Lighting in Photography
Lighting in photography is crucial. Anyone who is a photographer knows just how important light is to the end result of an image. I describe myself as an available light shooter– and it’s not as technical as you think. I’m a natural photographer, and to be a natural photographer you have to be able to see the light, know the light and its intensity, and create beauty with the light that you have available. It’s much more visual than technical and it is something that I have become quite good at over the years! I can go outside and tell you the lighting outside is 5.6/125th of a second without any piece of technology. This came through hard work and practice. Available light shooting is all about seeing the light and learning its intensity. Lighting in photography has to be visually learned. As a natural photographer you can’t measure what light you have available for your shot and then add light to it, so you’re dealing with what light is around you at that point. This is especially so during wedding photography. To be a natural shooter, you need to be able to see the light and know where to put the subject. Lighting in photography boils down to what light is available. Of course, when the sun sets you will have to add artificial light, as I usually do. But, when the sun squeezes out the last drop of natural light for the evening, that is when you will take a picture that will leave you breathless.
Learning by Doing
Over the years I have learned lighting in photography through gardening. Yes, gardening! By wandering through my garden and snapping shot after shot I started to hone my skill for capturing an image in the natural light. I would sit and watch how the light would change on each flower. The more I watched the flower, the more I could see how the direction of the light interacted with it or how it would filter through the trees. Essentially, I learned natural photography through gardening and then I implemented it with people. I always had a camera, as the light would change and the sun would set, I would go out and take thousands of photographs to see the changes that the light would make at different points of the day and at different angles. If you're looking to improve your ability to see the light around you, it comes with practice and dedication to being consistent. You have to want to see the light.
Photographic Lighting is A Lot Like Life
Life comes at you quickly and you have to be resilient. When you’re photographing a subject, you have to be able to readjust a little to the left and to the right, and the same thing goes for life. When the light of the world shifts, you have to be able to adjust your lens quickly and make the most of that situation. How does that old saying go? Oh yes, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"! Well, I say, when the light in your life changes, readjust your lens to make the most of that shot. If things aren’t working out the way things are coming at you, you need to change the angle at which you are receiving things. Life and Light - they Go Hand in Hand!
There is so much to be said here about a person who is in control of their own reality. We create our own realities in many ways. There are many things that will attempt to distort the image of your life - it's up to you to shape your reality, adjust your lens appropriately, and make the most of the image in your view. You can have a very dark life, or beautifully lit life, it just depends on how you look at it!
Always Make Healthy Choices...Vivian
