How to master natural light

[Kayters]

Does anyone know a good book/article/site which explain how to master natural light?

I always found that most of the time practice is the best tool to learn something, but maybe even read something could help me to avoid common mistakes.

Thanks!
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kayters.vsco.co

 

[kevinplui]

You'd already answered your own question. Practice makes perfect. Everyone is different when it comes to learning. But if you are looking for a guide, I suggest you go with Karl Taylor. He has many DVDs and videos on his website that can be a good guide for all kinds of photography.

 

[Bobo Hodls]

Does anyone know a good book/article/site which explain how to master natural light?

I always found that most of the time practice is the best tool to learn something, but maybe even read something could help me to avoid common mistakes.

I've always liked Michael Freeman's books and his perspectives on various aspects of photography.

You also might do an internet search on "understanding sensor exposure".

 

[KCook]

Excellent topic! A few links -

Unhappy With Your Landscape Photos? Here's Why!

Natural Lighting

Photography 101: The Quality of Light

How to Find the Best Light for a Specific Photograph

NATURAL LIGHT

Kelly Cook

 

[D Cox]

I recommend "Color and Light" by James Gurney.

It is aimed at realistic painters but covers everything a photographer should know. Loads of colour pictures.

 

[Jim Cassatt]

I have not looked at the sources given in the previous posts, but they look like they are well worth looking at.

I am going to suggest something a little different. Look at photographs in the area of photography you like and ask yourself, "how did they do the lighting or take advantage of natural light". Try to determine the time of day, the angle, whether it was diffuse or direct light. Look especially at the shadows. Then take a similar subject and see if you can recreate the same lighting. If you cannot, ask yourself what went wrong, and try again.

 

[buybuybuy]

Wow. Lots of useful references provided. I've read one of Freeman's books, but should take a look at D Cox's recommendation about using light for painters etc.

 

[Kayters]

Thanks guys, lots of useful stuff right there!

@Jim Cassatt

That's really a good advice. I'll follow that.

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kayters.vsco.co

 

[brownie314]

Does anyone know a good book/article/site which explain how to master natural light?

I always found that most of the time practice is the best tool to learn something, but maybe even read something could help me to avoid common mistakes.

Thanks!
--
kayters.vsco.co

If you shoot digital - just start firing. Try lots of different stuff and find you own style. If we were talking mathematics or engineering - I would say read a book. But art - just do what moves you and do it a lot.

 

[geru]

Mastering Natural Light is no different than mastering any other source of light; light is light, period.

To master light you need to understand the physics/science of light.

You need to understand the cause and effects of distance, direction, color, & quality, these affects all light regardless of it's source. You need to know how to control the light to create shadows for depth and dimensionality regardless of its source.

 

[Marina1]

Hi, using natural light in photos is really a huge advantage. It helps make amazing shots. I attached an article which I found in PicsArt which was really useful for me: http://blog.picsart.com/post/3-easy-tips-to-use-natural-light-in-your-portraits

Hope it will be useful for you as well.

 

[Spotted Cow]

Mastering Natural Light is no different than mastering any other source of light; light is light, period.

To master light you need to understand the physics/science of light.

You need to understand the cause and effects of distance, direction, color, & quality, these affects all light regardless of it's source. You need to know how to control the light to create shadows for depth and dimensionality regardless of its source.

+1 in what geru said. I was more or less going to say the same thing. Light is light, whether it's artificial or natural. It's knowing and recognizing the type of light, the direction of light, etc. that will help you to master all types of light and to be able to use it to your advantage to take great photos.

 

[Kayters]

@geru:

Thanks! How would you approach that?
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kayters.vsco.co

 

[geru]

@geru:

Thanks! How would you approach that?
--
kayters.vsco.co

I read a book from the local library I think its title was Light Science. However I learned much more watching You Tube videos and actually looking at light and even more importantly shadows. Shadows provide dimensionality without shadows photos are flat and uninteresting especially portraits.

 

[DenWil]

Mastering Natural Light is no different than mastering any other source of light; light is light, period.

To master light you need to understand the physics/science of light.

You need to understand the cause and effects of distance, direction, color, & quality, these affects all light regardless of it's source. You need to know how to control the light to create shadows for depth and dimensionality regardless of its source.

Completely disagree, so an emphatic -1.

To the OP-

There is no book. You have to see it and you'll eventually -or not- come to know when it is right for what you want to achieve. There are also modifications which can be employed to provide a more effective result.

Since natural light is continuously changing (and within the expected changes, subject to a wide number of variables which must also be learned and compensated for) timing becomes everything.

 

[Sir Canon]

the best book is google.com ;-)