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Digital photo basic tips and techniques in mommy-speak by Ernie Rubia and Paten Rosete |
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Let there be light(ing)! Great pictures are well composed. If you haven't read the last two articles we've had about composition, it's about time you do. Click here for part one and here for part two.
If you are really bent on taking great photos, lighting comes closely after composition. Lighting as a factor however is often taken for granted. That's what the sun (for outdoors) and the flash (in your digital camera) is for, right? |
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| The early morning sun gives off such great lighting most particularly with skin tones! |
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| No squinting! Lighting at a different angle. Notice how the yellow-limegreen dress of the baby girl is in danger of a color "washout?" |
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| Drama! A boy in prayer. |
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Well it takes more than the sun and activating your flash to take great pictures. Here are things to remember when it comes to lighting:
- The brightest sun of the day can wash pictures out. It won't give the bright/right colors. When outdoors, avoid taking pictures around midday if its not really that important.
- The best lighting conditions can be found around dawn (just as the sun rises) and dusk (just as the sun is about set). Try taking pictures during these times and notice the difference.
- In almost all instances, t is usually best to have the sun behind you when you take a picture.
When the sun is behind you however, be very particular about your own shadow creeping into the picture. Beware of shadows cast behind your subject as well.
- If you are taking a portrait shot, make sure that the sun isn't causing your subject to squint. (Such pictures really make for hilarious shots though! Most specially when you cant figure out whether your subject is crying or smiling or attempting to do both at the same time. – Paten)
- If you are taking a picture with the sun behind your subject, beware of under exposure. Use a wide aperture or s lower shutter speed.
- Take pictures with lighting at different angles. Angled and low level lighting usually offers a more realistic and dramatic effect than overhead lighting.
- For night shots, take pictures just AFTER the sun has set. This gives you a workable amount of natural light to work with.
Night shots without a flash is possible with some latest digital camera models. To do this, you will need to work on ASA levels of 400, and if possible, (like in film, 800) and above.
Do your pictures a favor. Don't take lighting for granted. It can play a huge factor in adding a sense of "drama" to your picture. |
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| Tip for this upload: Ernie and I love working with natural light rather than popping up our flash. Why? Because natural light can bring out the best skin tones while a flash has a tendency to "color" it differently - usually with tints of oranges and red - yuck. The naked eye wont normally see this but if you have plans of enlarging the picture then this "tinting" just might appear. Try to work with natural light first and if it proves quite difficult then thats the time you work with a flash. Besides, low level lighting CAN really help you come up with GREAT pictures. |
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Received word from Mabelle that Dorskie reads and finds THIS column interesting. Thank you, Dorskie. Ernie and I hope to keep on coming up with photography tips in Mommy-Speak "language!" - Paten |
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