I ran into a cheesy strip mall near my house to pick up some toothpaste on the way home from the gym (too much information?) and out of the corner of my eye spotted an equally cheesy ‘dollar-esque’ store. I call it dollar-esque because it claims to be a dollar store but everything is like $1.25 and up (don’t ask me) – anyways I couldn’t resist…I never can.

I was checking out the craft/gift aisle and happen to notice this gift bag.

Read it carefully.

Say WHAT?! lol.

Yikes.

Someone used an unreliable source for their translations.

Yet it still went to market.

Sheesh!

Taking a photograph is all about capturing the light. The word photograph literally translates to “drawing with light”. So you can imagine how important it is to control the lighting and manipulating it for each photo.

Every DSLR has built within it a light meter. This measures the amount of light coming through the lens. It will tell you if you’re over or under exposing a photo. The light meter uses the other settings on your camera (shutter speed, aperture & ISO) to make these readings.

For a detailed explanation of how a light meter works read this short article.

Now that you can measure the light, what’s the best type of lighting? 
There are terms in photography that describe the different types of light.

Outdoor light: the color tint changes from sunlight, to shade, to overcast days, even the time of year has an effect on the color of the light. This is why we have the ability to change the white balance on our cameras. Here is a short tutorial on white balance. Outdoor lighting can be harsh, or soft. Manipulating it can create different effects in your photos.

taken outside on an overcast day in "open shade".

Front light: this is when the light source is behind the photographer and lighting up the subject from the front. Typically front lighting in portraits is not desired as it tends to make the image appear “flat” without depth or detail.

 
front lit image…notice how there’s not a large range of grays?

Side light: this is when the light source is to the side of both the subject & the photographer. This is typically more desired than any other type of lighting as it creates details and a sense of depth within the photo. Side lighting is particularly important in black & white photography as it relies mostly on different shades of gray. Side lighting helps achieve a wider range of grays in a photograph. Side lighting can be contrasty and have harsher shadows. Using a reflector can help diffuse this effect if needed.

notice how there’s a wider range of grays?

Backlight: this is when the light source is in front of the photographer and the subject is backlit. This method is very effective is bright sunlight. Subjects don’t feel the need to squint or tighten their eyes. Back lighting also creates a sense of drama. And backlighting is also used when creating silhouettes. When using back light use a lens hood to help diffuse sun rays that might take away from the look of the photo.

backlighting as it creates a silhouette.

back lighting without a silhouette.

When using natural light, a light source that is NOT artificial (such as flash, strobes, lightboxes, etc), you want a broad, diffused or soft light source. A broad light source lessens shadows. The best way to achieve this is to place your subject next to a large window or door opening that’s not receiving direct sunlight. This creates beautiful lighting that’s not harsh. If you’re outside find what photographers refer to as “open shade”. Open shade is a spot that isn’t receiving direct sunlight but also isn’t dark and shadowy. A lot of hobbyists will open their garage doors, put up a backdrop of some kind and use the wide door opening as a diffused light source.

 
an example of diffused light.

an example of harsh light.

Reflectors can be used to diffuse light and add more to the “scene” without using artificial light.

Here’s a short ‘how to’ on light reflectors.

Photography is all about the light. Master using light in the right situations and your photos will take on a dramatic transformation.

Article & Photography by: Sarah Harbuck for PeppermintCreative.com

• Want more? Check out other related posts:
• Understanding Shutter Speed
• Understanding Aperture
• Understanding ISO
• Understanding White Balance
• Understanding Basic Composition
• Tips for Taking Great Self-Portraits

Want to practice?
Join the Click-a-Pic Challenge where every week we post a new challenge prompt. Snap away and post your favorite picture in the gallery for your chance to win a Minty Buck! ($1 Gift Card to the Peppermint Creative store) The more you play, the more you win and the more Minty Bucks you can earn. Come check it out!! ;)

COMING VERY SOON – this will be your brand new freebie…YEEHAW!

And I do my little turn on the catwalk
Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah
I do my little turn on the catwalk
And I’m too sexy for my hat
Too sexy for my hat what do you think about that
‘I’m Too Sexy’  – Right Said Fred

This is my entry for this week’s Click-a-Pic Challenge (CAP). The prompt this week was to shoot a series of self-portraits. In coming up with a title for this post all I can hear is ‘I’m Too Sexy’ playing in my head. LOL! The ultimate ‘channel your inner supermodel’ song.

YES, I felt like a total dork making stupid faces at the camera…by myself…with a shutter remote.

YES, the outtakes were definitely cringe worthy and..

YES, i LOOOOOOOVE Photoshop (I HEART you healing brush)

But I think it was a fun experiment and I ended up with a few fun shots. If you’re like me (always the one taking the pictures) you likely don’t have too many fun photos of yourself and we all need a FEW!

The challenge ends Thursday night so get moving and start snapping – I want to see your pictures and this weeks winner earns a Minty Buck! (collect ‘em all!)

Check out these AWESOME shots from some gorgeous Minty participants.

Aren’t these fun?? Be serious, be silly, be shy, be WHATEVER! Just be and then post.

Challenge thread & details here.

So EXCITED about this kit!! ALLLLMOST done..just putting the finishing touches on some fun add-on elements and other scrappy essentials. Stay tuned!!

This week’s Click-a-Pic Challenge (CAP) is all about you. We want to see your gorgeous punim (translation: Yiddish for face | pronounced: poo-nim). This week we are challenging you to shoot a series of self-portraits. Release your inner model and show us what you got! Be silly, happy, serious, sexy..whatever you want just be sure to show a nice variety. Grab the free storyboards here or make your own to display your favorite shots. Post in the challenge thread and in the gallery before next Friday for your chance to win…and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

And to get you started on the right track, photographer and challenge hostess Sarah Harbuck has put together some pointers for how to get a great shot…

Taking a self portrait is like taking any other type of photo. Always make sure your ISO, Aperture, Shutter speed & White balance are set for the scene. Getting your settings right will ensure a better portrait and be less frustrating to you.

First things first…sometimes being in the photograph and taking the photograph can be tricky. For the beginner I recommend enlisting the help of a friend, spouse or child. However using a tripod & the timer or a shutter release remote is also fine, but sometime harder to work with, takes more time, planning & setting up. Of course you learn more by doing it all yourself. Choose whichever method you feel comfortable with.
Self portraits should be fun and a reflection of who you are and your personality. Be silly, be serious, be seductive, be happy. You can record all different types of emotions & expressions. Have fun with it.

Some tips on getting a great self portrait:

• Choose a wardrobe that won’t take the focus off your face. Solid colors work best. Bold & busy patterns just distract so stay away from them. Fix your hair, and do your makeup…emphasize the eyes. Accessorize, use props if you want, dress up, or dress down. Reflect your personality.

• Try using a smaller aperture. This will give you a longer depth of field. And a longer depth of field means that the camera won’t focus on your nose (a common problem with self portraits) but on your eyes, which are the most important. With a longer depth of field accurate focusing becomes less of an issue.
• If you’re using a tripod, place an object in the same spot you’ll be standing or sitting. Pre-focus on the “stand in” object to ensure accurate focus.
• Find your favourite spot. The location can be every bit as important as the subject. Find a place where you’re comfortable and this will put you at ease and make for a better photo.
• Take several shots of the same pose. It never hurts to have more than one just in case.
• Try different angles or lighting to change the mood or feel of the photo.
• Use a large window or door with diffused light to illuminate your face, rather than using a flash. Set up reflectors to help bounce the light. Natural light is always best when taking portraits.
• Don’t rush. Take your time. Part of the process is to have fun and capture the real you. Let loose, don’t be self conscious. No one is more critical of you…than you.

Want More? Check out other related posts:
Understanding Shutter Speed
Understanding Aperture
Understanding ISO