Digital Camera World - Complete Photography Guide - Mastering Light

49 Pages·1990·2.8 MB·English

by  Digital Camera Magazine Editor, Marcus Hawkins

Complete photography guide
Master
Light
TAKE DRAMATIC PHOTOS
USING OUR EXPERT TIPS
■ How to control and enhance natural light
■ Creative ways to shoot with fl ash
VITAL
■ Simple techniques for spectacular results
SKILLS
GUIDE
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Master
Light
Many photographers just starting out tend to
think of the role of light only in terms of
exposure. But fi nding the best light and learning
how to control it can have a huge effect on the
emotional impact of your images. This book will
arm you with the knowledge and techniques you
need to really begin mastering light.
Light 3
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Master
Light
TAKE DRAMATIC PHOTOS
USING OUR EXPERT TIPS
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Contents
■ Light’s character p10
■ Chasing the light p14
■ Improving the quality p16
■ Master of light: Charlie Waite p22
■ Fill-in with fl ash p24
■ Master of light: Chris Johns p28
■ Dealing with low light p30
■ Light on the landscape p36
■ Master of light: George D. Lepp p46
■ Top 10 tips p49
Light 7
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Start painting with light
ur three previous photography guides have
Ocovered composition, exposure and colour
– now it’s time to look at the element which is the key
infl uence for all three aspects. As a photographer, you
need to learn to love light, appreciate its endless
subtleties and try to make the most of its mood
swings. Soon you’ll feel your heart race a little faster as
the black clouds of a passing storm tear apart and rich,
golden light burns through to transform even the most
mundane scene (just don’t forget to carry your camera
at all times – you’ll kick yourself if you miss capturing
such an event). Don’t pull your hair out if the light isn’t
‘right’ though. You just need to learn a few tricks that
can help you rescue the situation – this book will show
you them. We’ll give you ideas for taming harsh light,
show you how to make the most of falling light levels
and how to use fl ash in understated ways. We don’t
cover studio lighting in this book – that will come later.
Instead, we focus on natural light – how to capture it,
how to enhance and how to use it in great new ways.
Marcus Hawkins
Editor, Digital Camera Magazine
8 Light
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Light 9
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Light’s
character
ou really begin to grow as a photographer
Ywhen you start being able to read the
different characteristics of light and are able to
adjust your shooting accordingly. Where
photography’s concerned, there are four
elements of light that you need to be able to
recognise: its quality, colour, intensity and
direction. You can control each of them to a
certain degree, whether it’s through a shift in
camera position, the use of light modifi ers or
during image processing.
10 Light
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