Sometimes you find a great scene that would be the masterpiece of your portfolio, but after taking the photo you realize that either that wasn’t that much of a good shot, or you’re a really bad photographer.

If you’ve ever had this thought, I’m glad to tell you that neither of these conclusions is right. The fact that you noticed an interesting scene or an object means that you have a photographer’s eyes. And it could be a competition wining photo if you paid special attention to one little but very essential detail: photo lighting.

To help you out, here is some information concerning lighting techniques.

There are four types of lighting techniques:

Backlighting – This is the light that falls on the object from the back. This technique is mostly used to turn the objects into silhouettes against the sunlight. With this kind of lighting all the details on the object are not visible. If you do not want to turn the object into a silhouette, you should use a fill-flash. This way your camera will fill the spots where the light is and will eliminate the shadows from the object.

Side lighting – This is a lighting technique that adds mystery and depth to the photo. As the name suggests, this light comes from one side of the object. The opposite side remains in complete darkness. You can try this right next to a window, but make sure there are no light bouncing surfaces on the opposite side. White paper board or a mirror, for instance, make the light bounce back onto the object clearing the shades. This may be used to get a much softer effect.

Diffused lighting – Usually bright lighting, like bright sunlight, may spoil the photo. It adds too much contrast, the colors stand out and taint the natural effect of the photo. To avoid this, place the object in the shadow, use an umbrella or wait until the sun goes behind the clouds if there are any.

Artificial lighting – This is the only type of lighting that people can control. Studios use special artificial lights for photo shoots. If you can’t afford them, take advantage of the built-in flash in your camera. But if you choose the built-in flash option, you should be very careful with the red eye effect it can produce.

Even if theoretically you know all about photography, you still need a lot of practice. Take the photo from different angles to have a variety to choose from and always try to experiment.

Photo: © …Rachel J…

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