Perfect Pictures: Lighting Tips for the Novice

Getting serious about photography often leads the novice to the shelves of the bookstore, library or searching endless pages on-line. Outside of a few practical tips, this can be an intimidating road to travel. Lens suggestions, unfamiliar setting and pixel counts can overwhelm anyone searching for simple basics hoping to take their pictures up a notch. The truth is that the easiest lessons make the biggest difference in photographs. The use of light is perhaps the professional photographer's greatest strength yet can be used by anyone that holds a camera.

Lighting Effects

Side Light
Using side-lighting (light that is coming from the side) separates your subject from the background and adds a three-dimensional aspect to your photograph. This can keep a picture from looking flat, staged or boring.

Backlight
When backlighting your subject (or when light is behind subject) get as close as you can to eliminate the background, or so the background is out of focus. Otherwise, a strong light behind will create a silhouette. If a silhouette is what you are aiming for, keep the background plain, this can convey romance, or isolation. Since your goal is to create a feeling with your picture, this can be a great technique and often works best in dim light (with a strong light behind.)

Natural Light
It has been said that the best pictures are captured on overcast days, and it is true that a photographer should never shy away from an overcast day. Colors can glow on these days and surfaces can smooth without harsh lighting. This same effect can be achieved indoors, too, near an open window covered with a light curtain. However, there are many things about a day (not just the weather) that can yield a good picture, such as the time of day.

Taking pictures at dawn and at dusk, when the suns angle casts long shadows, can create a very dynamic picture. High noon, however, can be tricky. Noon, especially when photographing people can create harsh facial shadows. If you are photographing outside at noon, consider a shady spot.

A more advanced fact for growing photographers is to understand that the time of day may even impact the color of your photo. Color temperatures create different effects at different times of day. Early morning light tends to be yellow. By noon, natural light offers more of a blue hue. And in the early evening light tends to be orange as opposed to late night when it turns dark blue. Color temperature can taint or enhance a look you might be trying to achieve.

Lightening Mistakes
Red Eye
Red-eye is probably the most common and obvious lighting error. These days, there is so many editing software's that can correct this, or cameras that compensate. But to avoid it altogether, there are a few things you can do.

First, red-eye occurs when the pupil of the eye is larger (dim light/night) and people are looking in the direction of the camera. Simply ask people being photographed to look at your shoulder (not directly at the camera.) Another trick on a staged "1, 2, 3" shot is to have the people being photographed look at a light. Then, on "3", look at you. As their pupils dilate, you are getting a shot without red-eye! Some even say, have all of your subjects close their eyes, then open on "3", this can sometimes get a more natural smile, too!

Flare
Another common mistake which happens in daytime is an effect called "flare." This is when sunlight hits the camera lens and creates "flare," resulting in washed out faces where features can be hard to distinguish. To avoid flare, use your hand to shade your camera lens when shooting. Or find a location where the camera or subject is blocked from direct light.

"Camera Shake"
Finally, "camera shake" is another commonly seen error among rushing photographers clicking away. This is a blurred shot that often occurs during fast action, or low light. Usually seen in night shots "camera shake" is basically the result of your camera's lens being more sensitive to light. To avoid blur, press the shutter button gently and be careful to be still when you snap. On this note, a better camera does make a difference. But you can increase your chances of a decent shot by holding still and not rushing the moment.

Random Lighting Tricks from the Pros
Lastly, there are a few things you can do, that professional photographers do, and that will really separate your pictures from others being snapped around you. These are just a few fun tips to try!

1. To capture the glow of fire, try turning off the flash at night, or in dim light.
This can work with sparklers, pumpkins or indoors with birthday candles. Faces will glow softly in the only light provided (fire) creating a more unique picture.

2. Turn the flash on, even when you're outdoors, to highlight faces.

3. When photographing indoors, even during the day, it often makes sense to turn on the lights in the room. Standard tungsten bulbs cast a warm light and paired with your flash, or natural light a picture has better odds at turning out beautiful.

4. Professional photographers put stronger light bulbs in regular lamps to raise the level of illumination in the room, too. So, if you are having a party, or celebrating something in doors when you know you will be taking pictures, amp up the wattage for better shots all around!

It is no secret that for crystal clear resolution, high-action capture and more, a good camera will make a big difference. However, there is no reason at all that anyone that holds any camera can't apply these lighting suggestions and walk away with an unbelievable 4x6! So, before you click, keep these in mind and you just might walk away with a perfect picture!