Basic Photography Course

PHC Ron Bayles

302.88

Figures 5-24.Comparison of front and side lighting.

way, but side lighting creates shadows in every little

crevice (fig. 5-24). The effect increases as the light is

more parallel with the wall until long shadows fall from

the smallest irregularity in the brickwork This can give

an almost 3-D effect to a photograph.

Side lighting is particularly important with black-

and-white photography that relies on gray tones, rather
than color, to record the subject. Shadows caused by side
lighting reveal details that can create striking pictures
from ordinary objects that are otherwise hardly worth
photographing in black and white. Anything that has a
noticeable texture-like the ripples of sand on a beach,
for example-gains impact when lit from the side.
Landscapes, buildings, people, all look better when
sidelighted.

This applies to color photography as well. Color

gives the viewer extra information about the subject that
may make up for a lack of texture in frontlighting, but
often the result is much better when lit from the side.

Pictures made with side lighting usually have harsh

shadows and are contrasty. To lighten the shadows and
reduce the contrast, you may want to use some type of
reflector to direct additional skylight into the shadow
areas or use fill-in flash, whichever is more convenient.

Backlighting

When the sun is in front of the photographer, coming

directly at the camera, you have what is referred to as
backlighting; that is, the subject is backlit. This type of
lighting can be very effective for pictures of people
outdoors in bright sunlight. In bright sunlight, when

subjects are front-lighted or even sidelighted, they may
be uncomfortable and squint their eyes. Backlighting
helps to eliminate this problem. Backlighting may also
require the use of a reflector or fill-in flash to brighten
up the dark shadows and improve subject detail.
Backlighting is also used to produce a silhouette effect.

When you use backlighting, avoid having the sun

rays fall directly on the lens (except for special effects).
A lens hood or some other means of shading the lens
should be used to prevent lens flare.

EXISTING LIGHT

Existing light photography, sometimes called

available or natural light photography, is the making of

pictures by the light that happens to be on the scene. This
includes light from table, floor, and ceiling lights, neon
signs, windows, skylights, candles, fireplaces, auto
mobile headlights, and any other type of light that
provides the natural lighting of a scene-except daylight
outdoors. (Moonlight is considered existing light.)
Existing light then is that type of light found in the home,
in the office, in the hangar bay, in the chapel, in the club,
in the sports arenas, and so on. Outdoor scenes at
twilight or after dark are also existing light situations.

Photography by existing light produces pictures that

look natural. Even the most skillfully lighted flash
picture may look artificial when compared to a good
existing light photograph. With existing light
photography, the photographer has an opportunity to
make dramatic, creative pictures. Existing light allows
the photographer greater freedom of movement because

5-28

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Basic Photography Course

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DOFMaster for Windows On-line Depth of Field Calculator DOFMaster for Mobile Devices On-line Depth of Field Table Hyperfocal Distance Chart Articles FAQ Recommended Books Support Contact Links Home As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	contents <- previous page next page -> PHC Ron Bayles 302.88 Figures 5-24.Comparison of front and side lighting. way, but side lighting creates shadows in every little crevice (fig. 5-24). The effect increases as the light is more parallel with the wall until long shadows fall from the smallest irregularity in the brickwork This can give an almost 3-D effect to a photograph. Side lighting is particularly important with black- and-white photography that relies on gray tones, rather than color, to record the subject. Shadows caused by side lighting reveal details that can create striking pictures from ordinary objects that are otherwise hardly worth photographing in black and white. Anything that has a noticeable texture-like the ripples of sand on a beach, for example-gains impact when lit from the side. Landscapes, buildings, people, all look better when sidelighted. This applies to color photography as well. Color gives the viewer extra information about the subject that may make up for a lack of texture in frontlighting, but often the result is much better when lit from the side. Pictures made with side lighting usually have harsh shadows and are contrasty. To lighten the shadows and reduce the contrast, you may want to use some type of reflector to direct additional skylight into the shadow areas or use fill-in flash, whichever is more convenient. Backlighting When the sun is in front of the photographer, coming directly at the camera, you have what is referred to as backlighting; that is, the subject is backlit. This type of lighting can be very effective for pictures of people outdoors in bright sunlight. In bright sunlight, when subjects are front-lighted or even sidelighted, they may be uncomfortable and squint their eyes. Backlighting helps to eliminate this problem. Backlighting may also require the use of a reflector or fill-in flash to brighten up the dark shadows and improve subject detail. Backlighting is also used to produce a silhouette effect. When you use backlighting, avoid having the sun rays fall directly on the lens (except for special effects). A lens hood or some other means of shading the lens should be used to prevent lens flare. EXISTING LIGHT Existing light photography, sometimes called available or natural light photography, is the making of pictures by the light that happens to be on the scene. This includes light from table, floor, and ceiling lights, neon signs, windows, skylights, candles, fireplaces, auto mobile headlights, and any other type of light that provides the natural lighting of a scene-except daylight outdoors. (Moonlight is considered existing light.) Existing light then is that type of light found in the home, in the office, in the hangar bay, in the chapel, in the club, in the sports arenas, and so on. Outdoor scenes at twilight or after dark are also existing light situations. Photography by existing light produces pictures that look natural. Even the most skillfully lighted flash picture may look artificial when compared to a good existing light photograph. With existing light photography, the photographer has an opportunity to make dramatic, creative pictures. Existing light allows the photographer greater freedom of movement because 5-28 contents Basic Photography Course <- previous page next page ->	As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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