Lighting

Lighting your Subject

The lighting possibilities are virtually limitless in photography, but the amount of control you have over the lighting conditions depends on your location and your resources. If you are shooting indoors, you likely have the choice of shooting with or without a flash, near a window, lamp, or overhead light, or you may have access to specialized lamps and reflectors. Outdoor lighting is more dependent on the weather conditions (i.e. sunny, overcast, dawn, high noon, dusk, etc.), but you still have the option of shooting in the shade or in the open, or towards or away from the sun.

The best time of day for outdoor photography is in the early morning or late afternoon. The morning light is softer, casting longer shadows, and enhancing your subjects with a warm, rosy glow. Just after sunset the colors will be intensified by the sunlight shining up at the sky. Midday is less pleasing, when the strong sun casts harsh shadows, increasing contrast.

No matter the time of day or the location, you can dramatically change the tone of the photograph simply by shifting the illumination of your subject. Frontlighting the subject will provide even lighting, while lighting from the side will enhance the three dimensional qualities of the subject. Backlighting can produce a pleasing effect, but may require some practice to get the result you want. When not done properly, the subject may appear too dark as the camera sets the exposure to match the surrounding light. To correct this, approach the subject and take an exposure reading with the camera. Next, "lock" the exposure setting values (you may need to place your SLR in manual mode for this). Step back from the subject, and take the photograph using the exposure settings obtained from the reading. If you do not follow this procedure, the subject will appear as a dark silhouette, which in itself can be a very pleasing effect.

Don't be reluctant to photograph outdoors if it is not a sunny day. The even, soft light of an overcast sky is ideal for portraits, producing soft shadow that can flatten your subject. This type of lighting can give a cool blue cast to your photos.
Using a flash

Very fast film (such as ISO 1000) may be used without a flash even in low light conditions, although the prints may look grainy. In low light conditions with a slower film speed, it is necessary to use a flash for correct exposure. However, photographs taken with a built in flash can sometimes look harsh if there is no other light source. This effect can be seen in passport photos, or outdoor night shots. If other light sources are available, such as a living room lamp, they can soften the flash effect.

Some flash attachments for SLR's have adjustable aim, where you can bounce the light off a ceiling or wall. This results in a more natural light appearance. In cases such as this, the light has further to travel than if it were aimed directly at the subject. The aperture should therefore be opened to compensate for the reduced amount of light reaching the subject. Using this flash technique can eliminate the risk of 'red-eye' in your subject.

'Red eye' is a common problem with flash photography. It is caused by light from the flash reflecting off the blood vessels in the subject's retina. Because their pupil will be larger in a room with dim light, the subject's eyes will reflect more of the bright light from the flash. Some cameras feature a red eye reduction mode, whereby a prelight or multi-flash is activated, to reduce the size of the subject's pupil in preparation for the regular flash and exposure an instant later.

Remember that the light from a flash will reflect off shiny surfaces such as water or glass. When shooting through a window, try shooting the subject from an angle to reduce the amount of direct reflected light. Otherwise, the reflected glare may ruin what might have been a good photo.

When taking multiple flash photographs, wait for the flash to recycle and the red 'flash ready' light to go on before you take another photo.

source : http://www.timebanditphoto.com/lighting.htm