Why take photos?
Portraits & Light
Photography: more than just selfies.
By now, you should be getting pretty comfortable with a camera. In this section of the course, we point the camera in the direction of portraiture. We also address light, and how to use it to take better photos. We spend some time learning how to use existing light, how to use light to our advantage, and yes, we even address the #selfie.
Topics of Study
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How light works (Photons)
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The three rules of light
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Light quality
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Light direction
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Light temperature
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Direct vs diffused light
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Shadow edges
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3-point lighting setup
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Rembrant Lighting
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Key triangle
5.1
HOW LIGHT WORKS
How Light Works
Light is the raw material of the photographer. To make good photography the artist has to understand his or her raw material. Here we look at the properties of light affecting our images.
5.2
IN THE STUDIO: EQUIPMENT
In the Studio: Equipment
As we begin working with in-studio, we will need to get some understanding of the equipment found in a typical photography studio and how to use it.
5.3
CONTROLLING, MODIFYING AND WORKING WITH LIGHT
Controlling, modifying and working with light
Quality portrait photography requires an understanding of light and how to best control it. In this lesson we take a closer look at the harsh results of hard light and the softer, gentler results of diffused light. We also look at a variety of images that use side, front, and back lighting, and discuss the effect such lighting has.
5.4
Completion Task
This part of the website is still being updated. For details on this section, you can see the old site, though some of it will be changing, so take that into account.
5.5
UNDERSTANDING AND USING NATURAL LIGHT
Understanding and Using Natural Light
Most of your photography will happen outside of a studio. Since the sun will be your most common light source, learning to read, use, and manipulate natural light will have an impact on your photography both during, and after this course.
A5.6
Selfie Schtick
The Selfie: self-portrait or self-promotion?
You decide.
And then convince me.