Into the light …

The way in which a subject is lit is invariably a crucial element of a photograph. What determine a good light is not always entirely straightforward. A dull cloudy day sometimes makes a mood and dramatic images, while a bright, sunny day with a blue sky may seem perfect but it can often result in bland and uninteresting pictures. When shooting outdoors we have only limited degree of control lighting effects, and we are largely at the mercy of the weather. In sunlight, however, the choice of viewpoint and the position of the subject have a significant effect on the quality of the light, and shooting into the light often captures interesting photographs. This lighting helps to ensure a good separation between subject and background. Portraits can be particularly pleasing when photographed in this way, as the facial lighting is quite soft and flattering and the backlighting throws a pleasing halo of light around the subject’s outline. Be careful that the backlighting does not spill onto the face in a way that creates unpleasant highlights. Backlit landscapes can also be striking, since such lighting helps to reduce detail, simplifies the image and creates bold masses of tone emphasising shapes and textures. Early-morning and evening shots are especially effective. In colour the added warmth of light when the sun is low in the sky adds atmosphere, which can be further heightened if mist is present.