Understanding Light

Light makes photography possible.  So, understanding light is key.  Here, we discuss only one light source:  the main light.

When it comes to light, there are 2 properties of the main light that are most relevant to photography:  direction and quality.

1) Direction:  where the light comes from.

* 45-degree:  For people and for scenery, the most common is the 45-degree light (45-deg up and to one side).

* Butterfly:  From the top and slightly forward, most common for the glamour style of portraiture.

* Top:  "The Godfather," heavy and moody.

* Bottom:  "Dracula," dramatic and scary.

* Split:  90-degree to the side, dramatic.

* Back:  Puts the main subject into darkness, if not controlled.

2) Quality:  how "hard" or "soft" the light is.  Technically, it's how large the light source is, and how far it is from the subject.  It's judged by the shadow that it casts:  If the shadow is well-defined, the light is hard.  If the shadow is barely there, or not well defined, then it's soft.  For scenery, generally, you want hard light.  For people, generally you want soft light.  Of course, for every rule, there are exceptions.  For example, in the "Hollywood Golden Age" style of portraiture, only hard lights were used.

Know it, then use it, or control it.  Have your image firmly in your mind before you push the shutter.  Then work everything else to get there.