5 Photo Composition Hints. The Fifth Element - Light
V. Light Composition
In photography light composition covers brightness and contrast. Active aspect is represented in a photo as the Light (technically it's based on light measuring and shutter speed) and passive aspect is the Dark, black area of a shot (technically it's developing process). When the Light influences the Dark, a photo-graphy is being created.
Light as a Mean of Expression
Light is essential not only for setting a proper level of illumination, but it also can reveal a creative idea of a photographer. The right lighting scheme is important for both a portrait and a still life.
With the help of light you can:
- make a definite accent on a subject you want, stress the subject composition of the shot.
- create a difficult figure of lights and shadows
- model the figures and volumes and accentuate their plasticity
- hide born defects and accentuate the most expressive features
- create an unusual vivid or dramatic image
A Principle Of Balance and Light
Balance is a principle of classic Art that has wide application in photography. The basis is that balance in the image can be achieved with confrontation of two (or more) objects, which are placed in the different parts of the shot. But it's important that illuminating
effects should also participate in the filling of an image area. We can
bring active light-shadowed image, light spot or a simple glare into
the composition as if they were material forms or objects. Sometimes a
heavy tonal mass can be balanced with the only small light stroke.
Light Sources
Light sources could stand in the following roles:
Key light. The key light source shall be only one, and theoretically - it should be the main light in the composition. It is a directed light, which outlines the form and details of an object, and can be either strong or soft.
Lamps can be used of different power, or they can simply be moved off
to a certain distance from the object.
A part of light from the light
source can be reflected from a reflector panel, and you receive a fill light, highlighting the shadows. The light source is usually put not closer than 1,5 - 2 meters from the object, but it shouldn't be moved back too far as well. The function of the key light can be carried out by the sunlight, coming through the window, a door etc. It creates a shadowing contour. When the surface is illuminated by the light source from behind the camera,
shadow areas are formed on separate parts, located under the different
angles towards the light rays, thus creating a contour. You can also
perform your shots in high or low key.
Fill light. It should illuminate the subject evenly and create such a level of illumination, so that the details could be seen
well
without any visible shadows. They become more light in that case. So
the fill light should be soft enough - for example, the light source
can be directed to the white ceiling. The fill light is almost always
less bright than the main light, in fact about half as bright.
Kicker light (side light).
It plays the role of an additional fill light. It highlights the
shadows in the required parts. Kicker light is formed by the small light
sources of the soft kind. It allows to get the glares, reflexes on the
reflecting details of the object of shooting.
Back light
(also hair light). This light source is placed behind the object of
shooting. A lighting contour is created, used to produce the aerial
haze, texture
illumination, making of the "play of light" on the transparent objects.
The closer the light source is placed to the camera, the more width of
the lighting contour strip is created. The further the light source is,
the narrower the strip of the lighting contour becomes.
Background light. It
illuminates the background. The background light marks out the object
of shooting, creating the difference of lighting between the object and
the background. In order to get the object on the ideally white
background, the background is illuminated with more stronger light
power than the key light. And vice versa, in order to stress the object
on the colored background, the background is illuminated less, than the
object of shooting.
Light accent. It's a narrow directed
ray of strong or soft light, coming to the part of the object, which
has to be illuminated for the means of composition.
Tips and Tricks
1.
There should be enough of light. Long shutter speed leads to a spoiled
image: increased ISO and noise on the picture. When there's enough of
light, the image becomes well-saturated with nicely visible details.
2. Light drawing should be expressive so as to accentuate the viewer's attention on the important details.
3. In order to experiment and receive nice shots you don't always need to use expensive studio equipment. Try it with one source from the window or table lamp, for example.
4. The color can be "painted" if you use color filters - a plastic (or gel filter),
covered by the colored film from both of the sides. But keep in mind,
that plastic gets transparent over the time due to the light power.
5. If you want to create a specific color tone effect don't forget about background color.
The background of neutral color (white, gray) accentuates the color of
the key light well. A dark background absorbs the light, so the power
of light source should be higher.
6. When setting the power of your light sources remember the inverse square law:
- if
the distance between the object and light source is increased in 2
times, the object illumination will be decreased in 4 times.
- if
the distance between the object and light source is increased in 3
times, the object illumination will be decreased in 9 times.
- if
the distance between the object and light source is decreased in 2
times, the object illumination will be increased in 4 times.
We hope these five elements of photo composition will help you improve your skills and share your best photos on our photo forum!
The First Element - Texture
The Second Element - Color
The Third Element - Subject
The Fourth Element - Space
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