Introduction

The two aspects of light that you must consider in photography are quantity and quality. Your camera’s built-in light meter will measure the quantity, and you can follow up by utilizing the correct aperture and shutter speed to get a perfectly exposed photograph. However, there is no meter that will measure the quality of light. When taking photographs, you must learn to look for, recognize and exploit the different lighting opportunities that are available.

Top lighting occurs at mid-day when the sun is directly on top of our subject. This is considered the worse kind of natural light because it casts harsh shadows on the subject. We try to avoid top lighting as much as possible.

Nick (Toronto, On, Canada)

At midday, we could avoid top lighting by placing our subject in a shaded area. In this image, the tree diffuses the contrasting lights of the afternoon sun.

Nick (Toronto, On, Canada)

Front lighting occurs when the light source is coming from over your shoulder, and you can see your own shadow at least five feet long in front of you.

A disadvantage of front lighting is that your subject will cast very little shadow. Shadow often brings a sense of perspective and a three-dimensional quality to a photograph. To bring out the main subject in these cases it’s a good idea to choose a background that is lighter or darker than the subject.

Great Blue Herons (Florida, US)

Usually front lighting means that the subject casts very little shadow. However, this can change under certain conditions, and with direct reflection. In this case, the penguins are in shallow water, and front lighting gives the subjects an interesting reflection in the water. Recognizing and utilizing the properties of front lighting will help you capture more dynamic pictures.

Penguins Reflection (South Georgia, Antarctica)

Shadows are most prominent when the light is coming from the side of the photograph. Side lighting can give a picture a sense of perspective and dimension. In this image, the dominant shadows of the columns add depth and perspective to the photograph. The angled shadows also lead the viewer’s eye toward the figure of the monk.

Side lighting shows texture and can be used to express emotions in an image.

Monk at First Gallery (Cambodia)

Back lighting occurs when the subject is positioned between the photographer and the sun. In this example of back lighting, the egret’s feathers are caught by the sun’s rays and seem to hold the light. With a proper amount of contrast between the subject and the background, back lighting can be the most striking type of lighting.

When the camera points directly at the sun, lens flare may occur. Be careful to shift your camera angle to eliminate undesirable bursts of light.

Great Egret Picking Up Stick (Florida, US)

On an overcast day the entire sky is one giant and gentle light source. This type of diffused light creates little contrast. In this example of overcast lighting, the light produces few shadows and brings out the subtle yellow and green hues in the flowers and leaves of the Yellow Lady Slippers.

Yellow Lady Slippers (On, Canada)

Conclusion

With no meter to measure the quality of light, one must learn to recognize the directional aspects of the light source and work with them. Exposure compensation, camera angles and composition guidelines, in combination with your own creativity, can make for remarkable results.