Studying in college or university doesn’t mean that the whole life after will be dedicated to the major or choice. During student years, many people experiment with hobbies. Sometimes they find passions for the whole life, and sometimes even an external source of income.
Photography has become a common hobby for many people. When smartphones become so developed that they help not only make calls, contact with others via the internet, or pay for homework, but also take photos that might not be so far from professional quality. However, high quality equipment is not enough to take good photos. You also might need a few good hints on that.
Understanding Natural Light Basics
First beginner photography tips are not practical ones, but the tips on theory. It will help you to choose a proper time to take photos, or take photos occasionally when the time is right.
At the beginning, it’s important to understand how light changes throughout the day:
- Morning light is cooler and softer;
- Midday light is harsh and overhead;
- Afternoon light becomes warmer;
- Evening light is golden and directional.
Such specifics of the light cause phenomena of so-called golden hour and blue hour. There’s nothing complex with that. Golden hour is simply the hour after sunrise and before sunset when light is warm, soft, and directional. It’s considered the ideal for portraits and landscapes. Blue hour, in its turn, is the brief period before sunrise or after sunset when the sky takes on deep blue tones. It’s considered perfect for city scenes and architecture.
Common Natural Lighting Scenarios
Now you get basic lighting tips for photography, you will have a better understanding of the several scenarios related to natural lighting.
First of them to consider will be the harsh midday sun. Such lighting can be a challenge if you want to make a good portrait, but nothing is impossible. The best thing you can do is look for shade and take pictures there. The full shade will give you nice soft features. You also can try to take photos under shimmering leaves to get an interesting artistic effect. If you’re a more advanced photographer or at least you have reflectors in your equipment (or know someone to borrow them from) you can use them to fill shadows, or embrace the contrast for dramatic effect.
Another scenario is cloudy or overcast conditions. In contrast to the previous option, this one is perfect for portraits and colorful subjects. You don’t need to look for shady places because shade is everywhere! The diffused light reduces harsh shadows and allows colors to appear more saturated. In addition, the heavy rainy clouds could become a fine part of the background or part of the landscape while you’re taking pictures.
Among the scenarios that often became independent for many photos are sunrise and sunset. You can position subjects to catch the warm directional light, which will give you a very pleasant effect. You also shall use side lighting to create texture and front lighting to create warmth and even illumination.
Backlighting: A Challenge Worth Mastering
One lighting condition that confuses many beginner photographers is backlighting. This happens when your main light source (usually the sun) is behind your subject. Many students try to avoid this scenario, but it actually creates some of the most striking images when handled properly!
When your subject has light coming from behind them, you’ll notice a beautiful glow around their edges – this is called rim lighting. It’s especially gorgeous with hair, creating an almost magical halo effect. The trick is not to let your camera get fooled by the bright background. Most smartphones and cameras will try to expose for the bright background, leaving your subject as a dark silhouette.
If you want to see your subject’s features, you need to tell your camera to expose for their face instead of the bright sky. On a smartphone, this is as simple as tapping on your subject’s face before taking the photo. On a more advanced camera, you might need to use spot metering or exposure compensation. Don’t be afraid to take several shots with different settings, that’s the beauty of digital photography!
Indoor Natural Light Photography
Many students think they need fancy studio lights to take good indoor photos, but that’s far from true! And our photography techniques for beginners will help you to see that there’s nothing difficult about taking fine indoor photos.
Window light is actually one of the most beautiful light sources available. The way light filters through a window creates soft, directional illumination that professional photographers try to recreate with expensive equipment.
For the best results, position your subject close to a large window but not in direct sunlight patches. The larger the window, the softer the light will be. If the light seems too harsh, you can soften it by hanging a thin white curtain or sheet over the window to diffuse it.
One cool trick for indoor photos is to notice the interesting light patterns that sometimes appear. Like the way light streams through blinds creating stripes, or how it reflects off mirrors or glass surfaces. These effects can add atmosphere and artistic elements to otherwise ordinary photos. And with the tips for taking great photos you got, there is no doubt that you will get pictures you’ll like, and probably not only you!
Natural light photography doesn’t require expensive equipment or years of training, just an understanding of how light works and changes throughout the day. As a student, you have the perfect opportunity to experiment and develop your eye for light.
Remember that practice makes perfect. The more photos you take in different lighting conditions, the better you’ll become at recognizing and using beautiful light. Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts don’t look like professional photos. Photography is a journey, not a destination.
So grab your smartphone or camera, pay attention to the light around you, and start capturing the world in a whole new way. The best camera is the one you have with you, and the best light is often just waiting to be noticed.
Photo by Olena Dm on Pexels.com