did not get into the frame. For such a shooting, you will likely need an assistant who can hold the light reflector and correctly guide it to the face and figure of your model.
If you are not familiar with the settings of your camera and use AUTO mode most often, then I recommend you to shoot with a soft light. For shooting people, the ideal light is the light from the window or the light of the sun on a cloudy day. If you still can not avoid photos under the bright day sun, try to find a shadow and take pictures in the shade.
Thanks for reading. See you soon! @Anna-Mi