Digital Photography Secrets - Recognizing Different Types of Light

One of the greatest digital photography secrets that everyone should know is recognizing the quality of light. The vast majority of photographers just put the camera to their eye and start pressing the shutter. Without thought or perception about the quality of light.

There are some basic categories to consider:

1) Light can be harsh.

This is direct sunlight that makes your subject squint when looking directly into it. This is the midday sun that beats down on our subject and casts harsh shadows on faces and creates contrast that few cameras can even record.

2) Light can be soft.

This is the beautiful light that comes around sunset and sunrise (though most aren't awake to capture it). This is the coveted light that National Geographic photographers work in almost exclusively.

Next time you see a copy look at the time of day that most of the photos were taken. You can tell by the shadows. Almost every single image is taken near sunrise or sunset. If these acknowledged professionals only shoot at this time of day, when should you shoot? Soft light can also be found on overcast cloudy days.

Here's a digital photography secret, the smaller the light source the harsher the light and the larger the light source the softer the light will be.

For example, the noon day sun is just a small point of light in our sky and the shadows are very harsh and defined, right? On a cloudy day, the sun's light is dispersed over a large area and the shadows are very soft and undefined. Viola. Now you see the difference! Soft shadows are nice to our subjects and harsh shadows are hard on our subjects.

Here's another quick lighting secret: If the light coming through your window is too harsh, try taping a semi-clear shower curtain over the window. The light will be soft and diffused because the light source will be enlarged to the size of the curtain. A giant soft box just like the professionals use that you bought at Wal-Mart at a tenth of the cost!

3) Light can be bright.

This is usually, but not always, found outdoors and allows the photographer to handhold their camera and shoot at a low ISO (That's the sensitivity to light setting on your camera. Try 100-400 for outdoors).

4) Light can be dim.

This is usually found indoors or early or late in the day. The ISO setting should be between 800-1600. A tripod or monopod should be considered to keep your images sharp.

Your assignment is to begin recognizing and identifying these different qualities of light. Practice seeing them before you press the shutter and you will quickly be on your way to seeing like a professional and unlocking the digital photography secrets that everyone should know.