Photo Tip: Light & Photography

Last month I started posting simple photo tips for families who are taking snapshots. Some of the moments captured in snapshots are the most memorable that you will have of your friends and family and I hope these simple tips will help you take prettier photos.

In the last newsletter I talked about simplifying composition so that your photographs really focus on what your intended subject is. Once you start simplifying your compositions your images will get stronger and you can start thinking about other aspects of a photograph that can make it beautiful. In this entry I would like to talk about light and how to see its effects on your photos.

Every camera renders light differently so you have to experiment and then look to see how yours interprets light. The next time you are taking photos with your point and shoot take a photo:
• with the sun behind you
• with the sun behind your subject
• in open shade
• in the brightest part of your home (hopefully there is enough light and your flash doesn’t pop up)
• your subject close to a window that is facing north

If you really want to study light take these photos in the morning , afternoon and evening. The quality of light changes dramatically during the various times of day.

After you take the photos, upload them to your computer and look how the light is depicted in your images. Look at the shadows under people’s eyes when they are out in the sun, see how people squint when facing the sun, look at the even skin tones in the open shade, notice the beautiful quality of light from the north facing window. Once you decide which type of lighting you like the best you can try and use it when you are taking photos in the future.....

HAVE FUN AND ENJOY PLAYING WITH LIGHT!