Outdoor lighting examples
The images in this section are provided to illustrate a point I will probably make to you about using supplemental lighting for quality shoots outdoors.
Each image of the selection was shot outside using my lighting system to create a controlled balance between light and shadow, between foreground and background, to round out the contrast between bright and not-so-bright. Some of the shots were made in a hurry and under pressure – for instance some of the wedding shots. Some were made with professional models where I had lots of time for direction of the pose and wardrobe/makeup selection. Please don’t judge the poses and perhaps also give me a bit of a break on some of the compositions – I am trying to show you something else!
If you have ever made an image outside under the hot noon sun you will remember that the edges of the shadows are very hard and defined – the image almost look crispy! If you have made an image at night you may remember that the sun setting was really great and the people dark – or some other permutation of the two - the background was dark, the people were blown out and ghost-like, the clothing detail was lost.
As a photographer I do not determine when an event such as a wedding takes place or if the location at that time of day faces into the sun, a bright light, a dark background, a hard light, or some other less than perfect condition. I need to accommodate the conditions, the schedule and still produce a great image – sometimes without much help or interest from the people being photographed!
Please review the images and examine the lights and colors in each – determine for yourself if they look different than other you may have seen – are the backgrounds colorful but not blown out – you have probably seen many pictures with really white backgrounds or dark faces, clothes with little detail, etc. Is there light and shadow on the faces, the arms and on the clothing – is it harsh or somewhat soft?
There is a relationship between foreground and background that is preferable in portrait photography – if the background can be a bit darker but not too dark the people “pop”. If a nice balance between light and dark can be maintained on round objects such as arms or faces, they maintain their 3 dimensional look unlike a flat image. There is a lot to write about this subject – books have been written about it for sure – I own many of them.
The photographer must work with light to the best of their ability and given the working conditions – photography is all about recording light.
Talk to me about this anytime. If you take the time to click on each of the images you will see my comments on that picture.
The images in this section are provided to illustrate a point I will probably make to you about using supplemental lighting for quality shoots outdoors.
Each image of the selection was shot outside using my lighting system to create a controlled balance between light and shadow, between foreground and background, to round out the contrast between bright and not-so-bright. Some of the shots were made in a hurry and under pressure – for instance some of the wedding shots. Some were made with professional models where I had lots of time for direction of the pose and wardrobe/makeup selection. Please don’t judge the poses and perhaps also give me a bit of a break on some of the compositions – I am trying to show you something else!
If you have ever made an image outside under the hot noon sun you will remember that the edges of the shadows are very hard and defined – the image almost look crispy! If you have made an image at night you may remember that the sun setting was really great and the people dark – or some other permutation of the two - the background was dark, the people were blown out and ghost-like, the clothing detail was lost.
As a photographer I do not determine when an event such as a wedding takes place or if the location at that time of day faces into the sun, a bright light, a dark background, a hard light, or some other less than perfect condition. I need to accommodate the conditions, the schedule and still produce a great image – sometimes without much help or interest from the people being photographed!
Please review the images and examine the lights and colors in each – determine for yourself if they look different than other you may have seen – are the backgrounds colorful but not blown out – you have probably seen many pictures with really white backgrounds or dark faces, clothes with little detail, etc. Is there light and shadow on the faces, the arms and on the clothing – is it harsh or somewhat soft?
There is a relationship between foreground and background that is preferable in portrait photography – if the background can be a bit darker but not too dark the people “pop”. If a nice balance between light and dark can be maintained on round objects such as arms or faces, they maintain their 3 dimensional look unlike a flat image. There is a lot to write about this subject – books have been written about it for sure – I own many of them.
The photographer must work with light to the best of their ability and given the working conditions – photography is all about recording light.
Talk to me about this anytime. If you take the time to click on each of the images you will see my comments on that picture.
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