I missed out on a couple of Project 52 posts being on vacation, but I'm back just in time for the topic of light. Those of you who enjoy photographing landscape or flower images might find this week's post helpful. How many times do we come back from vacation, upload our images and find that they do not do the scene justice. We took that photograph because it was a gorgeous view, but what we see on our screen is not even close to what we remember. It's all about the direction of the light. When we photograph a scene with the sun behind us, lighting the scene from the front, everything is evenly lit. It makes it easy enough to get the settings right because there is not a lot of contrast of light and shadow. The only thing is, when we look at that image it's kind of dull, maybe even flat looking, and because of the even lighting the image has very little depth to it. If we are able to move around the subject (or come back at a different time of day for landscape scenes) so that the sun is coming in from the side rather than the front, everything changes for the resulting image. The shadows that occur when something is lit from the side add texture, depth and even color to our images. In order to see the same details and texture in our images that we see with our eyes, we need to capture shadows along with the light. In these two images of Hermes the first one is lit from the front and the second is side lit. In the second there is greater depth to the grass as well as more detail in his face. This is a result of the shadows that are cast from the side. In these next two, the color difference is very obvious, and there is a lot of depth to the second vs the first image. The shadows in the second image play a big part not only in giving Hermes more character (if that's even possible), but they serve as an element here as well helping to "frame" Hermes on an otherwise solid/blossom covered ground. Remember that whole "leading the eye" thing a few weeks ago? ;O) Here is one more example, this time using a lily. Side lighting gives more texture and details to the petals, both the open and closed ones. See what the shadowing did to the sticky-outy things (stamen? ) in the middle of the flower? They are different colors, especially noticeable in that bottom corner one. We know they aren't really different colors, but it's a lot more interesting than the solid orange of the first image. The next time you're on vacation, try shooting with the light coming in from the side. It will make a ton of difference in your images. :O) To keep going with this blog circle, head to Kim's blog at BARKography (formerly See Spot Run Photography) in Charlotte NC. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! :O)
1 Comment
Elaine
6/17/2016 10:11:17 am
Your image examples are great. I love the last photo of Hermes. :)
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