Learning to See Light

[KelSS90]

Does anyone have any book suggestions for this? I have loads of room for improvement here. I want to start with the basics. I'm mostly concerned with simply better understanding it and using natural light (as in the next six months I will be shooting pretty much exclusively outside) .... I'd like to tackle artificial lighting eventually but I'm not even close to ready for that.

Books suggestions would be great. Video/online sources too if you have some really good ones, but I'm a book worm as it is so I would like to start there. Thanks!!

 

[KmH]

What will you be photographing?

The direction of and the quality of light are what we want to be aware of. Using only available light to do portraiture we usually still need some supplemental gear like reflectors and diffusion panels.

Using only ambient sunlight is very limiting as to locations, and the time of day you can shoot, because we can not control the direction nor the quality of light.

Chasing the Light: Improving Your Photography with Available Light (Voices That Matter)

Direction & Quality of Light: Your Key to Better Portrait Photography Anywhere

 

[KelSS90]

Thanks, KmH! I shoot a little of everything, but enjoy shooting portraits the most.

 

[KmH]

Direct sunlight doesn't often work very well for outside portraits.

The time around sunrise and sunset (the golden hours) have the sun low enough in the sky that the light direction is quite usable.
That assumes it is not overcast.
I preferred morning light because there is usually not as much dust or particulate matter in the air do the light is not quite as 'warm' as evening light.

After the golden hours look for open shade or use a diffusion panel to make shade where you need it.

I didn't often use only available light because it is so very limiting - from a technical perspective, a creative perspective, and a scheduling perspective.

 

[Derrel]

When you use direct, undiffused-by-clouds-or-scrims outdoor sunlight, consider it to be like a studio portrait, which will cast a strong, crisp shadow. Strong, direct, undiffused sunlight is similar to a small studio source, a lot like a parabolic reflector in the 16 to 22-inch range, so it creates a lighting effect that was widely used in the 1940's and 1950's and also somewhat during the 1980's. How the subject is oriented to the sun determines where the shadows fall. High sun can give a very crisp, deep under-the-chin shadow, which really makes the face "pop", because it is lighted, while the dark shadow under the chin area forms a very strong contrast.

Hard light is NOT a bad thing, necessarily, but you need to use it in an appropriate way. For single portraits, or "fashiony/modely" kind of looks, you can use bright sunlight effectively, but you need to approach it the right way, and control where the light hits the face by moving the subject into a good position, relative to where the sun is at. Hard light has shadows. Shadows show shape, and dimension. This type of lighting can look really awesome in Black and White!

 

[bribrius]

When you use direct, undiffused-by-clouds-or-scrims outdoor sunlight, consider it to be like a studio portrait, which will cast a strong, crisp shadow. Strong, direct, undiffused sunlight is similar to a small studio source, a lot like a parabolic reflector in the 16 to 22-inch range, so it creates a lighting effect that was widely used in the 1940's and 1950's and also somewhat during the 1980's. How the subject is oriented to the sun determines where the shadows fall. High sun can give a very crisp, deep under-the-chin shadow, which really makes the face "pop", because it is lighted, while the dark shadow under the chin area forms a very strong contrast.

Hard light is NOT a bad thing, necessarily, but you need to use it in an appropriate way. For single portraits, or "fashiony/modely" kind of looks, you can use bright sunlight effectively, but you need to approach it the right way, and control where the light hits the face by moving the subject into a good position, relative to where the sun is at. Hard light has shadows. Shadows show shape, and dimension. This type of lighting can look really awesome in Black and White!

can you create a similar effect using lowkey for direct sunlight or highkey settings for more indirect in bw in the camera settings?

For instance. if you are attempting to take a photo in a different desired light than the intended outcome, such as indirect. could I effectively use high key bw, change the white balance up to something more cloudy. Is there a iso change that would help to create that effect? Like maybe bringing up the iso to increase the sensitivity and then under exposing?

Thinking of something I read about film as well. using daytime film at night or night time film during the day to change the lighting effect with a filter. What is the equivalent in digital?

if you could find a natural barrier and reflector (tree with reflective snow) to diffuse direct sunlight to indirect what could you use to make the effect of direct light when working with indirect using in camera and post process short of a flash?

 

[KelSS90]

KmH and Derrel, thanks for the info. All good points as to why i would really like to understand lighting better. Right now, I simply try to shoot about an hour before sunset (if I'm out by myself then I usually go right around sunrise, but for those with kids that's not super realistic) and try to really be aware of my shadows so that there aren't any on their faces.