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November 20, 2009 |
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Created and Maintained by: The Photoimaging Information Council |
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Columns |
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If you’re a regular reader of my weekly Photo Tips, you will have seen my photographic mantra in print a number of times. If you’ve been with me on one or more of my nature photo tours to learn nature photography, you would have heard the words. With this in mind and to not beat it to death BUT - “It’s All About The LIght.” I’ll never stop professing this as it’s the light that acts as a key ingredient in making or breaking a photo. A mundane subject in great light will produce a far superior photo to a great subject in terrible light. This being said, the sooner you learn to read the light and use it to your advantage, the sooner you’ll see your photos improve exponentially. Be this as it may, here are a few tips to help you capture different types of light that are some of my favorites.  © Russ Burden Storm LIght: While crystal clear sunrises certainly have their advantages, and in some cases they’re essential, there’s nothing that compares to the dramatic light associated with storms. Often very short lived, when it happens, it’s magical. Storm light most frequently provides great results when the storm is impending or receding. It’s at the edge of the storm that the sun has the potential to break free from the clouds. Ultimately you want the sky behind the main subject to remain dark and ominous with a spotlight of sun on it. This results in a 3D effect as the primary focal point comes forward from the darkness. The effect is most pronounced when this all comes together near sunrise and sunset hours. Put yourself into a possible situation to capture the effect by monitoring the weather. Anytime the forecast calls for a storm system to arrive or depart at these times of day, grab the camera and head to your favorite location. While it doesn’t guarantee it will happen, when it does, you’ll be grateful you were there for the moment of magic.  © Russ Burden Make It Pop: Take a look at the shot of the snowy egret that accompanies this article. Whenever a situation arises where a light colored subject can be offset against a dark background, the subject pops off the page. It’s all about the contrast the situation provides. The stronger the contrast, the more the image pops. Flat lighting lacks contrast, hence its descriptor - flat. If contrast is introduced, the image becomes more three dimensional. A caveat with which one must deal is if there are bright highlights in the background that act as distractions. While Photoshop can assist you in darkening them, if there are too many, it may be wise to move onto the next location.  © Russ Burden Rise and Set: Mid day light is reserved for the tourists. Sunrise and sunset are for the photographers. While this doesn’t always hold true, it certainly is a rule by which I plan my photography. Regardless of the subject matter, when the primary elements are bathed in the golden tones of sunrise and sunset, they come alive and take on a warmth that can only be provided at these times of day. It also has to do with the angle of the light and the shadows and highlights the sun creates. When it’s low on the horizon, it doesn’t last long. Shooting in the winter months increases the window of time as the sun rides along the horizon for greater lengths than it does in the summer. If you haven’t done a lot of photography at these times of day, you owe it to yourself to get out there and try it. Better yet, come along with me on a nature photo tour and I’ll show you first hand why these times are magical.  © Russ Burden To learn more about this topic, join me on one of my Photographic Nature Tours. Visit www.russburdenphotography.com and click on the NATURE TOURS button for more information. Also, pick up a copy of my new book, Amphoto’s Complete Book of Photography. You can purchase a signed copy directly from me or visit your local book store or Amazon. Contact me at rburden@ecentral.com to order your signed copy
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