by Tracy Thomas

Created on: April 17, 2009

Without light, photography as we know it would not exist. Not only does light make photography possible, but it has the ability to completely alter the way a photograph is perceived by the viewer. Next to possessing the knowledge of good composition, understanding light and how to use it is one of the best ways to capture more compelling images. There are many sources of light, but this article will focus specifically on the use of natural light.

I See the Light!

The first step in using natural light to your advantage as a photographer is your ability to recognize its presence in the first place. Too often we are so caught up in the details of camera settings and of creating good composition that we ignore the way light falls on our subject matter. One of the best ways to become more aware of natural light and its effect on your subject is to plan a day to go out without your camera. Start early in the morning as the sun is rising, pick a subject like a rock, a tree, or a building, and watch how the light from the sun changes over time. Notice the highlights, the mid-tones and the darker shadows. Where do they fall on your subject at that time of the day? Visit the same spot at around noon and take a mental note of how the light has changed the scene and how it affects the feeling of your subject matter. Follow this up with a visual inspection near sunset but be patient and wait a bit longer for the sun to disappear. Watch how the shadows are cast and how the light begins to change in temperature.

After a day or two of experiencing the light without your camera go back and repeat the exercise with your camera in tow. Take your time when composing your shots during each point of the day and try to use the light to emphasize your subject. Be aware of the angle of the light as it falls on your subject matter and adjust your position in order to get the best effect. The last step will be to print your photographs from the various times and place them side-by-side in order to view the differences in the quality of the light and how it changes the mood of each photo.

The Qualities of Natural Light

Physicists have been studying light and attempting to understand it's complexities for decades. There is a lot of scientific information written about the physical characteristics of light, but for the purposes of photography we will focus on three qualities: intensity, diffusion and direction.

While you are out on your trek to study light and its effect on your subject matter,

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