EDUCATION
How To Control Your Light Quality Whether photographing people or objects, appropriate lighting is critical for a professional result. Careful use and control of flash, studio and window lighting can change the ordinary into something extraordinary - and it’s easy if you know what to look for. The first trick is to control the size of your light relative to the subject. Here’s how. Professionals understand the usefulness of a
like cars in a studio, oversized softboxes and
softer light, compared to the harsh nature of
light sources are needed to keep the same
direct flash or sunlight. This is why they use
light-to-subject size ratio.
softboxes, umbrellas and indirect window light
to change or control the directional quality of
moved to a great distance from the subject will
the light reaching their subject.
have a similar effect to a small softbox placed
much closer. Can you see why?
However, there is more to it than just using a
Looked at another way, a large softbox
softbox or umbrella.
is common to use a softer light source. While
A typical flash light produces very directional
When photographing families or models, it
illumination. It is a ‘hard’ light with sharp
shadows are created, these shadows are not as
shadows. However, this same light when
distinct (sharp) and the depths of the shadows
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fired through a softbox or into an umbrella is
are often not as dark. The result is softer.
Tech n i q u e L igh ting
scattered and the resulting quality of the light
reaching the subject is non-directional and a lot
away from your subject, you are reducing
softer.
its size relative to the subject. And a subject
receives more directional light, the further the
20
The reason is because the light is reaching
However, when you move this light further
the subject from a wider angle, filling in the
light is from the subject.
shadows. The wider the angle of light, the softer
the shadows. Think of an overcast day when
make it a little harder, move the light further
there are no shadows compared to a sunny day.
away from your subject. On the other hand, if
you have a small light and you want to make
The size of the softboxes and umbrellas we
So, if you have a soft light, but you want to
use need to be large relative to the subject.
it softer, take it closer to your subject (or your
However, when photographing larger subjects
subject closer to it).