Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera by Bryan Peterson

Author:Bryan Peterson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781607748502
Publisher: Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony
Published: 2016-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Where do you find the best light for your subjects? Experienced photographers have learned that the best light often occurs at those times of day when you would rather be sleeping (early morning) or sitting down with family or friends for dinner (late afternoon/early evening, especially in the summer). In other words, shooting in the best light can be disruptive to your normal schedule.

But unless you’re willing to take advantage of early-morning or late-afternoon light—both of which reveal textures, shadows, and depth in warm and vivid tones—your exposures will continue to be harsh and contrasty, without any real warmth. Such are the results of shooting under the often flat light of the midday sun. Additionally, one can argue that the best light occurs during a change in the weather—incoming thunderstorms and rain—that’s combined with low-angled early-morning or late-afternoon light.

You should get to know the color of light as well. Although early-morning light is golden, it’s a bit cooler than the much stronger golden-orange light that begins to fall on the landscape an hour before sunset. Weather, especially inclement weather, can affect both the quality (as mentioned above) and the color of light. The ominous and threatening sky of an approaching thunderstorm can serve as a great showcase for a frontlit or sidelit landscape. Then there’s the soft, almost shadowless light of a bright overcast day, which can impart a delicate tone to many pastoral scenes as well as to flower close-ups and portraits.

Since snow and fog are monochromatic, they call attention to subjects such as a lone pedestrian with a bright red umbrella. Make it a point also to sense the changes in light through the seasons. The high, harsh, direct midday summer sun differs sharply from the low-angled winter sun. During the spring, the clarity of the light in the countryside results in delicate hues and tones for buds on plants and trees. The same clear light enhances the stark beauty of an autumn landscape.

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