LET THERE BE LIGHT!

Light is the basic ingredient of photography; so I learn't in my fundamentals of photography class, and the term photography simply means writing or painting with light. It therefore goes without saying that in the absence of light, photography cannot exist. It is important for a photographer to understand and at times be able to manipulate the amount (quantity) and/or the type (quality) of light in order to capture great images. The size or type of camera gear in use does not matter; whether one decides to use film or go digital, light is key. Photographers work with mainly two light sources, natural and/or artificial. One may be favored over the other but at times the situation ordinarily will dictate the type of light source to be used. Example, nature photographers will have the sun and other natural sources as their only light sources, while for commercial photographers artificial lighting may well be preferred. Events photographers on the other hand, normally make due with whatever sources of light that is thrown their way, and more often than not it’s a cocktail of light sources.

Whatever the case, one needs to master the basics of lighting in order to capture it creatively. Direction of light is one of the basics that guide me to know from which direction to shoot my subject(s), color temperature of light is another and it helps me with my composition plus it has to do with the time of day. Am certain we’ve all experimented or at least are familiar with the dawn and dusk advice; that those two times provide the best light for photography and that we should avoid shooting at noon due to harsh and hard light emanating from direct sunlight. A photographer also needs to know the degree of diffusion of light where indirect (diffused) light is favored over direct light hence the common use of reflectors, umbrellas, soft boxes and the fascination of shooting under sheds or cloudy conditions. Learning these, plus other light factors will not only improve your photography skills but it will also allow you room to think through your images creatively resulting to even greater images. 

Corazon's half-lit face and her "crystal ball"

          Camera - NIKON D3100

          Focal Length - 18mm
          Shutter Speed - 1/30 sec
          Aperture - f/5.6 

          ISO/Film - 3200
          Category - Abstract 
          Uploaded - June 8th 2013  
          Taken - May 22nd 2013

          Location - USIU Nairobi, Kenya
          Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi