Light chpt 1–3

Chapter One is about the basics of lighting in photography and how to get started. In the beginning, the author introduces lighting as “the language of photography”. Lighting reveals the details in your subject matter, so your overall goal and process in photography needs to begin with the lighting. The author then introduces the three main principles of lighting: the size of the light source affects the types of shadows produced and the reflections, there are three types of reflections possible from any surface, and some reflections are only possible from a specific family of angles. These principles should be used in order, with the first being the most important and setting the stage for the others. While every photographer should make their own creative decisions, these three principles will never change and they apply to all images. The rest of the chapter is dedicated to advice on cameras and how to interpret and use the information in the book, but the lighting principles are the main focus.

Chapter Two introduces light and how light can be used in photos. According to the author, “photography begins the moment light is emitted from a source,” and he defines photography as the manipulation of light. He goes on to explain light as a group of weightless photons traveling through space, and how light can travel through materials. The frequency of the light is what determines the colors we perceive. In photography, the main focus is on brightness, color, and contrast in light. Brightness is key to photography, and a brighter light is almost always better. Light also has a color, even light that can be classified as or appears to be white light. While our eyes may not be able to see the color in white light, the camera can and will correct it. Contrast is the third important factor in photography, and you can tell contrast from the shadow. High contrast is from a small light source, like the sun, and the shadows will have harsh, sharp edges. Low contrast comes from a larger source, like clouds, and the shadows have softer, less defined edges. The author continues to describe light and lighting in photography; “Lighting is a relationship between the light, the subject, and the viewer.” The subject also plays a role in the lighting of a photograph, and the subject can transmit, absorb or reflect the light. A clear material like glass will transmit the light, and can only be noticed or seen if there is a refraction in the subject. Subjects that absorb light can also not be noticed unless there is a slight reflection of light. Reflection in a subject is light hitting the subject and bouncing off creating highlights.

Chapter Three gives more information on reflections and managing them in photography. Reflection are very visible in photography and there are three main types: diffuse reflection, direct reflection, and glare. Most reflections encompass multiple types of these reflections but are categorized by the majority. In diffused reflections, the light from the light source is reflected equally in all directions and angles from the surface. Size of the light and angle do not alter the appearance of the reflection, but a smaller distance between the light source and the surface will make a brighter reflection. Direct reflections produce mirror images of the light source on the surface, and the reflection can be seen within a family of angles. In a direct reflection, the light source will be reflected out at the exact angle it was reflected in; however, while the direct light can only be seen at that exact angle and smaller amount of the reflection can be seen within a range of angles(the family of angles). Unlike diffused reflections, direct reflections do not get brighter as the light source gets closer to the surface, but the reflection will get larger in size with a smaller distance from the source to the surface. Lastly, a direct reflection can be polarized creating a glare. A polarized reflection will dim the light reflected off of the surface, and a perfectly polarized reflection will reflect exactly one-half of the original light. This is not really possible, because a polarized reflection also has some absorption as well. Polarized reflections are also best noticed on dark or black surfaces, because the dark colors do not diffuse light as well as a light color making the reflection more noticeable. Polarized reflections are easier to work with in photography and are more ideal. Even if a reflection is not originally polarized, placing a polarized film/sheet over the light source will polarize the concurrent reflection.