MINI COURSE TOPIC 7: Tips for Photography Lighting
Nothing is more important to your success in travel photography than learning about lighting. Lighting can make or break your pictures. If you get to a scene at the right time of the day when the sun is in the right place, you will feel like a genius. But if the lighting is off, you will feel as if you will never make it.
Use Broad Source Lighting
For portraits, a broad source of light is most desired because the results will flatter your subjectís appearance. Sources of lighting from a single source such as a flash and CFL are narrow, and will give inferior results.
Instead, use multiple lights known as three-point lighting, and spread out the lighting and use diffusers like umbrellas to get a broad source which will reduce shadows and contrast. A broad source of light also has a softening effect which suppresses textures. You can broaden the narrow source of light from a flash by diffusing it with either a softbox, umbrella or reflector.
Strategically Place Your Lighting for Maximum Effect
Lighting sources placed closer to your subject also broadens the effect. Having the light source from the front helps to de-emphasize textures in the foreground, which will cover up any facial imperfections of your subject and reduce any fine lines and wrinkles.
On a Budget? Use Christmas Lights
If on a budget, multiple light sources can be made from Christmas lights. Strings of Edison bulbs from the garden section will also work. Since they are on strands of wire, it helps to facilitate stringing them on a stand. They make for beautiful, warm diffuse lighting on your subject.
Neutral Colors for Indoor Shoots
When setting up a room to do photography, use neutral colors on your walls that wonít bounce back any colors onto your image. If possible, donít use rooms that may have heavy colors like reds or greens that will reflect into your shot to interfere with the color balance of your image.
If you decide to dedicate the room to photography, get a roller and paint the walls with the same light neutral color. Some like to lay a neutral brown color tarp on the floor to protect it and help not reflect any reds, blues or greens to the image. Cheap white backdrops can be found on Amazon for about 30 dollars. It will have a pocket sewn in one end, and the length is 20 feet.
Light from the Side for Landscapes
For landscapes, shadows are wanted to bring out textures within. Lighting from the side will give better emphasis for textures such as trees, buildings, and rocks - helping to provide more of a 3-D look.
The more you can learn about lighting, the better. Whatís really impressive is that you can read about what other photographers use and how they light an image so that you can get better. You can also practice with different types of lighting by using a digital camera, without having to be concerned about the cost of each picture.
