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Capturing Nature’s Glow: Shooting Photographs in Natural Light

sunset-photographyMost people shooting photographs in natural light or just starting in photography probably won’t have access to expensive cameras and lighting equipment. But, in terms of creativity, some of the most emotive and affecting images can be captured using natural or available light. There are, however, certain basic tips and tricks that you can use to maximize the effects of natural light and make your work more professional from the get-go, depending on how you want the finished image to look.

Shooting When the Sun is High

In the middle of the day, the sun is high overhead in the sky; while many people tend to shy away from this because it can be harsh and creates strong shadows, it can work well in terms of a striking and interesting composition. If you want to work with this hard light, you should study it for some time beforehand so you understand how it behaves and then uses it to its full advantage.

Making the Most of the Golden Hour sunset-photography

Whether you’re into photography or not, you’ve probably heard (a version of) this term, which refers to the times just before sunrise and sunset, when the light is at its most glorious. It’s soft and directional (as the sun is low and coming in at an angle) and, along with the stunning hues, there are lots of beautiful long shadows to play with for composition. Get up early and reap the rewards!

Using Side Lighting

If you’re looking for strong, graphic contouring (which is particularly effective for portraiture), side lighting can provide a wonderful way to add detail and depth to an image or subject. It can be tricky to get right, however, so you have to watch from which angle it is coming. Again, simply sitting at a location and consciously observing, then experimenting, is the best way to learn.

Indoor Natural Lighting

Natural window light can make for absolutely stunning portraits, and positioning your subject in different places has a vast range of effects. The window acts like a soft box, diffusing the light and creating a beautiful softness to the image; as a general rule, the closer your subject is to the window the softer and more even the light will be, but moving them further away will create strong (and often very interesting) contrast.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Weather

If you have genuine creative aspirations you need to make friends with all kinds of weather. There are incredible opportunities to be found on rainy and stormy days, but even simply taking advantage of clouds can help you achieve remarkable results. Think of the moodiest and most evocative landscape images and they were probably shot in what many of us would consider being ‘bad’ weather. Be open-minded, challenge yourself and invest in some decent wet-weather gear!

Learn from the Experts

There’s no substitute for time and practice if you’re looking to take your skills to the next level, however, if you’re serious, it’s a great idea to enroll in some professional education.  There are a host of online courses. Is photography a good career in 2022? 

 Photographs      Photographs kingfisher-natural light

So, as an overall answer regarding the question “Is Photography a Good Career?” Yes, it is! As long as the earnings of a photographer, in general, are concerned, a photographer in the USA can earn about $30-40k per year. Employment of photographers is projected to grow 18% from 2022 to 2030.
Good Luck !

 

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Take Your Images to the Next Level

Improve Your Images

Improve your images, whether you’re just starting out on your creative journey or you’re looking to take your skills to the next level, there is so much information out there to help you improve your photography. It can sometimes be overwhelming, and gathering helpful tips from the not-so-helpful can be quite a task.

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One of the easiest ways of getting an all-around insight into the craft is to do one of the free online photography courses that are available. If you choose the right course (with an established reputation and with tutorials by well-known photographers) you’ll be able to learn a lot and start applying it to your own creative identity. But even before you enroll in one of the free online photography courses, if you begin implementing the following three tips, you’ll see an immediate improvement in your images.

Always Consider the Light

The quality of light is a hugely important aspect, and getting into the habit of considering that every time you intend to capture an image will stand you in very good stead. The three aspects you need to think about are the direction the light is coming from, its color, and its intensity. What we call warm light, which gives an image a kind of golden glow and is generally the most sought after and flattering, is that which appears at the times around sunset and sunrise (hence it’s known as ‘the golden hour’). In terms of its intensity, the more diffuse the light, the softer the effect, and the harsher the light, the stronger the shadows and contrast. improve-your-images2

To gain a thorough understanding of light quality, consider doing one of the free online photography courses that go in-depth on the topic.

Think Carefully About Composition

While there are times when the perfect composition simply presents itself within your viewfinder, if you take the time to consider the positioning and angle of your subject or the landscape before you shoot, your images will undoubtedly improve. The ‘rule of thirds’ is a superb starting point from which to arrange your composition: the premise of this rule is that you mentally divide your frame into thirds, both horizontally and vertically then ‘place’ elements of the scene along those lines, or their intersection (e.g., in a landscape you’d use the bottom two thirds for the landscape itself and the top for the sky). Another good compositional tip is to use converging lines to draw the viewer’s eye right into the scene.

Look for the Most Interesting Subjects

You might think this would go without saying, but finding the most interesting subjects often requires you to think outside the square and train yourself to see things with a more critical eye. Even the most ordinary of subjects can make for an extraordinary image when its contextual perception is altered. The wonderful thing about photography is that the potential to discover something very special is virtually unlimited if you open your mind to looking at things differently. Look for the images other people miss because they’re usually hidden in plain sight.  improve-your-photography-skills

Take Your Skills to the Next Level

While you can discover so much by simply getting out and capturing images and using experience as your teacher, if you want to fast-track things, the best idea is to learn from the experts. A great way to do this is to get started with one of the free online photography courses. If that whets your appetite, it may be time to take the next big step on the road to professionalism.

 

 

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