Lighting can make or break a picture, so it’s important that you think about it carefully. In some cases you’ll be able to control the lighting in others you'll have to work with what you've got. This brief guide will help you to understand how lighting affects your picture and how you can manipulate it to improve your travel snaps.
When you’re taking pictures outside the chances are you’re going to have to work with the light you have. This will vary depending on the time of day, the weather and the location and it’s safe to say that some conditions are better than others.
The best time of day is when the sun is low in the sky. We’ve all seen those breathtaking pictures of the sunrise, awash with orange light that is both natural and striking. The light is warm and flattering to any subject, making getting the desired effect effortless. Of course there are downsides. This ideal time of day is brief and it usually means dragging yourself out of bed in the early hours of the morning. Sunset is more accommodating but that means there will be more people around and this can be detrimental to your photograph. Of course if you’re photographing people it will be perfect.
Sunrise and sunset are by far the best time of day to take photographs, but they are not the only times. As long as the sun is relatively low in the sky – during the morning hours or early evening – you will be able to capture an effective picture in the available light. It is when the sun is high in the sky that your pictures will suffer.
If you’re taking pictures of anything with a metallic surface you’ll get an unsightly glare. If you’re taking pictures of people you’ll find your subjects have unattractive shadows under their eyes, under their cheekbones and anywhere else that the sun can't reach. If you’re taking pictures of a building you’ll have to manoeuvre your angle so the sun is behind you, limiting the your shot and sometimes ruining your picture. What makes taking pictures at this time of day most unsuccessful, however, is the dull lifeless quality that it gives to your subject – an effect that no photographer would ever aspire to.
The only real solution here is that if you see something you think will make a stunning picture but you can’t capture it in its full glory because of the lighting – come back later, when the lighting is right, and take your photograph then. It might mean a slight detour or even a change of your sightseeing plans but it will be worth it in for the looks of admiration on your friends faces when you get home.
Sometimes the unconventional can be the most effective and this is often the case with backlighting. To take a striking back-lit picture simply place your subject with the light behind them and use your cameras flash to ensure that your subject has adequate lighting from the front. Many digital cameras now have a setting that is devoted specifically to taking backlit shots – when possible you should use this. The standard flash on your camera is usually too bright, effectively neutralising the effect of the backlighting.
To many beginner photographers talk of tripod conjures images of the school photographer and a vast towering metal structure. Well things have changed a lot since those days… not only can you purchase a tripod that will fold away easily into any travel bag but you can now find ones that reach just 6 inches in height when fully extended. This makes them a lot more accessible to travellers.
The reason for using a tripod is simple – it stops the camera from shaking and gives you a better photograph. This is particularly important when you’re taking pictures with a digital camera in low light conditions. In order to adjust to the lack of light the shutter speed slows, making the camera all the more susceptible to movement. This can cause blurring, which will inevitably ruin your picture – so that snap shot of the coliseum at night won’t be wowing anyone! Using a tripod will limit the movement of the camera when you take your picture, allowing you to get the perfect shot no matter what the conditions.
As a general rule you should avoid using your flash unless you really have to – it mutes the colours and creates dark shadows that spoil the aesthetics of your picture. If you do have to use your flash there are a couple of things you need to remember…
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